A Devotional Look at the Book #554

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Personal and National Sin: -- Psalm 119:1-8 Having to walk in the way of the LORD is progressive in that; we are blameless, blessed and full of beatitudes that please God. While the Holy Spirit guides us, no sin can harm us or those near by! We are peace maker or if you prefer; ambassadors.

Good Morning

A story of life in Christ is so different than a story of life in the world without Him. One event with Him as LORD is worth more than all the history of one unsaved life. I believe that this is why I tell stories about my past. My heart's desire is to see people living out their salvation, experiencing God! I see people everyday who say that they are saved, but they have a small testimony and rarely will they talk of any fellowship in the Spirit. The life of the apostle Paul was filled with adventure in Christ; somehow we think that this adventure is just for people like him or some missionary. We like to read books about the men and women of God in mission field whom God uses for His glory. Then in our heart of hearts we may long to do something too! Life in Christ is not boring or routine; Jesus did not show up on planet earth to get us through life. He came to show us how to live life (John 1:4), He came to give us life (John 5:21) and He came to provide us with abundant life (John 10:10). So, like the apostle Paul you do have a story to tell; just take the time to take a look! It is an exciting story; not because of you, but because as the Holy Spirit lives in you; Jesus Christ is in your story because it is His story. John 16:5-15

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 – Over the course of a few days we have put together some thoughts about suffering, comfort and joy. Our thoughts on all these conditions of life vary a great deal since each of us react differently than the other even though there is commonality in all of these conditions. For example; one person may have joy of heart in an event while the other may experience in the same event sadness of heart. It is because these events are generated in life and circumstance. Yet, as Paul states in 2 Corinthians 4:7-15; we are not totally cast down because we as believers are never conquered… WHY?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a man-made truth; it is God made. The assurance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not man-made; it is God made. The judgment Seat of Christ is not man-made; it is God made. Therefore the death and resurrection of believers is not man-made; it is God made. As a result of allowing God to comfort us in the variables of suffering, comfort and joy we obtain a story of reconciliation in that through the trails and temptations of life; we are a new creation in Christ… the old is given up for the new. WE HAVE THE ONLY MESSAGE worth sharing. “On behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God”.

For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin (personally) to be sin for us (you and me) that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (imputed Christ’s Righteousness; in whom God is pleased with), 2 Peter 1:16-21. Thus reconciliation is the only truth or message to the unbelieving world around you and me that can make peace with God. We who have experienced this peace with God have become ambassadors for Him. So then the variables of life lived actually become God made assurances of our resurrection estate with Christ. To those who are without Christ; we are seen as peace makers. (Ambassadors)

A Devotional Look at the Book #553

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Personal and National Sin: -- Psalm 119:96 Even when the decree or covenant of man is completed and all known errors are corrected and man has done his best. Even then, the Best is yet to be realized since the Commandment of God by His decree or covenant will; by length and berth, supersede.

Good Morning

March 2009 – Manama Bahrain – Do we even know where this place is? Unless you are tied to the Navy in some way, you do not know and maybe you do not even care! A collision at sea between a nuclear power submarine and a surface ship, both vessels belonging to the U.S. Navy; simply put, human error is the only reasonable conclusion. The decisions of the crew on board the submarine as in all Navy vessels fell to the responsibility of one; the Captain of the ship. Who without doubt was relieved of his authority as Captain within twenty four hours! The men involved were not a handful of five, but the whole crew; yet one man became the “scapegoat” for all the men. For this Captain, his career as Submarine Commander is over. As for the crew, they will be reprimanded, some will receive damaging letters to be placed in their service records and some will be re-assigned to subordinate duties. All will be able to re-build a troubled career, but to a lesser degree. This is human life's picture of sin too; sin has rammed us all into the bottomless pit, we have crashed and trash our world. Yet there is one who stands in the gap, even referred to in the Holy Bible as our “scapegoat”. He is better known to us as the LAMB (John 1:29), the sacrifice, the one for the many. He however is not like the captain of an ill fated moment in time. This Captain is He who willingly took our human error (SIN) and nailed it to the tree (Colossians 2:14). This Captain alone is our eternal salvation as the KJV puts it in Hebrews 2:10. His career did not end at Calvary, He is the author of eternal salvation; HE IS RISEN, HE IS ALIVE and you can follow HIM! For He alone has rescued us – one by one from the bottomless pit. Won't you let Him be your Captain? Jesus does not re-build lives... He gives new life by faith in Him through the grace of God His Father. Ephesians 2:1-10.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:14-17 – Romans 6:6 and Galatians 2:20 helps us to see that the life and death of the LORD Jesus has open the door for all that are saved to have purpose in life. The unsaved world around us has no purpose for living; even unto their own relative righteous standard. The constraint of God’s love is not a restriction to live our life in Christ under the Law, but is liberty to live life in the resurrection power of God while living in this earthen vessel.

