Forum Navigation
You need to log in to create posts and topics.

BBD 01.08.03 An Appointed Time

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

Please sign the GuestMap at The Burning Bush website.  You can plant your country's flag on the map and leave a message.  You can find it on the front page at http://www.theburningbush.org

The Burning Bush Devotional
01.08.03

An Appointed Time

“Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples”’”  - Matthew 26:18.

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.”  - Ecclesiastes 3:1; 2.

Lake Superior State University of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has issued its 26
th annual extreme list of words “banished from the Queen's English for mis-use, over-use and general uselessness, which the world needs ‘now, more than ever.’”  They received a record 3,000 nominations for the list this year with most of the nominations being received through their Website
http://www.lssu.edu/banished.  Nominations were and are accepted apparently from everyone who takes the time to nominate.  This year’s list contains 23 words and phrases such as “must-see TV,” “got game,” “mental mistake,” “frozen tundra,” and “an undisclosed, secret location.”  Last but not least according to the list was the phrase, “untimely death,” sometimes used by obituary writers and others.  The phrase according to some would indicate that some deaths are more tragic than others.  Donald Burgess of California asks, “Has anyone yet died a timely death?”

The answer to the question asked by Donald Burgess is, “Yes!”  Some have indeed died timely deaths.  At the top of the list is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus began His physical life on this earth at the proper time, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son…(Galatians 4:4).”  He also died at the proper time, “My time is at hand (Matthew 26:18).”  There is a “time” to be born and a “time” to die according to Ecclesiastes 3

If there is a “time” to die then it is reasonable to assume that there is a wrong “time” to die.  The Bible also addresses this in Ecclesiastes 7:17 and says, “Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: why should you die before your time?”  It is possible to die ahead of schedule before your appointed days (Hebrews 9:27) upon this earth have been completed.  The word “appointed” in Hebrews 9:27 comes from the Greek word “apokeitai” meaning “reserved, awaiting, laid up.”  It has been appointed a proper time for us to die and for Christ, which is mentioned in the next verse, “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28).”  Since there is an improper time to die how could that happen?  Man has a free will.  We can choose to commit suicide.  We can choose to do unwise things such as mountain climbing without the proper skills, driving to fast, using illegal drugs, and we know we can be unwise in a vast number of other ways which could lead to death.  That is why we are warned in Ecclesiastes not to be foolish.

We can die in peace when we die in the Lord at the proper time.  Simeon is an example of this.  Simeon was “just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25).”  “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:26).”  When Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus into the temple, Simeon “took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ’Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation (Luke 2:28-30).”

Let us live not as “foolish” but justly and devoutly so that we too may “depart in peace” at our “appointed” time.

Copyright © 2002. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited.

Hard copies of the "Addictions Kit for Substance Abuse" and "The Never Give Up! Devotional Collection" are available.  For details go to the devotional archive page http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html

If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member who would like to start receiving it.  Subscribing is easy.  Send a blank email to burningbushdevo-subscribe@MyInJesus.com or to subscribe to the html version send a blank email to burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org  If you desire to receive a text only version of the devotional you can make the change yourself by going to http://www.injesus.com click "Click Here" in the upper right hand corner login with your email address and password click the My InJesus tab at the top of the page click the My Profile in the My InJesus box on the left click Pure text.

If I can help you in any way please contact me at
wrather@logixonline.net

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer
requests to over 300 members. Send a blank email
to:
 
BBPG-subscribe@MyInJesus.com

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email
to:
bbinspire-subscribe@MyInJesus.com

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email
to:
tbbrr-subscribe@MyInJesus.com