The Devotional

Papa J's rules for Livin #114

Humanism is much different than rationalism, yet both are formulated by a lack of faith. Yes; work and grace are very different too, but both function by faith! Ephesians 2:8-10

Submarine warfare is not one of my strong subjects, but I remember an incident during the “cold war” period when we were transiting from the Mediterranean Sea and beginning to head north to England. With the Azores to our West and only the open Atlantic to punch through. The Sonar Supervisor reported an enemy submarine very close and that it had positioned for an attack on us, our Captain sounded the “General Alarm” (battle stations). Now both subs were positioned in a stand off. The enemy submarine was a Russian ship equivalent to our fast attack subs. Our submarine was a missile platform with enough explosive power to wipe out the entire continent of Northern Europe. The fast attack fired a torpedo, we were at four hundred feet, immediately we dove to a much greater depth made some tactical things happen and all went well. Later during the investigation of this incident the Russians stated that the torpedo they fired was a training torpedo. No one but those who were on that submarine knows for sure. I suppose for their sake we followed protocol and did not engage by firing back, our torpedoes were not for training purposes, but for defense. There is a lot more to this story but the point is clear. There is an enemy who is on the attack, then when confronted “lies”.

James 3

James 3:13-18 Just as the short story above presents “good and evil” from my side of the story, I am sure that the sailors of that other submarine present their story of good and evil as well. So who is wise and understands the wisdom of such things. It is the one who has a character of good conduct which is done in the meekness of wisdom. For me, our captain demonstrated wisdom to react according to the standing orders he had been given by his higher commanders. The Russian captain had standing orders too, but he did not follow the protocol, he reacted from a self-seeking heart.
 

The Creator is at war with the created, or you can say that the Wisdom of God is in opposition to the sensual, earthly and demonic wisdom of the fallen world. God has rescued or called out the saved of this world to do battle with the enemy. He has equipped us with battle clothing, (Ephesians 6:10-18), He has provided us with power from on high, (Acts 1:8) and He has provided wisdom and understanding to each of us by equipping us with the mind of Christ. (John 15:15; 1 Corinthians 2:16 and Philippians 2:5-11).
 

This is the work of faith and the lack of faith. The wisdom of God is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to give, full of good works and merciful. If we as believers in Jesus are not acting in this manner, then it does not take a lot of thinking to know that we are failing to do what God has called us to do. Righteousness is sown in the hearts of others by righteousness and peace is the the by-product of those who make peace.