| Fishers of Men Prison Ministries |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| ONE FLESH – WHAT GOD HAS JOINED And the two shall become one flesh…Mark 10:8-9 (AMP) Scripture Reading: Mark 10:2-12; Gen. 2-24; I Cor. 6:16; Eph. 5:31 The first thing I’ll point out is that in verse a. it says “What therefore God hath joined together…”(KJV) The thing specifically is that God has done the joining. We are the recipients of a beautiful, merciful and gracious work of God. We are “One Flesh” joined by God. We aren’t as yet perfect in all things. God is at work in us both to establish Himself in us. Yet we strive to know each other and to grow to the point where we as one do the will of the Father – submitting to Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit – just as Christ submitted to the will of the Father for us. So we too must as one be submitted to God for others. As we are both in God’s will as one then we, for all to see, become the expression of God’s love. Showing through our life the love that God has and wants for us – namely, union with Himself. Thought for Today: As Christ loved the Church so we ought to love each other – submissive as servants (washing each others feet) and sacrificial (putting the other before our own self). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> CHIEF OF SINNERS “...that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” I Timothy 1:15 NKJV Scripture Reading: I Timothy 1:12-17 It is my desire that through the exercise of these devotions to share of myself and to reveal why I am like I am. Today’s reading, and specifically verse 15, I take as my own. Paul had, by his own admission (v.13) rebelled against God and had done terrible things. Yet I in my height of ignorance and sheer stupidity rebelled completely against God – even to the point of destroying His ‘image and likeness’ (Gen. 1:26), as well as giving myself over to the darkness living in hatred toward God and man. Though this being the case, as with Paul – though I’m unworthy to be compared to him -, God in His love and mercy extended to me that which I deserved not – His salvation in Jesus Christ! This is done unto me to showcase His love toward His lost children in that no matter how lost we are He will find us and extend His love and mercy unto us and bring us again into His loving arms just like the prodigal (Luke 15:20). Thought for Today: If we are alive there is hope (Eccl. 9:4) no matter how far from God we’ve drifted. He is waiting to embrace us in His arms of love. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> IN HELL I CRIED “… out of the belly of Sheol (Hell) I cried…” Jonah 2:2 NKJV Scripture Reading: Jonah 2:1-10 (v.2) As a kid I received the calling of God and answered that call – even though not with full understanding of the implications of what it meant. As I grew I compromised and gave way to the temptations of youth; and in time I fully rebelled against God – I ran from Him. Then one day I awoke – and behold – I was in the belly of the beast. My fleeing from God brought a swift rebuke and judgment. Yet after coming to myself I cried unto the Lord – and He heard me (v.2). God has a purpose and a work still for me, you, and us. When He has us where He wants us to be, then as with Jonah, He will speak to the “fish” and it will vomit us out onto dry land. Our stubbornness brought us here – which is pride – just as with Jonah. Jonah didn’t want to go preach to a gentile nation and when he did they repented, and Jonah was mad at that too. We need to learn, from Jonah and our experience, that God knows better than we do. Self-sacrifice, obedience, yielding, and loving; plus being the means for God to communicate Himself to others. Thought for Today: Though it took hell to wake us up, God has heard our cries and will bring deliverance – spiritually and physically. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NOT CAST AWAY “… the one who comes to Me (Jesus) I will by no means cast out.” John 6:37b NKJV Scripture Reading: John 6:37 This Scripture is close to my heart because God used it to bring to a place of confidence in Him to forgive me of my past sins. In my lost condition I tried to blaspheme against God the Holy Spirit – it was ignorance and very dangerous. Yet years later when God started calling me out of darkness and I had forgotten about that I was shown that Scripture concerning the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit – it drove me to fear and despair that I could even be saved. I thought I was lost – forever! A fellow Christian, whom I talked to in a Bible Study about my situation, shared this Scripture (John 6:37) with me and ever since then when the enemy has tried to get me to doubt, this Scripture comes to my mind and rebuffs all attacks. It gives me hope and faith that God, for Christ’s sake, has accepted me in the Beloved. ‘Nothing can take me out of His hands’ (John 10:28,29) and ‘nothing shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Rom. 8:37-39). Thought for Today: Whatever the enemy tries to throw at you, remember there is safe harbor in Christ Jesus! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NOT EVEN WORTHY “… the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Rom. 8:18 NKJV Scripture Reading: Romans 8:18; II Cor. 4:17; I Pet. 1:7 Usually I find that when I get distracted from God; mostly by selfish or fleshly aspirations – then I forget what is important, focusing on the temporal instead of the eternal (II Cor. 4:18) On the other end of the scale: As I’m walking close to God then the distractions of the world, the flesh, and the devil; a well as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (I Jn. 2:16) become less of an influence on me and I see things in an eternal perspective, which leads to a correct viewpoint that what is eternal is more important than what is temporal. Seeing things correctly helps to endure the trials, temptations, and sufferings – because we know God is ultimately in control regardless of how things look and feel. Eventually all the pain and suffering we see or experience will pass away. All the rebellion against God will be subdued. God, through Christ Jesus, has determined an hour when all things will be made right – and, by the grace of God, we’ll be able to enjoy His presence forever! Thought for Today: Nothing is so difficult to endure for Christ’s sake and the Father’s glory – look what He’s done for us! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EVERY THOUGHT Part 1 “… bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” II Cor. 10:56 (NKJV) Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 10:4-5; Romans 12:1-2 Throughout the years we develop thought patterns (i.e. attitudes, negative thinking, depression, quick temper, etc.) which guide our lives. A lot of these ways of thinking become strongholds which the enemy of our souls uses to access our lives – making a mess of God’s wonderful creation. When we are brought to salvation through Christ Jesus then the process of cleaning up our lives begins – sanctification – and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we take our land back, making Christ Jesus Lord of all of our earth (us). Taking every thought captive is a process which takes time and a lot of effort – which God Himself is needed to empower us to be able to accomplish. By our own ability this can’t be done. As Christ said, without Him we can do nothing (John 15:4); we need His help and guidance. How do we take our thoughts captive to Christ? The Bible – the Word of God – is the means. As we know the Word better, as we are able to discern right and wrong as the Bible teaches us – then we are able to tell which thought patterns are of God and which ones are of the flesh or the enemy. When we know the difference we reject the wrong and accept/do God’s will which we’ve learned from His Word. This is a process and not to be done without God’s help and direction. Thought for Today: Teach us Lord to war that all of our thoughts will please you and in thinking right will guide us to acting right – glorifying You! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EVERY THOUGHT Part 2 “… looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery …” Mt. 5:28 NKJV Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:28 (27-30) This has been a real problem for me and has in turn hindered my walk with God and my growth spiritually. I could use excuses but none justify me. I’m not where I once was, but not yet where I want to be. And that is living holy and being submitted to God in every area of my life – and it all starts in our thinking. I’ve noticed though that when I’m really seeking God and spending quantity and quality time with Him then I struggle less. Also though I try to maintain, by the act of the will (flesh) keeping up this continued being by reading the word, praying, fasting, etc. - I usually wear myself down; and that is when I get vulnerable to the trials and temptations. So what am I to do? Keep seeking God, trusting that God – in His time and means – will develop the holy kind of character He wants in His children. It comes with growth and maturation; a work in us by the Holy Spirit. I believe God uses our weaknesses to humble us so we rely on Him instead of ourselves. Look at Acts 14:22. Thought for Today: God is able to do exceeding above all we ask or think. He’ll finish what He has started in us – let us have patience and trust in Him. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> |
