A Devotional Look at the Book #546

A Devotinal Look at the Book #546

by Jesse Abel

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Personal and National Sin: We do not think too much about the effects of sin in our lives these days, but it is evident to the one who observes. The individual, the neighborhood, the community, the state and the nation collectively suffer from something; God calls it SIN...it is time to get back to the basics! Psalm 117:1-2

A DAY IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE

It is high noon; evening is just six hours away. There will be a wedding in the morning, but first there must be two funerals to witness. Most all marriages are a day of joyful celebration; the bride and groom exchanging vows and if you are married you remember that day. Whether you are happy in your marriage or unhappy that day is remembered in very accurate detail as it is a part of who you are. Problems develop in marriage for a number of reasons; the number one and two reasons are money and infidelity. Some would argue that these are the root cause of most divorces, but the root of the problem runs deeper. It is because the man and woman did not did not die to themselves, there were no funerals to witness. As real as life is; marriages are when two: ONE Man and ONE woman agree to die to themselves and become ONE. Not only by contract, promise or covenant as to the agreement of the local assembly of town and relatives; but also spiritually as promised and covenanted by the Word of God. In Genesis 2:8-25 our great God and Father ordained marriage as a covenant of TWO (one man and one woman) becoming ONE. In Ephesians 5:22-33 the apostle Paul confirms that the marriage of a man and woman is as serious as the marriage of Christ and His Bride – the Church. Just as the church is one with God, our marriages are to be one with each other as well. If our marriages have not witnessed the funeral of dying to self; we will have trouble waiting at the very end of the honeymoon. It is not too late if your marriage is suffering. Some of us die hard, but go ahead – die to yourself and let your spouse come to the funeral, then go to his or hers as well, you'll be glad you did.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 – I am not sure but I believe that there are not too many of us; myself included who take time to be holy. In this section of scripture the apostle Paul gives us the best definition of what holiness is all about. He starts out by stating that within these earthen vessels we have the perfect power of God available for every good work, so that what we do in the likeness of Christ is not from these earthen vessels but from the excellent power of God in us.

In this thought lies victory over every encumbrance and suffering that we children of God may face; in other words we are often cast down; but we are never conquered. Example: If you have been a child of God for very long you actually know this truth. You have witnessed to someone and felt the pressure; even you have been crushed by others for your words or even perplexed at some response by your sibling or child. Yes, persecuted by people but not forsaken by God who comforts us.

The child of God who walks in the excellent power of God carries with them at all times the dying body of Christ; and now you say… what is so joyful about that? Hang on! We also carry about the Life of Christ in this earthen body. This is the outworking of spiritual power. Being delivered daily to death for the sake of the gospel of Christ; that the life of Christ may be manifested through our spiritual way of life in our mortal life; death is at work and so is life. Does this sound confusing? Maybe Philippians 3:10-11 and Romans 8:17 will help. Even 1 John 2:28-3:1.