The Devotional

Papa “J” says

What ever happened to good ole hardball? You know that fast pitch that can be hit a mile because it came at you true! Today it seems that everyone has perfected the slider, looks to be hard and true but, it is full of deception.

In December on 2008 we began a series in Sunday School that is ending this Sunday. We took a look at Eschatology, a study of end times. Our basic reference material was the Book; The Revelation of Jesus Christ and the four volume series of study material by Dr. David Jeremiah, Escape the Coming Night. Years before, I had sought to study this subject but the door had always been closed by the LORD and I never got past the first chapter. Yet, by the grace of God and the humble permissive will of my pastor, here we stand on the threshold to exit the study. So this is really a moment of thanksgiving and confession I think: First to thank Dave for allowing me to share with his congregation information of at least two different theologies regarding end time events; and secondly to say that while I remain a pre-tribulationalist, I also realize that the a-millennilist can make a strong case for their theological understanding as well. I think the bottom line to all of this is: Acts 1:7-8, this is what counts and if you do not have this theology correct, you may well miss the boat when it leaves harbor for the New Heavens and Earth at the end of the season.

Psalms 5

Psalm 5:9 Uprightness of heart. Now who has that? Not many of us today even know what it means. The inward part of man; that which each of us see in ourselves but is invisible in the eyes of the person in front of our face. That inner man is most always covered over by the flattery of the tongue. Thus the tongue is much like the lid cover over the tomb of evil and disturbing thoughts in our heart. Matthew 15:16-20

Psalm 5:10 A good thing is that God through Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit can change that heart in those believing people who grow and mature in Christ. The bad thing is that people you rub shoulders with everyday are not on the Bible Bus (J. Vernon McGee) with you. These according to David in the Psalm are guilty and still belching from that tomb of destructive rebellion. Asking God to help is the right thing to do since there is a time when turning the other cheek is not fitting.

Psalm 5:11-12 We like victory and joy, it seems that when these two spiritual attitudes are functioning in our life our soul is at peace. God equips us with spiritual power to overcome the enemy, yet there are times when the enemy can be overpowering and we need additional help. Prayer to God, even fasting is not out of the picture. Our time spent in prayer to the Father is time well used since God keeps watch over all things. Proverbs 15:3