The Devotional

What Does Papa “J” have to Say?

It is even hard for me to think of the wisdom of God as foolishness or a stumbling block. This is because I am taught by faith that the foolishness of God (if there be any) is wiser than men and the weakness of God (if He is weak in any) is stronger than men. Proverbs 10:13

The Word of God teaches us that we are to live daily a spiritual or supernatural life. This would not be like a plastic costume that one wears to parties or holidays. Also it is not a countenance of pastel smiley, placid or sad faces on Sunday mornings or at other religious events. Most of us carry a bag of what I call (spiritual apparel) and when needed we smile or cry and look pious. (Not for God mind you, but for the people around us). This is to our shame! Oh! Now I have not singled you out here, I am as guilty as you at times, so what is it that I am driving at? I wonder, if we were to bump into the LORD Jesus today what face or costume would come out of the bag?

Jesus stated clearly that He was going away to prepare a place for us and that He would come back and take us to that place. Have you ever wondered what that place might look like, or better yet have you ever wondered what goes on there? One of the Old Testament prophets once made reference to the kingdom that Jesus is making ready for us. There will be no plastic costumes nor will there be any religious piety in this kingdom because we will see HIM as HE really is. Zephaniah 3:17. Notice Zechariah 12:10, there will be mourning in the kingdom, but God Himself will wipe away all tears with His countenance of Joy, we will sing with Him a new song.

This subject will take up the remainder of this devotional. The reason is simple: We simply see God through the eyes of darkness (1 Corinthians 13:12) and if we search the scriptures we will find out some interesting things that God has not hidden from us about what goes on in His Kingdom. When we studied Revelation a year or so ago, we found that much tribulation was going on, on the earth. If you remember we said that the events on earth were revealed to us as though we were watching a play at the local playhouse. We also said that there were intermissions and that during the intermissions, we were brought back to the kingdom and throne room of God to see what was going on in the kingdom. Each time of intermission was a time of great joy, wonderful songs, fellowship and praise to and with our God. Revelation 4:1-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 10:15-18 and Revelation 21:1-7. Now there are other periods of rejoicing in Revelation, but I leave that up to you to find them.

One last point on this. We look at God through the eyes of a sinner, we are either a sinner saved by grace or we are a sinner who has never experienced the gift of grace through faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:1-10 so we are always looking up to the holiness of God in wonder and awe. As He reveals Himself to us, He has to remind us daily that He sees us a perfect in Christ. One of the themes of the Book of Hebrews is the Perfect Kingdom of God and how faith in God makes us perfect in Jesus. Study this Book and allow God to teach you the joy of heaven. We should not think that there is not total joy in heaven, nor should we believe that God does not rejoice over our saved soul. Ezekiel 18:1-18, these are difficult passages, but these do speak of the joy of the LORD.

The Devotional

What Does Papa “J” have to Say?

Have you noticed the temperature rise and your blood boil over some thing or some one? As this goes on in your heart there is a stirring of reaction. There is a definition of love that is seldom used simply because it is not understood by the flesh. Proverbs 10:12-13 and James 3:13-18.

I've been writing for a long time and on occasion there seems to be a wall that builds up overnight, to prevent me from going any further. It does not take long though and the wall melts into nothing more than a fading fog as the sun rises on a cool autumn day. Writing is an exciting event and I can see how people spend a lifetime involved in this adventure. The grace of God to do things in life is a most precious gift and sometimes we miss out on the fulness of His grace to us because we feel inadequate and never let the gift of His grace work out in us. Ephesians 2:10 is why God gives us salvation. Salvation is a gift of grace from God to do good works. None of us are experienced at the beginning of doing anything pleasing to God. The truth is we are never in a position to claim any good biblical experience as our own to gain God's favor (grace). But we have been given grace to get better at what He has called us to do, not for our glory, but His. God has given to each of us at least one “talent” to balance out our life. The scripture clearly tells us that in order for us to understand the kingdom of heaven we must utilize the coins (talents or grace) that God has prepared beforehand for us to walk it them. Mathew 25:14-30

The Gospel of John

John 21:15-19 Ever read the Word of God and feel that burning in your heart. “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”... “feed my lambs!” or “Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me?”... tend my sheep!” or even the third time that deeply grieved Peter as Jesus challenged Peter's love for the LORD. Our natural will is, “Thank you very much, but I'll do it my way” Many religions and cults develop from well meaning people who use the talents of God wrongfully.

Jesus challenges Peter to look at his life and evaluate where he was, where he is and where he is going. Jesus called Peter to be a follower; not a church planter, a missionary, a prophet, a priest or a king. But that does not mean that Peter was not any of these. He was a church planter, a missionary, a prophet and a priest of God. Peter was also the presiding authority along with the apostle James of the church of God.

