The Devotional - A Look at the Book #634

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #634

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #634

Papa “J” May Say

A short term missions trip could be seen as a vacation with a purpose and maybe it is for some. However; the LORD Jesus in the back drop of Eternity, did not take a vacation in coming to earth. Need we say more? John 10:10

Thoughts about Life

I admit that the thought of writing out a need or request and placing that request in some religious book or commentary seemed to me a bit off the mark. I determined to zero in on my friends religious efforts and began asking him how he might like to have a better and more personal relationship with God. His answers were in line with his theology; God is the Creator and controller of time and He has no personal relationship with people. Bad things happen to good people simply because God is not concerned with any one individual’s health or trauma. So I asked him; “who then extended the life of Hezekiah’s by fifteen years when he became sick” and what about Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son who suffered trauma at a young age. (2 Kings 20 and 2 Samuel 4) The references supplied here but not on the plane. My friend did not have an answer, so he excused himself and became involved with a conversation with some of his people. Also it was time for more prayer and more bobbing and weaving. When this prayer session was over my friend did not return but sent a younger (teen) to sit in his seat next to me. We are only three hours from Kiev at this point.

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 1-2 – Literally Solomon says that “flies of death” putrefy the perfumer’s ointment and this reminds me of the freshness of the air we breathe. The purified air on a submarine is healthier than the fresh air when the sub is surfaced and the hatches are open. The fresh air will even have a foul odor to the sub sailor who has been breathing purified air for a long period of time. Likewise; when righteous people behave with foolishness, their honor and integrity becomes an open target for the flies of death and an odious stench will develop.

Being right handed or left handed is not the issue here, but integrity is. That is, if you are right handed and try to toss a ball with your left hand you will be less effective in sending the ball to the intended destination. So it is with honor and integrity; we know what is right and what is wrong. Never let your weak hand know what your dominate hand is doing and you will not be foolish in your dealings with mankind, or God. Matthew 6:1-4 the deeds of the Spirit and the flesh are evident too the world around us.