The Devotional

Papa “J” says

If you ever want to measure time, just find a wise elderly person. They just may have the time to explain it to you. It should not take more than a minute!

If you have experience as a submarine sailor then when you hear the words; &ldquoive, Dive” the words tend to be very comforting. You know that soon things will be normal in that it is “normal” for a submarine to be under the water and abnormal for it to be on the surface. For those sailors who in the control of the submarine on the surface the awareness of dangers are all around them. If you do any boating you will understand. Submarines on the surface are normally near land and the port is either approaching or rescinding. Small craft are all around and usually advancing from every angle. To hear the words; “collision imminent” and the sound of the collision alarm is to send a fear into your heart like nothing you can imagine. The submarine is designed to be under the water, the vessel being hit by the submarine is not. In fact; most of the events of subs running into another vessel at sea have resulted in little damage to the sub, but loss of life and the ship or boat being involved. The fear then is not for self, but for others.

Psalm 22

Psalm 22:3- In death our LORD, He looks to His Father from this human position of suffering and comments on a holiness that draws all mankind to praise God. How mankind learns to trust in the holiness of God. Holiness is like a banner that protects those who trust. The standard that goes before us preparing the footpath for us to walk. Life is the pathway that leads to eternity. How much easier it is to walk that path when the holiness of God leads the way. Psalm 119:105.

As His death draws near the shame of public execution hangs heavy in His thoughts, Jesus felt the reproach of His peers. He felt less than human and despised. If you've witnessed the scornful laughter and the contemptible gestures of people, whether it was you, or someone you knew. Or, even if you were a partner in those who ridiculed you felt the moment and you remember it keenly. And again trust is in the picture only this time it is being used against the One trusting.

But again the LORD's thoughts race to another attribute of His Father. Jesus focuses on His birth. Not only was His birth supernatural, but it was “All Powerful” in that the Father Himself delivered Jesus from the womb of Mary. Jesus recounts His birth as being protected by the Father, thus in His death and resurrection Jesus will also be protected by the Fathers Hand. Such knowledge is more than we can bear, but we belong to Christ through trusting in His Death and Resurrection and we can be assured that He will raise us up again in the last day. John 5:28-29.