The Devotional

Papa “J” says

What if children heard the instruction of their father and observed the applied law of their mother? The child's head would be an ornament of parental praise and their visible attributes of grace would mark their future. Proverbs 1:8-9

I did not know the LORD Jesus during these years of my life at Camp Smith and I, along with a number of other objectionable bents was a smoker. The Japanese lady could not stand the smoke and would become ill if people smoked around her. She was also a believer in Jesus Christ and as I mentioned, God used her and others to point me to Him. She and I shared the same office and she always placed a verse of scripture and a personal note challenging me to stop smoking on my desk. I did not mind her doing this, and I would laugh or make some comment about the verse and continue on in my selfish way of life. She invited my family to her home and this was the first time that I was made to take my shoes off before entering into a home. We were given little white slippers to wear in her home. My children thought it was neat, I thought it was dumb and, “who had been in these slippers before me?” She assured me that the slippers had been washed since the previous person wore them, yet I remained selfishly unconvinced. She was such a wonderful servant of the LORD and I was such a fool. She was in her fifties in those days, oh that I might be able to say to her; Thank You! There is coming a day in glory when along with the others I will be able to do just that. What a reunion, I sometimes have a hard time waiting.

The Gospel of John

John 6:15-21 As we have said before the miracles of the LORD Jesus were not to draw attention to Jesus, but to His Father, John 5:36 and a future verse coming up in this chapter states clearly that no one can come to Jesus apart from the Father's will, John 6:44. This is a very important point for us to understand. God's purpose for Jesus His Son is reconciliation. We live in a time in God's economy when He is calling the world back to Him through works of His Son.

Jesus will later say to Thomas, because you have seen you belief, but blessed are those who have not seen, yet they believe. John 20:29 and later the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:7 and 2 Corinthians 5:18 that we walk in reconciliation by faith and not by sight. Thus we become ministers of faith in Christ because it is the will of the Father who sent His Son. The first Adam failed, Jesus the Second Created being of God is victorious. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.

The miracles of Jesus are awesome, I mean who walks on water, who calms the seas, who says; “it is I, do not be afraid” Who immediately puts the boat ashore? Only One can do this, His name is Jesus. He is the way, He is the Truth and He is the Life. Without Jesus life is not worth living, as the apostle Peter will say later in this chapter. To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:67-68.