The Devotional

Papa “J” says

The economy of the soul is more important than the economy of a nation! The stable soul will mend our nation, one soul at a time! Nothing is impossible with God! – Isaiah 55:1-3

I observed on the news this morning that women will be reporting for duty on submarines very soon in Groton, CT. These women will be officers, thus no physical change will be necessary to the design of the submarine to accommodate this change in Naval policy. For me I find this a bit humorous since officers in the Navy have always been separated from the men who actually run the ship. Ships and submarines have come a long way. Thirty years ago, it was impossible for women to serve on board fighting ships, but today; technology has changed the conditions of living on board these vessels of war. Creature comforts are built in to these vehicles much like the creature comforts you find in other ocean going vessels. When I served on subs the boat could make up to 10,000 gallons of fresh water per day, enough said. As for controlling the air one breaths, regulations already exists to limit powders and aerosol sprays. For example; the sailor must use the shaving brush and soap to shave and use deodorant that is a roll on or stick. Of course there is one method of operation that will need changing. No longer will the sub sailor be able to use the “kiss” method to get things done. You know - “Keep It Simple Stupid!”

The Gospel of John

John 3:9-14 We want to jump on board the cart of criticism here when we read these words that Jesus spoke to Nicodemus. “What! Are you a teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” Italic word added for emphasis. Yet, if you have read the biographies of others, like John Bunyan who struggled for over twenty years with understanding the gospel and was a bible teacher during that time. Or the pastors of a churches who can lead a congregation of saved people, yet are themselves unsaved. Thus we should not be critical, but prayerful!

Jesus really speaks to the misunderstanding in His earlier words to Nicodemus. He states that; We know and testify what we have seen. He is speaking from the Godhead, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Jesus states that when confronted with truth we do not receive this Witness. First the physical then the spiritual. So, if God speaks (And He does) in terms of earthly reasoning and we do not believe, how will we believe the things pertaining to absolutes of heaven.

God, then has to come down a give us pictures. The greatest; “picture – illustrator” is Jesus. The picture of a physical birth and a spiritual birth in John 3:6 and the picture of the serpent in the wilderness and the Son of Man being lifted up in John 3:14 are illustrations of the physical and spiritual truths found throughout the Old and New Testaments. If we do not believe it is because we have rejected the ILLUSTRATOR!