A Devotional Study of the Living Word of God

Psalm 119:70 If we could take a picture of the heart that God looks at, it might very well resemble any busy street in most American cities. Obese men, women and children. The Law of the LORD is the best program of diet and exercise available to us and many ignore it!

Good Morning

Many struggle with understanding the term, “in Christ”. Primarily it means safety, safety from the dangers and fears of life on earth. Technology allows for a submarine to be below the surface of the water for very long periods of time, for example; a submarine is capable of making air to breath, oxygen, fresh water, electrical power, propulsion and a host of other essentials to sustain life. But these attributes are not what keep the men safe. It is the hull of the ship that goes around all of the equipment and men inside. The steel that surrounds and keeps safety for the crew is flexible, it expands and retracts as the depth increases or decreases. So the hull, is the atonement for safety. Another way to describe this is to look at the ark that Noah was commanded by God to build. Genesis 6:14. God commanded Noah to put “pitch” on the inside and outside of the Ark to make it watertight, or waterproof. The word “pitch” in Hebrew is the word “Kaphar”, this is the exact same word used for the word “atonement”. Thus, to be “In Christ” is to be living in the essentials of a sustained life, not by what you have, but by who is “protecting you”. Just as Noah understood that he and his family would be safe during the flood, we can have the same assurance that; “Christ has regarded our helpless estate and has shed His own blood “atonement” for our soul.”

Acts 21

Acts 21:1-5 Returning to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey the apostle Paul, Luke and other disciples find passage to Tyre on a cargo ship. The Holy Spirit through the disciples in Tyre warns Paul about the trouble he will face in Jerusalem. When is the last time we as a group of disciples went with anyone, or any of the leadership to the train, bus or airport to see them off. When is the last time we prayed and sang a hymn in public? Spirit filled disciples of Christ do this from time to time, but it is not all the time. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Acts 21:6-8 These events of travel and sailing remind me so much of the days I spent going from port to port on the way to some final destination, or returning home. As a disciple of Christ, God will never fail to connect you with the disciples in the land where are. Seems that the Holy Spirit who is responsible to guide us into all truth also guides us to a word of wisdom from some brother or sister whom we've not met till then, or an old acquaintance from a previous trip. I truly miss those days...

Acts 21:9-14 These are uncertain times we live in today. Times of civil unrest because of the economy. Political unrest because of the lack of good leadership. Corporate unrest because of greed and Spiritual unrest because to the looming prediction of persecution. The prophets of these times we live in today are mostly false, predicting recovery, restitution and reorganization. The reason for all of this false talk is that little is being done to curb the growing problems of persecution, abortion and crime. Nevertheless, the will of the LORD be done.