The Devotional

Papa J's rules for Livin #162

Complacency and Apathy are co-partners. They do not normally commit to anything worthy of good or evil. This to is a selfish bent on life that destroys.

In getting ready for Christmas this season, Fatso, Skinny, Cutie Pie and a new bird, Noisy have moved into my office. Noisy is the same species of bird as Fatso and Skinny, a finch. When we got the bird it was under fed and almost died, in fact one of the brothers or sisters was dead in the cage when we took them home. I believe that Noisy is the way he or she is because of having a second chance at life. The bird was very quite, had sunken eyes and the beak was pale when it came home with us. After a few days of food and water it's personality changed from a quite almost unconcerned attitude to one that is now, full of joy. The bird literally stirs up the air with singing and noise. The other birds who are not lazy with things to do are somewhat amazed at their friend in a cage by itself. Flying from one end of the cage to the other, singing and even getting Cutie Pie the Parakeet involve. Cutie Pie is the only parakeet and she likes looking at herself in the mirror. Maybe she does this to remind herself that she is a parakeet and not a finch, who knows? The bottom line to this is that it is nice to have them in the office with me, they entertain and sing and they brighten the day. God's purposes in His created beings are far more connected to our well being then we may understand. Creatures like these are created by Him to bring joy to our lives. If we choose to ignore this, we do ourselves an injustice.

1 Corinthians 6

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 These passages of scripture are not easy in at least two ways. One is that the issues of life in these words are difficult to talk about and secondly these are teaching us a Spiritual principle of living as one with the LORD Jesus Christ. Salvation when it happens to a person, takes a blacken, blind soul and cleanses it. Not only is that soul pure white and standing in the perfect Righteousness of Christ, but the soul is for the first time able to see the purity of being holy. The effects on this soul is somewhat like that of Noisy who got a second chance at life.

That soul begins to see that everything fits into the lawful purpose of living. Love, marriage, family, friends, food, social gatherings, military actions, freedoms, education, health and government; all fit into the lawful intent of living. Where we fail in these things is when we allow ourselves to become one with the power of any of it. It is not helpful to anyone to go beyond the law and allow the power of things to control us. These things happen to unbelievers because of the power of bondage the controls the good and evil intents of the unregenerate heart.

As saints, we serve a New Master, a calling that the world around us has not heard. We have been joined to the LORD and we are one with Him in the Spirit who guides us into all truth. The apostle in this section of 1 Corinthians has covered several sins of the flesh that will destroy people, families and churches if not corrected. Having a complacent or apathetic attitude about these things of life, will separate us from our position in Christ. The purity of our soul becomes darkened once again and we are estranged from Christ our LORD. Many in our churches today are not serving Christ because of their return to the world of bondage.