*Light*

Thanks Alan! I look forward to your next devotion.

Thank you for your testimony and thoughts about the homeless and how a person should deal with the extreme trials that can came to our life.
I also appreciate the following comment that you made as it also pertains to this lesson on Joseph and being a servant in the house of Potiphar.  "They failed to appreciate the fact and the vital life lesson that even though they had been demoted and lost their houses -- it was still a "step-up" from being homeless. "
In my next devotion on Joseph, Genesis 39:7-23 (primarily verses 21-23), we will notice that even as Joseph is brought further down in the station of life, in prison, 'demoted' as you wrote, he still remains steadfast in his faith towards God, maintains his integrity, and works at his demoted station in life as diligently as before.
 

Yep! Weve all heard the old adage, "sometimes you don't know what you've got until it's gone." God most assuredly gives Grace to the humble, and that applies in all areas of our life and walk with the LORD -- and not just our Salvation. When I was homeless, I would be in a clique . . . and we would band together in an effort to assist each other with ideas on how we would get off our feet and off the streets; we wouldn't just fend for ourselves, but we would help each other. Most of us (through prayer) got off the streets eventually, and some were more "successful" and had better homes and jobs. There were a few from the "homeless" crew who became too complacent and bragged about how much wealth they've obtained from once being homeless; and to make a long story short . . . a few of them ended up getting demoted at their jobs and had to settle with living in apartments. They were fuming as a result of this and blamed it all on God, and asked, "what did Ido wrong?" They failed to appreciate the fact and the vital life lesson that even though they had been demoted and lost their houses -- it was still a "step-up" from being homeless. 
The more humble we are . . . the better the "chances" our prayers will be answered. I always realize that in ALL my prayers -- that we often need to depend on the prayers of those who have prayed BEFORE us -- so that God's divine providence can be accomplished synergistically through other members of the body of Christ. I personally do NOT have any desire to obtain more materially than what the LORD has already supplied according to His riches and glory. I am absolutely content with living in a small cottage with a stove, bathroom, and a couch where I can lay my head. I have declined job offers that had salaries much higher than what I am earning now. I did so  because it would take too much time off of my life from doing my labor of love -- which is serving the LORD. Pride often times leads to greed and a haughty attitude towards others, and this is a dangerous way to live; because this will ultimately lead down a path of destruction where there awaits a cliff that they will plunge off of it blind-folded to their demise.
God Bless!

Yep! Weve all heard the old adage, "sometimes you don't know what you've got until it's gone." God most assuredly gives Grace to the humble, and that applies in all areas of our life and walk with the LORD -- and not just our Salvation. When I was homeless, I would be in a clique . . . and we would band together in an effort to assist each other with ideas on how we would get off our feet and off the streets; we wouldn't just fend for ourselves, but we would help each other. Most of us (through prayer) got off the streets eventually, and some were more "successful" and had better homes and jobs. There were a few from the "homeless" crew who became too complacent and bragged about how much wealth they've obtained from once being homeless; and to make a long story short . . . a few of them ended up getting demoted at their jobs and had to settle with living in apartments. They were fuming as a result of this and blamed it all on God, and asked, "what did Ido wrong?" They failed to appreciate the fact and the vital life lesson that even though they had been demoted and lost their houses -- it was still a "step-up" from being homeless. 
The more humble we are . . . the better the "chances" our prayers will be answered. I always realize that in ALL my prayers -- that we often need to depend on the prayers of those who have prayed BEFORE us -- so that God's divine providence can be accomplished synergistically through other members of the body of Christ. I personally do NOT have any desire to obtain more materially than what the LORD has already supplied according to His riches and glory. I am absolutely content with living in a small cottage with a stove, bathroom, and a couch where I can lay my head. I have declined job offers that had salaries much higher than what I am earning now. I did so  because it would take too much time off of my life from doing my labor of love -- which is serving the LORD. Pride often times leads to greed and a haughty attitude towards others, and this is a dangerous way to live; because this will ultimately lead down a path of destruction where there awaits a cliff that they will plunge off of it blind-folded to their demise.
God Bless!

Absolutely, Jim! Those who believe that Salvation can be lost accuse Eternal Security proponents of using Grace as a "license for immorality". That is NOT what we believe. The Word of God teaches just the opposite: that the Grace of God results in "godliness" and a pursuit of holiness and separation from the world. 
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. [Teaching us] that, [denying ungodliness and worldly lusts], we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and [the glorious appearing] of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13)
Those who are truly saved by the Grace of God look for the glorious appearing of our Lord; and that is accompanied with us being purified through Christ dwelling in us.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, [when he shall appear], we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And [every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself], even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)
God Bless!

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. (2 Corinthians 11:23-30)
So what do we have here?
1. Flagellation 2. Imprisonment 3. Threats of death 4. Beaten with 40 lashes 5. Beaten with rods 6. Stoned (who knows how large the rocks were) 7. Shipwrecked 3 times 8. Perils of water 9. Perils of robbers 10. Perils by own countrymen 11. Perils by heathens 12. Perils in the city 13. Perils in the wilderness 14. Perils among false brethren 15. Fatigue and pain 16. Hunger and thirst 17. Fastings 18. Cold weather and nakedness 19. Sleepless nights I may have missed a few, but for whatever reason we have to question the troubles which have fallen on our heads, they really don't come close to matching what Paul had to endure (and this is just the short list above as anyone who has read the book of Acts knows). Paul might well have asked why all this was happening to him. Wasn't he an apostle? Wasn't he trying to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ? Didn't all these troubles merely make his lot more difficult? Wouldn't it have been better for God to smooth his path for the sake of the building up of the Body of Christ? But instead of taking that approach in the verses above. Rather than questioning his lot, Paul embraces it, trusting the Lord that He really is "all things work together for good", even when it was not apparent -- and there must have been countless times when it was not readily apparent -- that such was the case.
God Bless!

