Do people become rude and "angry" as they get older? Can parents and family embarrass us beyond humility? Where did they get the courage to just "blurt out" what they are thinking anywhere, anytime? Maybe they feel an urgency to expose EVIL; maybe they instinctively, Spiritually and earnestly loathe those things that do harm to life and Spiritual harmony. Proverbs 8:13, "The love of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way..." They are certainly unique in that they do not possess self-centeredness so cowardly, extreme and pervasive as to cause subtle violence against the Spirit of others. In our pretense of righteousness and piety do we not recognize the courage and urgency of their wisdom? Do they LOVE THE LORD AND HATE EVIL so much, that there is no time to indulge our selfish egos and COWARDLY BLENDINNG WITH, AND ACCEPTANCE OF, THE WORLD?
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As phenomenal as it may sound, one grain of wheat can produce twelve or fifteen hundred new grains when sewn in good soil. The same seed sewn "along the path, rocky ground or among thorns will soon be choked and die" (Mathew 13:3-89). Could it be that the "seed" is THE WORD OF GOD and the "soil" is the "CONDITION OF OUR HEART"? Remember even "GOOD SOIL" has some rocks and thorns, BUT IT DOESN'T KILL THE SEED. Don't be discouraged when we experience a few rocks and thorns in our way; JUST KNOW THE HARVEST OF BLESSINGS ARE COMING; A HUNDRED FOLD.
Is adversity really disguised opportunity? Could it be that ADVERSITY is when GOD places us at the right place, at the right time, so we can PLANT A SEED OF FAITH that will REAP A DIVINE HARVEST? Does ADVERSITY get our ATTENTION, lead us to SELF-EXAMINATION and CHANGE our every thought? IF IT WASN'T FOR "ADVERSITY" WITH GOLIATH, DAVID WOULD HAVE REMAINED A SHEPHERD (1 Samuel 17).
Do we feel guilty and think it is disrespectful to GOD when we "fall" asleep Praying? Or, could it be GOD'S WAY of letting us know we are right where HE WANTS us? Are we like a child in our FATHER'S arms where we cease from our work, worries and fear? Do we become so content that our mind is only on GOD and those things of GOD? Do we lie down and are not afraid; and our sleep is sweet (Proverbs 3:24)? NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP, I PRAY O'LORD MY SOUL TO KEEP....WE ARE WHERE WE WANT TO BE; AND WE ARE RIGHT WHERE HE WANTS US.
To understand OUR PURPOSE in life, is not OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE. Ecclesiastes 1:17, "I set my heart to know wisdom...I perceived that this is also grasping for the wind". Mediating upon our experiences and attempting to understand "temporary" things, does not give us WISDOM. Do we justify our quest for PURPOSE so that we will have DIRECTION IN LIFE? And, do we follow this direction until it does not agree with what we want to do? Our reckless, erroneous thinking cannot give us WISDOM and PURPOSE. Could it be, that OUR PURPOSE WILL REMAIN A MYSTERY UNTIL WE EXPERIENCE HIS PLEASURE?
Have you ever gone to Church in Walmart's parking lot? When we fellowship as ONE, "WHEN-EVER" AND "WHEREVER", we are IN CHURCH and it becomes the MOST HOLY OF DAYS. At these moments we are free of man made rules, observances and liturgy; WE ARE UNDER GRACE, FREE IN CHRIST. Our "membership" in the CHURCH comes when we are "BORN AGAIN" and the HOLY SPIRIT is in us, not some written pledge or "signed agreement". "CHRIST has made us free, and we will not again be entangled with the yoke of bondage," (Galatians 5:1). A TIME WHEN ANY, AND EVERY, DAY IS HOLY; AND CHURCH CAN TAKE PLACE IN A WALMART PARKING LOT.
When we say we "take up our Cross" to follow JESUS (Matthew 16:24), do we visualize commitment to pain, torment and hardships? THE CROSS is not designed to inflict continual pain, IT IS DESIGNED FOR DEATH! Does our CROSS bring an end to our own "self-life", "self-indulgent" passions and desires? Do we give over our whole self; our wishes, desires, precautions and control to CHRIST? Is our ULTIMATE CROSS the relinquishing of our will to the WILL OF GOD? OR ARE WE "SUPERFICIAL SAINTS" WHERE JESUS HAS TO DO ALL OF THE DYING?
For most of our lives THE TRINITY has been explained to us by analogies of the "THREE LEAF CLOVER"; the "THREE PARTS OF AN EGG"; or the "THREE FORMS OF WATER" (liquid, ice and vapor). Our Dad's are Dad's to us, Husband's to their wife, and a Laborer to his job. Mark 12:32, "...HE is ONE, and there is no other like HIM". THE HOLY SPIRIT is GOD IN US; JESUS is GOD INCARNATE; and GOD IS OUR FATHER. Why do we try to change WHO GOD IS? GOD IS ONE.
"Man can build a dam, but it is beyond him to make the wood". Therefore, how can man even perceive GOD? GOD, HIS Law, HIS WORD, HIS Promises and HIS Commands are not different things, facts or TRUTH. Isaiah 57:15, "...WHO inhabits ETERNITY, I dwell in the high and holy place...contrite and lowly SPIRIT". If we have met GOD personally, today's Devotional would render speech and action unnecessary; because thoughts would REVEAL DIVINE REVELATIONS, AND THESE REVELATIONS WOULD APPEAR AS MIRACLES. If we cannot number the stars or make a mountain who are we to QUESTION AND DESCRIBE GOD?
Do we tend to use FACTS to make the wrong we are doing appear right? FACTS and TRUTH are commonly equated; but how can that be when in our courts of law, FACTS are used to bring about INJUSTICE, IN THE NAME OF TRUTH? Could TRUTH be THE TRANSPARENCY OF OUR INTENTIONS? Isn't TRUTH the whole expression of one's total being: the harmony of word, deed, motive and the character of GOD? Ephesians 6:14, "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of TRUTH...". THE REVELATION OF TRUTH GIVES THE POWER OF TRUST. In our quest for TRUTH do we prove ourselves to LIARS?
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About the Author and writerThe writer for our daily devotionals wishes to remain anonymous in regard to his work, giving instead Glory to the Author. Archives
December 2015
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