"Are We Any Better?"

"Are we any better?  Not at all!  We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin." (Romans 3:9-NIV)

As with most every day's devotional, today's text is a part of my regular reading. Some may not be aware of it, but historically, it has been "controversial" even in evangelical circles.  Much of the dissension in the Church over the centuries can be traced back to the denial that, "Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin."  But it is not only a Church problem.  It is global now, and has been a "forever" plague on humanity. 

I found the following article while I was checking a prayer request concerning slave trade activities in modern Liberia.  It is from a timeline history of the country:  "1865- 346 immigrants from Barbados joined the small number of African Americans coming to Liberia after the American Civil War. With overseas immigration slowing to a trickle, the Americo-Liberians (as the settlers and their descendants were starting to be called) depended on immigrants from nearby regions of Africa to increase the republic's population. The Americo-Liberians formed an elite and perpetuated a double-tiered social structure in which local African peoples could not achieve full participation in the nation's social, civic, and political life. The Americo-Liberians replicated many of the exclusions and social differentiations that had so limited their own lives in the United States." (History Of Liberia: A Time Line- American Memory.  Library of Congress)

Human nature is a sin nature.  It does not matter the color of one's skin, his ethnicity, or "national origin."  Arabs invaded Europe centuries before the first crusade.  American Indians ("Native Americans) were murdering, pillaging one another long before the Europeans arrived.  Then there was Genghis Khan, of whom one historian said, "His main legacy is of plunder for plunder's sake."  And what of the Aztecs, the object of praise of humanist multiculturalists?  Their ruling classes were masters of forced labor.

The temptation to see everyone else as the problem and see myself as victim is an age old battle.  But we don't have to find someone to blame for life.  We just need to find someone who saves life.  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."  The whole race was under the condemnation of sin, but all people who surrender to Jesus Christ can say, "We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

Father, in Jesus' Name, bring conviction any time I justify sin in me and condemn it in others.  Amen.
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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Hey, Lunch Time Devotional, Or, For Eastern Europe, Dinner Time Devotional

"....From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim 3:15)

 

I'm sure you know of the definition that wisdom is not how "smart," i.e., intelligent a person is, but what he does with what he has and knows.  Too many people cop out of life by saying, "Well, I'm not just that smart.  I really don't understand all of this."  This is similar to the excuse of the wicked, lazy steward in Matthew 25.  I do nothing because I am nothing.  You know what was his end.

 

The verse following our text is an oft quoted passage of mine, "All Scripture is God-Breathed."  But it is necessary to read on.  The "God-Breathed" Word "is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  I ask, What more could you possibly desire from life, "teaching, rebuking, correcting and training,.. thoroughly equipped...."?  Wanting more is only to satisfy a sagging ego which really just wants to outsmart the callers on Rush or Hannity.

 

"Wise for salvation"--- this is not just "wise for" getting saved.  This is "wise for" survival.  Biblical salvation is so much more than most evangelicals consider.  Biblical Salvation, the "salvation [which comes] through faith in Christ Jesus," imparts "deliverance, preservation, healing, peace, aid, victory, prosperity, rescue," and here is a popular word which the New Age people have hijacked, "wholeness."  Make no mistake, the only way I can acquire the wisdom for "so great a salvation," is giving myself continually to the "God-Breathed" Scripture, the Word of God Himself, Christ Jesus.  

 

I am not against conferences, "other" books, and great teachers.  But they cannot promise you, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  That promise alone comes from our Lord Jesus Christ, the "God-Breathed" Word Himself.  In Jesus and His "Breath" is that which Peter describes as, "everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me from a "wisdom" which just satisfies my ego.  Keep me in You, Lord Jesus, "who became for us wisdom from God...."  Amen.

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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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"To Him Who Alone...."

"To Him who alone does great wonders...." (Psalm 136:4)

Actually, "To Him who alone"---------------- period.  While "I am crucified with Christ," I was not feeling the pain and suffering of the Cross.  I did not feel the thrust of the sword, the nails driven deep, the lashing, ripping of the 39 stripes.  It was Jesus, "To Him who alone does great wonders."  

I have heard over the years that He needs us to do His work, to reach the lost, heal the sick, change the course of nations.  "He uses our hands, our feet," etc.  There is some truth in this, but in the grand scheme of God's economy, what we do is actually relatively little.  Remember all those Muslims who are experiencing "visitations" of the Lord Jesus?  Then there is the history of Europe during the early twentieth century, when the continent and eventually the whole world was gripped in global struggle for survival.  Written over it all is the glorious declaration of Heaven-------------- "To Him who alone does great wonders."

The preservation of the Jews over the last 2500 years is, "To Him Who alone."  The rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948, that's right, "To Him Who alone."  Of course, continue to pray, evangelize, do missions, serve the poor, vote, and "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  But to the arrogant religious person out there, I must say today that the Blessed Trinity really does not need you.  He has been taking care of the universe long before you got here, and He will continue to do so long after you are gone.  Rather, remember deeply and reverently and humbly today that it is all "To Him," the Living Triune God revealed solely in Jesus Christ, "Who alone does great"----everything! 

Father, in Jesus' Name, To You "who alone" does all things well, who saved me, keeps me, preserves me, sanctifies me, and brings me into your everlasting kingdom, I give thanks.  Amen.
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If you're not reading every day, you are getting behind on the latest prophetic news at:     www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com


"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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The Ability to See the Whole Field of Battle

 "Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me." (Psalm 119:133)

 

Literally, "Establish firmly my steps, by Your word (by "something [You] said") and let no iniquity ("trouble, wickedness") dominate ("govern, rule, or have power over") me."  The psalmist knew that if he were to be an "over-comer," victorious in the battle of life, he had to be directed, governed, and ruled by the Word of God, literally, "something [God] said." 

 

A key element in any military engagement is the ability to see the whole field of battle.  Lee's great dilemma at Gettysburg was that he did not know exactly what he was up against.  Jeb Stewart was out pursuing his own war, and had left Lee "blind."  The same was true of Nagumo during the Battle of Midway.  It was reported that Nagumo sensed "danger out there," but he had no "word" of the presence of the three American carriers waiting to annihilate his forces.  What a fearful state in life-------- to sense "danger out there," but have no "word" to "direct my steps!"  

 

To the degree you and I are absolutely surrendered to Jesus Christ and His Words is the degree to which we can "see" the battlefield of life.  The old cliche, "He can't see passed the nose on his face," is true of the whole human race.  People are way too often impressed with "prophetic" people, "discerning" people, very "perceptive" people.  The reality?---- their "noses" are no longer than yours or mine!  In the grand scheme of life, the only way that you and I can be sure of "what we are up against," is to be full of the "God-Breathed" Word.  I am constantly amazed at how few people who call themselves, "born again," daily subject themselves to the Word of God.  Jesus said that the Holy Spirit came to "glorify Me," and, to "bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."  Defeat is a given in the battle of life if a person goes around "praising the Lord," worshipping, and hanging out with his/her favorite spiritual friends--------------------- yet neglecting the, "all things I said to you." 

 

If you and I do not fill ourselves with the Word of God, incarnate in Jesus Christ, we will be full of ourselves and the lies, deceptions, and half truths of the religious as well as the worldly community around us.  Our "intelligence reports" of the enemies' plans and schemes will be incomplete, or just plain faulty.  If, however, we stay in Jesus Christ, full of the Holy Spirit, honoring our Father by, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"------ well, we are just plain undefeatable in life. 

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that my absolute top priority at the beginning, during, and end of every day will be knowledge of and obedience to You and Your Words.  Amen.

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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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