The world around us lives life to die. Those who are saved, live life to live. Does this sound strange to you or do you fail to understand that life lived by the standard of the world is that of death. But life lived in truth that Jesus died and rose again meaning that we who by faith are living in the power of God; the power that raised Jesus for the dead. This same power will enable you and me to join Jesus in His resurrection Life, even though we do not see Him in this present life. This is comforting; since this present life is suffering and the life to come will be peace and joy with Jesus.

Living in this present life with the knowledge that we are His is a great joy; this joy is not the result of any work of righteousness that we have done. Simply put; if we were able to remake our life it would be like sowing a piece of new cloth on to an old shirt. The strength of the new would cause the old too tear ruining the patch Matthew 9:16. We must be willing to let God make a new creation out of this earthen vessel. All things are made new in Christ.

A Devotional Look at the Book #552

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Personal and National Sin: -- Psalm 119:94 personal perils and hardships feel the urgency of rescue. Mental depression or physical oppression are hardships; requiring His Hand of comfort and direction – Joshua 1:5

Good Morning

A few years back I was attending fire fighter training. All of us were required to go through a smoke filled structure in SCBA gear (breathing tanks). Our heads were covered with white cloth (simulating thick smoke) and we were made to be disorientated by having to spin around until our sense of direction was confused. Inside the structure, there were fallen pieces of wood and ceiling, furniture and many obstructions. At times the way was so narrow that we had to remove our breathing gear from our back and pushed on the floor in front of us. Then on the other side of the obstacle; put it back on properly. Removing the air pack was at end of the training session, I had to lay flat and slide through the space and push the canister in front of me which also protected me from any obstacle that may be blocking my way. It seemed to me like this event was never going to end, and then I heard someone say, “Stand up Jesse!” I said, “I can't!” their reply was, “why not, don't you see the light, your in the clear now?” I said, “No!” and the instructors said, “Then open your eyes!” At some point, I felt as if my eyes were useless in this environment so I closed them tightly. I had crawled about twenty feet further than I needed to. We all had a good laugh. Later when I was thinking through this event I was reminded that there are many times in life that we have the blinders on and when the going gets tougher, we tighten up our vision. We live in tough times, and many of us are walking about with our eyes shut tightly. Psalm 119:18 Let God restore your sight and brighten those things that look so dim or dire in the world around us! This is a matter of purpose in life and not a matter to laugh at!

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:12-13 – I have been thinking (could be dangerous) however; every epistle is to a church with the exceptions of Timothy, Titus and Philemon. Yet even these epistles are called Pastoral Epistles related to church doctrine. So I am seeing a broader application of truth in this way. While it is necessary that each of us are to be a good steward over our eternal estate in Christ; it is likewise necessary that our church relationship with our church family be of a same purpose too.

Religion then is nothing more than appearance and is not of the heart. The heart response of the individual and the heart response of the church must be the same and if it is not then as the apostle first said in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 that the church and the people are nothing more than carnal (fleshly) babes in Christ. It does matter how we act and react to one another; but the main thing is that what we do should always be pleasing to God. If I treat you without regard to your need; then I have failed; yet if the church does the same, then it too has failed. Our testimony to the people around us has become a stumbling block.

We have a personal relationship with God that will spill over into our corporate relationship with our church family. Our personal lives will reveal to our brothers and sisters within the body our true spiritual colors. When I first was saved in 1975 there were many folks who knew and understood the bond of Brotherly love, but it seems that many have forgotten the command to let, brotherly love continue… Hebrews 13:1-9. So then; churches and saints suffer, being estranged from the solid doctrines of excellent power and grace.

A Devotional Look at the Book #551

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Personal and National Sin: -- Psalm 119:93 Can the Laws, Precepts, Statutes or the Words of God change like the laws, precepts, statutes and words of human government? Believe it or not the answer is… NO!

Good Morning

Many thoughts run through the country these days about the uncertainty of the future. This uncertainty prods me to talk about direction or purpose in life. It is a staggering thought to know that almost every person I talk with including many within the local church do not have a clear purpose for living life. This along with my love for the Word of God; challenges me daily, to say a few things that may direct our focus on Him whom we do not see; instead of the temporal sights of false authority that we do see. To move in the direction of looking upward rather than looking forward we first must understand that our world is spinning out of control. We have been living in the last days for nearly two thousand years and it does not take much wisdom to know that we are a lot closer to the return of the LORD Jesus than we were yesterday. Reformed theology! How does that work? Reform the Word of the Living God? If Jesus says that He is coming again and that we should be looking for His return; then why are so many pastors of churches asleep at the wheel? The words in John 14:1-4 they belong to the LORD, but somehow our attention span for truth is somewhat like a sound bite in commercials on the television. Someone teaches TRUTH and we hit the MUTE button. In order for us to have purpose in life we must KNOW that this estate here on earth is temporal and full of good and evil. The LORD sums this up much better with these words found in Matthew 5:17-20. We could memorize these words; but it is far better to live them out with purpose. He is coming again and we are given the promise with purpose to look for His return.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 – I remember times on ballistic missile submarines when we would fire training missiles. We would go to the southern areas of the Atlantic Ocean and fire four missiles, the location of this area was only known to most on the ship as longitude and latitude; you know some little spot in the world surrounded by water. For that event it was not judgment day for the spot in the ocean it was judgment day for the performance of the ship and her crew.

Now there is a lot that goes into this event. The expense of the trip, the missiles, the weather, the atmospheric conditions aboard the submarine after the launch of the missiles, watertight integrity, the weight of the ship before and after the launch and a host of other considerations to numerous to explain here. All of this material and conditional aspects of a military training event will be evaluated and given a grade of pass or fail. When the ship passes there is great elation from all members of the crew. When the ship fails; it means more hard work and another chance to prove their military worthiness.

NOTICE: We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body. (Is this the personal body of you and me; is it the body of the church of Jesus Christ or is this a combination of both?) I believe both. The submarine has a skipper and exec and a crew and together the ship has power and great potential. The Godhead contains the Commander, the Executor and the Crew; 2 Corinthians 4:7 also helps us to see that we cannot live with purpose in this life if we fail to live apart from… one LORD, one FAITH, one BAPTISM and ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL; who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:3-6. Yet, at the judgment seat; we personally and corporately will not get a second chance since the judgment will not be evaluated on human works; but by the utilization of the treasure in these earthen vessels… individually and corporately.

A Devotional Look at the Book #550

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Personal and National Sin: -- Psalm 119:89 The Word of God was written over a span of six thousand years, but His Word has been settled in heaven... Forever! It is futile to argue with that. History reveals that men have tried… yet; The Word of God still stands and so it will, Forever!

Good Morning

Is it time for another update on Fatso and Skinny? It has been nearly a year since Cutie Pie the Parakeet died so the house is a lot quieter and the two finches seem to like the peace. However this does not mean that Fatso has changed his ways. He is still very bossy over Skinny. Skinny likes clean straw in the nest and will spend hours picking up one piece at a time and placing it in the nest; all the while Fatso is arguing with him. Skinny puts the straw in and Fatso; squawking all the time, takes it out. Then after this hard days work; they both take baths in their drinking water and shake the water all over place. After that they sit and listen to the “oldie’s station on the radio. Sort of reminds me of married life; you know the wife spends her time cleaning and ironing the clothes; folding and putting away. The husband puts on a pair of socks; he decides he doesn’t like the color and tosses the socks under the bed and grabs another clean pair. He does this with other clothing too. By the end of the day and all tuckered out from tossing clothing to and fro, they both sit down for a little television entertainment. Is there a point to this, Jesse? Well yes; and I am so glad you asked. There are twelve chapters in the book of Ecclesiastes. Eleven chapters discuss the vanity of mankind “under” the sun and the final chapter challenges the reader to get hold of life by remembering the Creator before old age takes life away piece by piece. Don’t waste life over the vanities of this world under the sun. Be a good steward of your time under the SON. John 15:1-8.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 – The confidence of living life is as comfortable as sitting in our living room at home and being protected from the elements of weather, temperaments of people and other forms of suffering. Yet even at home in this body of flesh there remains an element of uncertainty or absence from our Creator. The unbelieving person fills this void with the potions of the world to compensate for this emptiness. You know; controlling bondages that destroy marriages, children, communities, towns and nations.

These conditions cause the believer in Christ to groan in his or her mortal existence to be further clothed so God comforts us with sanctification. This is a process which take us from selfish desire (self righteousness) to the will of God (Christ’s Righteousness). The swallowing up if you will; of this mortal body by the LIFE of Christ in us. Again and as you remember the epistle of 2 Corinthians is about the comfort that God provides to His saints while they suffer in this life. Suffering is a normal condition of physical life. In other words for this mortal to put on immortality is the full process of: Justification, Sanctification and Glorification; all of these spiritual acquisitions are accomplished by Christ in us (The Holy Spirit as explained in 2 Corinthians 3:17) as we walk by FAITH and not by SIGHT. 1 Peter 4:4-19 helps amplify this.

This ongoing work of salvation is confidence in God; but in addition to this confidence is the Spiritual reality that we are well pleased in this absence since while we live in this earthen vessel and utilize the treasure of God’s Mercy over every circumstance of suffering, there is this eternal weight of glory being built up for us who look at eternity with Christ, rather than the temporal things in front of our physical eyes; knowing that when we are finally absent from this body of flesh, we will be forever present with the LORD. Face to face in all of His Glory!