A Devotion

[Michael37]

2 hours ago, missmuffet said:

That is an interesting thought. But we were born to serve Him. What happens if we

get off track and we do not grow up as a Christian?

Back to your OP quoting DJ on the Incarnation of Christ, my thought about framework relates to the design and purpose of all things.

Now, as you know, the natural man cannot understand why Christ was Incarnate, and Paul speaks of the Gospel being veiled to those who are lost, these being blinded by the god of this world.

There is an element of Divine Predestination in salvation, but that does not exclude the element of Human Volition (freewill), as the light Paul speaks of here can be dimmed and refused by willfully hardened hearts.

2Co 4:6  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

[missmuffet]

2 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

Back to your OP quoting DJ on the Incarnation of Christ, my thought about framework relates to the design and purpose of all things.

Now, as you know, the natural man cannot understand why Christ was Incarnate, and Paul speaks of the Gospel being veiled to those who are lost, these being blinded by the god of this world.

There is an element of Divine Predestination in salvation, but that does not exclude the element of Human Volition (freewill), as the light Paul speaks of here can be dimmed and refused by willfully hardened hearts.

2Co 4:6  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

That makes sense. At my place of work when I was very young there was a picture of Jesus Christ on the wall. I was not a Christian at the time but for some reason that picture kept calling me and I found myself occasionally being pulled toward it.

Edited December 7, 2024 by missmuffet

[Michael37]

4 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

That makes sense. At my place of work when I was very young there was a picture of Jesus Christ on the wall. I was not a Christian at the time but for some reason that picture kept calling me and I found myself occasionally being pulled toward it.

That is fantastic. Some people in remote areas have had visions which led them to confess faith in Christ. Fertile hearts for sure.

[missmuffet]

1 minute ago, Michael37 said:

That is fantastic. Some people in remote areas have had visions which led them to confess faith in Christ. Fertile hearts for sure.

I did not grow up in a Christian home. I had one brother who dramatically came to Christ later on in life and one brother who was an atheist.

[missmuffet]

@Michael37 You said I had a vision regarding the picture of

Jesus? No, it did not seem like a vision but a feeling I could

not understand at the time. Was it love?

[Michael37]

26 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

@Michael37 You said I had a vision regarding the picture of

Jesus? No, it did not seem like a vision but a feeling I could

not understand at the time. Was it love?

I wasn't attributing visions to you but to tribespeople, like in places where no-one has visited with the Gospel. 

[steve morrow]

LOVE  OF  MANY  SHALL  WAX  COLD  

 

ROMANS 8:7  because the carnal mind is enmity against  GOD  for it is not subject to the law of  GOD  neither indeed can be 

--8:8-- so then they that are in the flesh cannot please  GOD

--8:9-- but you are not in the flesh but in the spirit --IF-- so be that the spirit of  GOD  dwell in you now if any man have not the spirit of  CHRIST  he is  --NONE  OF  HIS--

 

GALATIANS 1:10  for do I now persuade men or  GOD  or do I seek to please men for if I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of  CHRIST

 

JOHN 6:63  it is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are flesh 

--6:64--  but there are some of you that believe not for  JESUS  knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray  HIM

 

MARK 1:11  and there came a voice from heaven saying thou art my beloved  SON  in whom I am well pleased 

 

ISAIAH 55:2  wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which sastisfieth not  ---HEARKEN  DILIGENTLY  UNTO  ME--- and eat that which is good and let your soul delight itself in fatness

JOHN 6:48  I am that bread of life 

 

JOHN 12:48  HE  that rejecteth  ME  and receiveth not  MY  words hath one that judgeth him the word that  --I  HAVE  SPOKEN-- the same shall judge him in the last day

JOHN 5:34   but I receive not testimony from man but these things I say that you might be saved 

 

PSALM 56:4  in  GOD  I will praise  HIS  word in  GOD  I have put my trust I will not fear what flesh can do to me 

 

ACTS 28:27  for the heart of this people is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes have they closed lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them 

 

ECCLESIASTES 7:25  I applied mine heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things and to know the wickedness of folly even of foolishness and madness 

--7:26--  and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets and her hands as bands --- whoso pleaseth  GOD  shall escape from her but the sinner shall be taken by her 

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:21  for all seek their own not the things which are  JESUS  CHRISTS

PSALM 119:25  my soul cleaveth  unto the dust quicken thou me according to thy word

PSALM 119:50  this is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickened me

PSALM 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I might keep thy word 

PSALM 119:133 order my steps in thy word and let not iniquity have dominion over me 

PSALM 119:154  plead my cause and deliver me quicken me according to thy word 

 

JOHN 5:21  for as  THE  FATHER  raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the son quickeneth whom  HE  will

1 CORINTHIANS 15:45  and so it is written the first man Adam was made a living soul and the last Adam was made a quickening spirit 

--15:46-- howbeit that was not first which is spiritual but that which is natural and after that which is spiritual 

--15:47-- the first man is of the earth earthy the second man is  THE  LORD  from heaven

 

ACTS 1:1  the former treatise have I made o theophilus of all that  JESUS  began both to do and to teach

--1:2--  until the day in which  HE  was taken up after that  HE  through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom  HE  had chosen

 

JOHN 12:49  for I have not spoken of myself but  THE  FATHER  which sent  ME  HE  gave  ME  a commandment what I should say and what I should speak

JOHN 3:35  THE  FATHER  loveth the  SON  and hath given all things into  HIS  hand

MARK 1:11  and there came a voice from heaven saying thou art  MY  beloved  SON  in whom I am well pleased

1 PETER 2:21  for even hereunto were you called because  CHRIST  also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow  HIS  steps

 

JOHN 15:10  if you keep  MY  commandments you shall abide in  MY  love even as I have kept  MY  FATHERS  commandments and abide in  HIS  love

 

MATTHEW 24:12  AND  BECAUSE  INIQUITY  SHALL  ABOUND  the love of many shall wax cold

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST