The Devotional

What Does Papa “J” have to Say?

The patterns of sin are evident in a person. Watch the eyes as these will communicate intentions face to face. The mouth however, will always be willing to lie like the fool. Proverbs 10:10

What would be good news to you today. A new job, a new friend? As you already know the list could be endless but not hopeless. Our granddaughter would like a new laptop for school and other possibilities. My wife would like a new look in the bathrooms and laundry. So we are always just one hope away from acquiring something new. I read an email the other day of a little girl who lost her dog, it had died of old age. She did not want a new dog, but she had a new hope, a hope that the dog would go to heaven and be with God. Her mom helped her write a letter to God, they mailed it and within a couple of weeks God replied. Yes, the letter and the picture you sent of your dog helped Me identify her. She is find now and no longer sick. Along with the letter that came from some caring person in the Post Office was a book written by Mr. Rogers called; “When a pet dies” This is truly a different form of good news so the message here is that none of us have a handle on what good news is. What may be good news to one will make little difference to another. Yet there will always be good news from God that meets the need of every heart. Like Abby the dog and Meredith the little girl. God uses people to bring good news to the hearing ear and the seeing eye. Notice Romans 10:15-21.

The Gospel of John

John 20: 30-31 Are we not a people today who are dull, our eyes scan the world around us and we crave to see what we cannot have and many of us are not happy with the people or things we do have. The world around us points to objects of idolatry, our schools teach our children to accept perverted views and our standards of right and wrong are out of balance. The scales of justice are rusty and the weight of selfish indifference survives while integrity, honesty and righteousness fail to register any weight at all.

Could it be that our perception of Jesus is blurred by so called preachers and teachers who promote a sense of prosperity, faith healing and purchasing a special blessing by giving up money for God's favor? We have become tired of failed promises, failed signs, failed wonders and the ever increasing failure of men who claim to be men of God. None of these things should move us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, but these do and the world suffers from a strong dose of secular humanism and the gospel of the grace of God is MISSED.

The apostle John in his gospel presents seven signs that Jesus did to prove His presence with us as God with us. Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23). Yes Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and in believing this truth, God the Father will be glorified in you by the eighth sign which if recorded each one, there would more books written and the earth would not be able to contain the library. However there is this placed called heaven where this book of Life is being filled everyday. Now that is GOOD NEWS! John 21:25.