To do what God has called us to do, just as He called Peter is the most challenging call that mankind can receive from God. Jesus says to Peter that the work he will do will include a death that glorifies the Father. If you know Jesus as your personal LORD and Savior, then you know that He has said to you, “Follow Me!” So again we must ask ourselves the question. Are we following Jesus, or is our eyes still fixed on the people around us? Even in this we see Peter's heart is not totally focused on the LORD. John 21:21.

The Devotional

What Does Papa “J” have to Say?

To a child a well can be a dangerous experience and as an adult we have the responsibility to guard from danger. It is too bad that we so often drop the guard and let violence from the mouth destroy the innocence of our children. This is selfish and wicked. Proverbs 10:11

Ernie Ford and Elvis Presley often sang this song:

“Tempted and tried we're oft' made to wonder Why it should be thus all the day long; While there are others living about us, Never molested, though in the wrong. Farther along we'll know all about it. Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by”

To the man Elvis, this was a favorite song, whether he walked in the light of that song or not is another matter. But the song also was a favorite for other singers of questionable character: Bill Monroe, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Byrds and the Gaither Vocal Band. If you have been a member of any gospel preaching church you most likely have a memory or two regarding this hymn, too.

God's children do not live a life of joy because it has all been explained to them. God's children can and do live a life of joy because Jesus lives and shares His eternal joy with us. John the Baptizer puts it this way: John 3:28-30. John the apostle adds: John 15:11; 16:20-24; 17:13 and 1 John 1:4. Our hope is built on the Solid Rock of Faith, now that is Joy that is full of glory.

The Gospel of John

John 21:1-14 Well here we are, we are on the other side so to speak. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that he had been to the mountain top and seen the other side. This I do not dispute, but what was the mountain top experience for the Son of God? Hebrews 12:1-2 (take the moment an read). Even after showing Himself alive the disciples showed signs of doubt and a lack of discipline. They went back to their trades. Fishing, selling fish and boat repair.

No one seeks after God, to say that there are seekers and keepers of the Word of God must sound blasphemous to the One who stands on the shore of our lives and says; “children, have you any food?” It lakes very little for us disciples of Christ to be knocked around by doubt and fear. Think about it, just a few days before, Peter was warned by Jesus that he would deny Him. Then Peter did deny Him and Jesus had to remind Peter with His eyes. Then Peter's eyes wept bitterly because his heart was broken.

“Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” Oh friend what a statement of Omniscience, who could not know that the Person on the shore was Jesus. John who never denied Jesus recognizes Him immediately, while doubt and fear needed some reassurance. Love covers a multitude of sin. 1 Peter 4:7-11 and James 5:20. Have joy in the LORD today, He loves you.

The Devotional

What Does Papa “J” have to Say?

The patterns of sin are evident in a person. Watch the eyes as these will communicate intentions face to face. The mouth however, will always be willing to lie like the fool. Proverbs 10:10

What would be good news to you today. A new job, a new friend? As you already know the list could be endless but not hopeless. Our granddaughter would like a new laptop for school and other possibilities. My wife would like a new look in the bathrooms and laundry. So we are always just one hope away from acquiring something new. I read an email the other day of a little girl who lost her dog, it had died of old age. She did not want a new dog, but she had a new hope, a hope that the dog would go to heaven and be with God. Her mom helped her write a letter to God, they mailed it and within a couple of weeks God replied. Yes, the letter and the picture you sent of your dog helped Me identify her. She is find now and no longer sick. Along with the letter that came from some caring person in the Post Office was a book written by Mr. Rogers called; “When a pet dies” This is truly a different form of good news so the message here is that none of us have a handle on what good news is. What may be good news to one will make little difference to another. Yet there will always be good news from God that meets the need of every heart. Like Abby the dog and Meredith the little girl. God uses people to bring good news to the hearing ear and the seeing eye. Notice Romans 10:15-21.

The Gospel of John

John 20: 30-31 Are we not a people today who are dull, our eyes scan the world around us and we crave to see what we cannot have and many of us are not happy with the people or things we do have. The world around us points to objects of idolatry, our schools teach our children to accept perverted views and our standards of right and wrong are out of balance. The scales of justice are rusty and the weight of selfish indifference survives while integrity, honesty and righteousness fail to register any weight at all.

Could it be that our perception of Jesus is blurred by so called preachers and teachers who promote a sense of prosperity, faith healing and purchasing a special blessing by giving up money for God's favor? We have become tired of failed promises, failed signs, failed wonders and the ever increasing failure of men who claim to be men of God. None of these things should move us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, but these do and the world suffers from a strong dose of secular humanism and the gospel of the grace of God is MISSED.

