The Devotional

Papa “J” says

What if we were to listen to the enticement of evil doers? What would the world around us look like? Like yesterday; like today and like tomorrow! Huh!!! Proverbs 1:10 – 19. Need to make a change? Yea!!! Proverbs 1:20 – 23.

In those days of Camp Smith we did not have laptop or desk top computers. We had an electric typewriters, carbon paper, mimeograph machines, a lot of tabulating paper and calculators. All of these machines had ribbons and other items that collected data that could be used to gain information about what we were doing. Part of my responsibility was to ensure that all of these items were returned to a safe overnight or if these were used completely the ribbons and carbons were placed in a larger vault room with documents of paper to be destroyed. Once or twice a month depending on the work load I would go to a building at Pearl Harbor where classified material from the vault room was taken to be destroyed, a building where paper was turned into pulp. Sensitive papers were conveyed into large vats of water and chemicals that would dissolve the paper into pulp. People in charge of this building would sign a receipt for documents and when these items were destroyed I would sign the same document indicating that I visually witnessed the destruction of the documents. I know that this information is dry and probably under the radar as being interesting but I am leading up to something, so please bare with me.

The Gospel of John

John 6:22-71 The bible is all good, all scripture is given to us by inspiration and this inspiration comes from God in order that we may be perfectly fit for the good work that Jesus has called us to do. 2 Timothy 3:15-16. Don't just take my word for this, read it! We will be looking at this portion of John six for awhile. Some of the most serious things of life in Christ are recorded here for our edification in the wisdom and knowledge of God.

By now in the ministry of Jesus has a very large following so on the very next day of feeding over ten thousand, people are seeking to follow after Him. Potentially these folks are on the verge of giving up everything they own and their poor way of life to follow Jesus. In fact, we would say that this is very good. But let me say this, it is no different today... rescue missions all across this nation feed the hungry, say a little prayer over the meal and teach or evangelize the hungry. Yet the people only come to be fed the food that perishes, most are not interested in the food that leads to eternal life – Jesus!

So the world sees only one Jesus, they do not see the signs that lead to eternal life, they only see the results of the signs. They see the food that perishes, or the healed sick who will eventually perish too. The focus of mankind is on the temporal benefits of this life and not the benefits that endure to everlasting life. Jesus is fully aware of this sinful character of ours and this is why He calls this to our attention in John 6:26-27. Fix your eyes on Jesus and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:1-8 This is how one endures to everlasting life.