The Devotional

Papa “J” says

Some people believe that age is the only factor involved with maturity. That may work well with cheese or wine, but the human being who ages like these objects will, also “stink”!

Right after joining the Navy I had the opportunity to go to Nassau in the Bahamas. That would be the early sixties. In those days it was not hard to find a conch shell near the beach, so I found a real nice one and brought it home. When and wherever we moved it was packed either by me or one of the moving companies hired by the Navy, it has been a part of the household items with memories. As the years passed it sort of took a few lumps and bumps and lost some of its beauty and charm. Then about five years ago it began to crumble and flake. If you touched it pieces would fall off. Time had taken its toll, it was no longer nice to look at and now it needed someone to clean up around it, as it daily made a mess. For forty years it shared a spot in the household. Yes, just a conch shell sitting on the beach one day minding its own existence. Taken from its natural environment and turned into a household decoration. It is strange the things you miss, this morning when I came into my office I took a quick glance as to where it used to sit. It was not there and I missed it.

Psalm 16

Psalm 16:1-11 Who is watching over your estate these days? Preserve me, watch over me or keep me safe is the expanded understanding of the first Hebrew word in this Psalm. If God is not the One who maintains watch care over our soul, then our outward makeup is a bit brittle and dusty. Our goodness amounts to nothing. This is the result of all who do not recognize any hope and fail to have any faith in Jesus Christ the LORD.

I am so glad that the Psalm does not dwell in the dust of death. In fact; the Psalm focuses on the real Hope and Faithfulness found in the Victory of Jesus. Notice a few of the attributes that come out of a right relationship with God our Savior. These are the good things that God shares with us who believe in Him. And for those who do not, we should not look back at their failure, nor take up a remembrance of them anymore.

We have God's goodness in us; God's riches by inheritance; God's watch care over us; God's pleasant places to live in; God's blessing; God's counsel; God's peace in our heart and He walks before us and is continually at our right hand. Romans 8:37-39. Now, why is this real. Because God the Father, did not leave God the Son in Sheol, (the place of the dead). God the Father gave to Jesus the path of everlasting life and those who walk that path with Jesus will find that it is a pleasant path where the fulness and presence of God is joy inexpressible and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8