BBD 09.24.15 Just Taking a Nap (New)
Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>
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The Burning
Bush Devotional
09.24.15
Just Taking a Nap
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in
Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has
passed from death into life. - John 5:24 NKJV.
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My
word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent
Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the
believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but
has passed [over] from death into life. - John 5:24 AMP.
Along a highway in eastern Pennsylvania drivers were horrified to
see a man's body. The body was seen by several drivers on Highway 33 about 75
miles north of Philadelphia. When highway patrol troopers responded they found
a man laying near an exit against a guardrail. Troopers woke up the man who
said he was just “Taking a nap” and the man then left the area.
(Lehighvalleyonline.com 09.21.2015 - just discovered this free access
newspaper)
Jesus makes it clear in John 5:24 that if
you know Jesus as your Savior that you have eternal life. We are told this
through the apostle Paul in Galatians
2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” In other words, if you know Jesus as your Savior you are
alive! It seems strange, but talking with some Christians, some believers, they
seem more dead than alive. Maybe, they are just taking a nap?
In our
lives there are definitely times when we “feel”
more alive than at other times. These times when we “feel” more alive may occur during major events such as a wedding,
birth of a child, graduation from high school or college, beginning a career,
vacations, illness, accidents and other events. Spiritually, there may also be
times when we “feel” more alive than
at other times. Sometimes our “brook” dries up
as it did for the Prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17).
In baseball, a dry spell is described as being a “slump.” Maybe you are in a “slump,”
a dry spiritual period? It happens to the best, it even happened to Elijah.
What do
you do when your joy is not overflowing? What do you do when everything feels
wrong and you're not sure why? What do you do when you are in a spiritually dry
time? Jesus says in John 15:9-11, “As the Father loved
Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you
will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide
in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you,
and that your joy may be full.” It is God's will for you to be alive, to
be filled with joy. Joy is a fruit of the
Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).” When we are dry spiritually we must
continue to “abide” in Jesus meaning we need to return to the well of “living water (John 4:10).”
When we
are going through dry times spiritually this is a time to draw nearer to God (James 4:7-8) and not a time to withdraw from Him.
These are times when we need more of the “living water”
and we cannot receive that from the things of this world. We must immerse
ourselves in the things of God, spending more time in prayer and in His Word.
Abide in Him, and the dry times will end, and you will be filled with His joy.
Believe it! Live it!
Copyright © 2015. Ed Wrather. The
Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998
the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather
began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of those first
devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison
facilities throughout the United States and Canada.
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Please continue to pray
for our friend Michelle who has had surgery for cancer and is being treated
with chemo. She is now half way through with chemo and will soon have another
PET scan to check the progress of treatment. Thank you for your prayers for
Michelle!!!
Please continue to pray for
Michelle, Justin Lewis, Shane Hall, Keith Musick, Reta (my sister), and Beverly
(Jeanie’s sister). Jeanie has also been experiencing increased pain in her back
and side. It is likely she will need additional intervention for the pain.
Please pray for an end to the racial hatred in the USA and that it will be
replaced with peace and love. Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush
website on the Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests
there (Of course, I am always in need of prayer - please pray for me.).
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