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 5/20/98 Good morning.... +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ Faith is a Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him. +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ Hello Brethren!! Hope this finds your week overflowing with BLESSINGS! Sending out this week's issue a bit early...hope you don't mind. Gotta warn ya, you will need a "bib" while reading this devo. Unless of course you catch it all and don't spill any. <smile> Please read on, and you will see why.. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. At the University of Chicago Divinity School each year they have what is called "Baptist Day". It is a day when all the Baptists in the area are invited to the school because they want the Baptist dollars to keep coming in. On this day each one is to bring a lunch to be eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area. Every "Baptist Day" the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center. One year they invited Dr.Paul Tillich. Dr. Tillich spoke for two and one-half hours proving that the resurrection of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection the religious tradition of the church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact, never rose from the dead in any literal sense. He then asked if there were any questions. After about 30 seconds, an old, dark skinned preacher with a head of short- cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium. "Docta Tillich, I got one question," he said as all eyes turned toward him. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it. "Docta Tillich ..." CRUNCH, MUNCH ... "My question is a simple question,"CRUNCH, MUNCH ..."Now I ain't never read them books you read ... " CRUNCH, MUNCH ... "and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek ... "CRUNCH, MUNCH ... "I don't know nothin' about Niebuhr and Heidegger ..." CRUNCH, MUNCH ... He finished the apple. "All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate -- was it bitter or sweet?" Dr. Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple." The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus." The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform. Have you tasted Jesus? In Psalms 34:8 we read: Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. If you have, rejoice in the hope of the resurrection that your faith in Him brings. "Have You Tasted My Jesus?" JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ When Jesus says, "Come to me," he doesn't say come to religion, come to a system, or come to a certain doctrine. This is a very personal invitation to a God, an invitation to a Savior. In essence, Christianity is nothing more, nothing less than a desire and an effort to see Jesus. That's all it is. We're trying to catch a glimpse of a man, not a program, not a plan, not a system, not a doctrine. We're trying to see a man who called himself the Son of God. -Max Lucado- JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ YOU'LL NEVER KNOW The sun remained asleep all day JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ Me again Brethren!! Allow me to "add to" the last sentence in the poem. "You'll never know...UNTIL you TASTE Him for yourself," thus bringing us to the theme of this devotional. Ironically, I am sitting here eating an apple...and my apple is sweet. Matter of fact, it's kinda juicy too. <it's runnin down my chin..lol> Makes you wanna go get one for yourself, huh? And that, I think, is the way it is in the spiritual realm. When we see others enjoying good fruits of Jesus, we want it for ourselves. Don't you long to be an individual that walks with Jesus so obviously? I was sharing with a Sister recently..about a scripture in Matthew..and it was this one: Matt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. I was thinking how, I want to see God. And according to this scripture..it takes a pure heart to do so. How do we obtain a pure heart, and what are some Biblical examples of a pure heart? A neat example came to mind when I was pondering this.. Acts 7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. This scripture is referring to Stephen, the Martyr. If you are not familiar with this passage I encourage you to read the account of his life in Acts, Chapter 6 and 7. It is a beautiful account of a man that was so close to Jesus, that it was evident on his countenance...and as this man took his last breath, the heavens opened for him to catch a glimpse of the Glory that he was about to partake of. Stephen had a pure heart. So much that when he was stoned, he felt no pain. He was past his own physical awareness. The Bible says that he was "full of the Holy Ghost." He was so full of God's Spirit that he was walking in the Spirit....and it was obvious to all around. You see, Stephen had a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. He didn't have religion. There is a difference. When we have a relationship with Jesus, all else falls short in comparison. He is everything, and as we seek Him, as we abide in Him, as we worship Him...as we trust Him...our outlook changes, our countenance changes, our priorities change. We no longer find ourselves groping for worldly success, but for more of Him. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. The branch and the vine are interrelated. They have a relationship. As we come to THAT place..as branches, constantly dependent on the Vine, ( Jesus ) we are developing a pure heart at the same time. And the next part states, that without Him, I can do nothing! Apart from him, I am as an empty shell...and the void is ever so great. When I abide in Jesus DAILY...when I sit at His feet, when I commune with Him..I am filled, and I can do much! When I am walking in Him soo strong, I want to put what I feel in every heart I come in contact with..but if I did, it would be as if I shove MY apple into their mouth. The truth is...there are PLENTY of apples for everyone! But, each person has to get his own. How does that take place? By reaching toward the "Tree." This tree..is known as the "Cross," and is accessible to anyone that is ready for "Real" fruit in their lives. As we bite into the sweet juicy fruit, we are examining the quality for ourselves....and when we find that it far surpasses ANYTHING this world has to offer...we get to the point where we try to catch the dribble on our chin with our tongue. Don't want to waste a drop! Why?? Because this apple..is OUR apple...and we can slowly savor the taste of sweet fellowship. Has it been a while since you savored the Savior? Has it been awhile since you came to Him...just as you are..junk and all, and said: Here I am, Lord..and I want You. I repent of, and renounce the sin in my life, and lay it at the foot of the Cross. I have allowed the cares of this world to consume me..but I still want You. You see, I once tasted You, but I put You down before I could finish You. I realize MY way does not work. I want to finish You now. I want to enjoy every bite. You said in Your word that I must drink your blood and eat your flesh. I want to do that. I want to have a relationship with You. John 6:55-58 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. The introductory story is a good example of our relationship with Jesus. Oh...to only taste Him! As we consume Him DAILY <crunch, crunch> ...we are becoming pure in heart more and more....and we will understand the difference between standing on the Solid Rock, versus the sinking sand. So, please join me, my friends...as we continue to reach for the Savior, and taste Him. Let us partake of Him daily...and as our hearts become pure, our spiritual vision will increase. As we continue on that path...we too, shall see God. God Bless You Guys! I love you bunches!! In Christ!!
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