The Devotional

Papa “J” says

Diverted hope will bring us to the sword Hebrew 4:12, since hope deferred makes the heart sick. and healing is always from the Tree of Life. Proverbs 13:12

Charles Spurgeon and his wife were considered stingy and greedy to a number of people within his community. They raised chickens and sold the eggs, which is not a bad thing, it was extra money. But, they would not give away any of the eggs, each one had to be sold. Spurgeon was a famous London preacher. Many of his sermons and teachings are available today, yet he never mentioned a word about the flack that he and his wife received for not being more generous with their eggs. After Mrs. Spurgeon died it was revealed that the money from the eggs had been used all this time to support two elderly widows. The Spurgeons understood that in due time God would validate their actions if He chose to do so. It is St. Patrick's day and many have validated that this excessive behavior day is a widow maker. Widows who even today will be in need of a Spurgeon who raises chickens to support them. Shucks... maybe a socialistic government is better equipped to solve this paradox.

Psalm 22

Psalm 22:12-13 These passages can help us in so many ways, if fact; I believe that every passage of the Holy Bible is enough information to open the eyes of the blind, heal the sick and mend the broken hearted. So the problem it is not with God's Word, it is getting sinners to hear the Word. “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches” and “how beautiful are the feet of him who brings good news. So, hearing has a significant place in the heart of people, one cannot be a doer without hearing first.

Not many of us have witnessed the death of someone who has been condemned to death, nor have we ever been surrounded by those who are eagerly waiting for us to die. That is not to say that we have no enemies or that there are those who would not claim a spot to be a witness at our death. We all have such enemies but we will never, even if convicted to a death penalty experience these moments that Christ experienced as He suffered and physically died for your sin and mine.

Yet, here in these passages God reveals the inner heart of Himself as He begins to die for each of us. My heart fails, my eyes blur and my ears ring with pain. Not once, but each time I read these passages. It is heart wrenching to see that God is surrounded by anger like the that of raging salivating bulls and lions, and then to find out that this ravenous picture is one of you and me as we watch our Savior's death. Yet, again; Romans 5:8 explains why.