The apostle John in his gospel presents seven signs that Jesus did to prove His presence with us as God with us. Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23). Yes Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and in believing this truth, God the Father will be glorified in you by the eighth sign which if recorded each one, there would more books written and the earth would not be able to contain the library. However there is this placed called heaven where this book of Life is being filled everyday. Now that is GOOD NEWS! John 21:25.

A Study of Colossians

The Relationship of Christ to His Saints

Colossians 1:19-23

Sometimes when we see someone who is having a tough time of it, we want to help out and offer a lending hand. But there are times that after observation we may gossip and say to someone close by, that person is not playing with a full deck!

Also we have those adolescents or young adults who on certain days are children and on other days very mature in the way things are playing out. We can even say that about some seasoned people, you know I think so and so is in their second childhood.

In our evaluation of the people of the world, including ourselves we always seem to think or feel that we are lacking in some way. I've said many times that I am like a motor on in the car in need of oil, I seem always to be a quart low.

As we begin our lesson today we need to look somewhat beyond our sinful finite person and look to the sinless infinite Person of Jesus Christ our LORD.

Colossians 1:19 In this verse we begin to see the supremacy of God in Christ in that it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all of the fulness should dwell. The word fulness in the Greek is poma and it literally means to drink in. So in the humanity of Jesus, God the Father was pleased to have His Son drink in the fulness of God and the fulness of the Holy Spirit, making the Living Word of God the Son of God in human flesh. Colossians 2:9.

Now lets take this step further, when Jesus died on the cross He was thirsty (dehydrated) but He was not thirsty for God, since all of the fulness of the Godhead was very much Him on the cross. Yet, in this moment of time God allowed Himself to taste death for everyone of us... for you, for me and for everyone you may have opportunity to love or hate in your lifetime. John 19:28-30 Death experienced by the Living God was sour wine on a sponge. Life was being pour out of Him and He said, “I thirst” and if you have Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOR, your taste of death has already been consumed by God for you. He is Risen and He is alive. Colossians 2:10.

This is God's Plan that the fulness of the Godhead in the Person of Jesus Christ demonstrates to the world, (for God so loved the world – John 3:16) That God was in Christ reconciling the world of lost people back to Him (God the Father). Reconciliation can mean a lot of things to you and me, but it is what it means to God that counts. So, what does reconciliation mean to God?

The word atonement in the Old Testament is the same word reconciliation in the New Testament. This word gives the work of God through Jesus Christ, His Son One purpose of meaning only, it means “Sin offering” Leviticus 6:30

Colossians 1:20 This also means that God was in the world reconciling or atoning for the sins of mankind from the very beginning of the fall. Genesis 3:20-24 is the first atonement for mankind to live reconciled in an unreconciled world. This atonement is an ongoing work of God to reconcile all things in heaven and earth to peace with God. This is a work of God that when He sees the blood of the Old Testament and the New Testament as an expression of faith in Him by the people who look to the work of God for salvation, their sins are atoned for. Numbers 21:8-9 and now we shall see the fulness of the LORD Jesus in this atonement. John 3:14-16. Oh how we need to be children of God with context, don't just pull a verse of scripture out of thin air, know the context and it will mean so much more.

Colossians 1:21 Our world is full of reconciliations, it is common place for us to do things over and over again just to keep a good balance. We even do this with our sinful nature. When ever we sin we need to make an adjustment to bring things back into balance with God, but this is not the same as our initial moment with God when we were first reconciled. Notice this verse within the context. It pleased the Father to taste death for each of us sinners, God does not have to do this again and again. Also, everything whether in heaven or on earth has been reconciled, all God wants us to do is believe this by faith in His Work. In other words because we believe He has replaced our wicked works with His Holy Work. The Work of the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. So when we fail to observe this holy position that God has provided for in in His Son, we sin. This is not the initial sin of having to be reborn in the family of God, but a sin that has already been atoned for by God. We need only to acknowledge this by agreeing with God and repent (change our mind). 1 John 1:9.

Colossians 1:22 so we belong to Christ, we are in the body of His death by faith. In this position we will be presented to God the Father as Holy; as blameless and as irreproachable (blameless and irreproachable) in the English dictionary mean the same thing. But in the KJV the word is unreproveable which is not in the English dictionary, but if you look at the word in the Greek, you get the message, it means (no longer accused). I don't know how that affects you but for me this is awesome.

Colossians 1:23 So this is the ongoing message of the Living Word of God, it has been preached, taught and brought to the world. Not by man, but by God Himself. If you hear the message an appropriate the truth of the message by faith, you will be grounded and steadfast and you will not be easily moved away by the doctrines of Satan and the men who follow him.