Papa “J” Says

Each of us have a mind for treasure. Some for the tangible and some for the intangible and maybe a little of both. There is something better to strive for, that would be faith, known in Proverbs as the “Fear of the LORD” Proverbs 2:1-5

The Devotional

Christmas can be a lonely time of the year. We are swooned by the media to be happy, and we are encouraged by friends and the church to be full of joy. But then, as we seek to apply ourselves to these challenges we find that we are not so happy and there just doesn't seem to be the joy that everyone else exhibits. I don't need to remind you of those “triggers” that bring you down and for fear that I have already done so, forgive me. Yesterday, I took a short time and walked through one of the local malls, I did not buy anything and I do not think that was my intention for being there. I just felt that I needed some time to be alone. Will here I was in the middle of lots of people and “boy was I alone”. Discouragement can take you for a very unfriendly trip if you let it. Now I not say that we should be as the words of a song that says something to the effect that; “Why reach for the stars? Reach for the whole universe and the stars will be included” You know the universe includes a lot of space and for you and me, its wasted. But for God that space has purpose. The scripture that we need in times of loneliness is Hebrews 13:5. Feeling sorry for our circumstances is “covetousness” or “self pity” even “wasted space”. If you are saved – Jesus will never leave you. Let Him occupy that space, you'll be glad you did!

1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 What about these pillars of the past, these examples of men and women who claimed faith in God, who purposed in their heart to follow the path of God. There are many who fell to sins of idolatry, lust and indifference. Throughout the Old Testament thousands of people were cut short of life because of their refusal to follow the instruction of God through the leaders appointed by God.

Even the leaders themselves failed, Moses did not enter the Promised Land because of his anger, David did not see the temple building completed because of immorally and Israel to this day suffers greatly for their nations rejection of the Theocracy of God. Who offered it to them before Samuel was given permission by God to seek a king for Israel. King Saul, the first king also fell from grace because he did not listen to God's command and did his own thing that displeased God.

But what do we do? We seem to be walking down the same path. All of this admonishment from Paul's epistles and the other writers too. Many of our churches are liberal in long suffering and patient waiting on the LORD. The answer as you know is in verse 13. We are tempted in every way, just as our early church fathers and those of the Old Testament, many of us fail just as these did. Yet in comparison there is a larger remnant who do not fail. These saints found that the way of escape is by proper fear of the LORD, by faith in the promise that God will provide your escape.