Why would anyone in their right mind choose heaven over hell? Or . . . why would anyone reject the free gift of Eternal life? I suppose human autonomy plays a huge role in all of this. They think that Hell is one big party where the devil is the DJ.
The Gift of Christ is for all -- but all do not accept it. Everyone has been given the ability to accept the Gift: free will, the very image of God. But not all choose to use that ability to honor Him and to return a humble response to the One who sacrificed more than we will ever know that we might be saved. Some use that very free will to throw the Gift of Christ back in the Father's face. Praise be to God that life is short! Who would want to live in this miserable, temporary world forever? Answer: the devil and unbelievers who want the benefits of what God has done but without acknowledging Him as God, without bowing the knee to Jesus Christ. But in the end, every knee shall bow before Him. (Is. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10).
God is merciful and perfectly so. God is love, and completely so. God is not at fault -- God forbid! But people are arrogant. They want the blessings of God while remaining gods unto themselves. Life may be short, but it is plenty long enough in each and every case for someone in question to demonstrate by their words, actions and thoughts what is really in their hearts. Those who return God's great love by responding with faith in Jesus Christ are saved. Those who never were willing to do so go to hell -- of their own free will choice. This will be made VERY clear at the last judgment where every thought and intent of every heart will be revealed (Matt. 10:26; Mk. 4:22; Lk. 2:35; Eccl. 12:14: Rom. 2:16; Cor. 4:5a; Rev. 20:11-15), and it will be shown that these arrogant people are without excuse and that their defenses were defenses of clay  in the face of the light of the glory of God. God has mercy on those who are willing to receive it. Those who won't will be thrown in the Lake of Fire and brimstone where they will spend an Eternity separate from the One whom they rejected.
God Bless!

Thanks Alan! The story of Joseph is a perfect example of not only humility, but strength being perfected in our weaknesses -- such as the apostle Paul in his frailties. Both were dependent upon the Lord and His sovereign decree. What Joseph's brothers meant for evil -- God meant for good. Joseph was debased . . . and in the Lord's perfect timing -- he was exalted (cf. Matt. 23:12). Who knows what could/would have happened if God had decided to remove Paul's "thorn in the flesh"...
God Bless!

Thanks Alan! The story of Joseph is a perfect example of not only humility, but strength being perfected in our weaknesses -- such as the apostle Paul in his frailties. Both were dependent upon the Lord and His sovereign decree. What Joseph's brothers meant for evil -- God meant for good. Joseph was debased . . . and in the Lord's perfect timing -- he was exalted (cf. Matt. 23:12). Who knows what could/would have happened if God had decided to remove Paul's "thorn in the flesh"...
God Bless!

Absolutely, Jim! Those who believe that Salvation can be lost accuse Eternal Security proponents of using Grace as a "license for immorality". That is NOT what we believe. The Word of God teaches just the opposite: that the Grace of God results in "godliness" and a pursuit of holiness and separation from the world. 
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. [Teaching us] that, [denying ungodliness and worldly lusts], we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and [the glorious appearing] of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13)
Those who are truly saved by the Grace of God look for the glorious appearing of our Lord; and that is accompanied with us being purified through Christ dwelling in us.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, [when he shall appear], we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And [every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself], even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)
God Bless!

I didn't even know that this website had devotionals until a few days back. As mentioned by Alan, it is the Father who does the "pruning" so that we can bring forth MORE fruits in due season. And in that parable -- Jesus said that we can do NOTHING unless we "abide" in Him. The Roman Catholics and their pedophile priests put so much time and effort into "purifying" themselves, when all the while they're heaping judgment unto themselves with their self-righteousness which is a stench in the nostrils of our Lord God.
God Bless!

I didn't even know that this website had devotionals until a few days back. As mentioned by Alan, it is the Father who does the "pruning" so that we can bring forth MORE fruits in due season. And in that parable -- Jesus said that we can do NOTHING unless we "abide" in Him. The Roman Catholics and their pedophile priests put so much time and effort into "purifying" themselves, when all the while they're heaping judgment unto themselves with their self-righteousness which is a stench in the nostrils of our Lord God.
God Bless!

Thank you very much on the growth of the soul after salvation. As you pointed out, the growth of the spiritual life after salvation is a natural, and mysterious, aspect of our walk with Christ. The words of the Lord Jesus in John 3:8 are as true today as the day the Lord spoke it to Nicodemus.
"To use another scriptural metaphor he abides in the vine (Jesus), and because he abides in the vine, and not because he is toiling, but rather because he is growing, he brings forth fruit.  Fruit is always because of growth and not growth because of the fruit.  The fruits of the Christian’s character are not manufactured things, but living things that have grown from the secret germ.  In short they are the fruits of the living Spirit. "
"Fruit is always because of growth," is  a natural result of a person abiding in Christ, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fuit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." John 15:4 As you pointed out, the fruit in the Christian's life is a natural result of a saint abiding in Christ.
Thank you again on the devotion of the lilies of the field, Matthew 6:28
Alan