The Devotional

Papa “J” says

The books are opened and they are judged by their works. Why are they not judged by their sins? Behold the LAMB of God who takes away the sins of the world. Sin is not present at the Great White Throne, only the unbeliever, the Judge and His books!

He was as rough as they come and in his late thirties, but he look as though he was sixty. He had a very bad case of jaundice, he smoked, drank and cursed; and the first two he was told to give up. It was impossible to befriend him. His favorite comment was; “Sailors belong on ships and ships belong at sea – how come were still in port?” He had other salty sayings too, but most are not repeatable, but of course you would know that, huh? I had many encounters with him because he was the first Chief Boatswain mate I ever met and the one who had control of my liberty. I found myself hating him at times because his plan and purpose in Navy life always ran contrary to mine. But he did have, under all of that “sailor jargon” some wisdom. Most of the people he dealt with were like me, we did not know the difference between what was rain and what was salt water, so it was his job to teach us the difference. “Stick out your tongue you nitwit; like this! If it tastes salty its salt water and if it tastes like the stuff you drink, its rain!” And relax, I ain't 'teachin' you anything that I don't already know, and teach us, he did.

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Somewhat like the Navy, God has His chiefs as well and as the apostle Paul would say in 2 Corinthians 11:5 that he was a little rude in speech, but not in knowledge. You know it is these experiences that help me identify with men like Paul and others in the Bible. I share these with you in order that all of us can see that even if God is willing to make you a chief teacher of His word. He first, takes you from a selection of chief sinners. 1 Timothy 1:14-15.

Once you meet Christ and He shows you His hands, His feet and His pierced side. Once He places in your hands the scriptures that explain His death, His burial, His resurrection and once your soul sees that it is Christ alone, by faith alone that satisfies the emptiness of life without Him. The gospel will become clear and you will enter into His kingdom, a kingdom of His Righteousness.

Yet all of this will not be because of who you are. It will be because, God has chosen men and women to place in your life along the way who were the chief teachers in the world of darkness. Who like Paul were made perfect in the Blood of the LAMB and now they are chiefs in God's army or navy. Who studied the scriptures and allowed God to bring them to you and explain the gospel of God to you. Ephesians 2:1-10