but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
1st Corinthians 13:11
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In the first two devotionals (click here), the comparison was made between the rantings of babies, and the rantings of we Christians, when somebody attempts to take away one of our cherished idols!
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And so, for lack of time, we will not attempt to set up this comparison once again, as was done in Part 1 (click here).
But instead let’s go right into this issue of “jesting”, since it is also one of those tender subjects, just as music-listening is a tender and very touchy subject.
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Yes, we live in a culture almost totally immersed in joking and jesting!
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And with the advent of high-tech devices, we can now simply push a button, and hear the best-of-the-best comedy!
“And there appeared a great wonder (sign) in heaven; a woman…
And there appeared another wonder (sign) in heaven; and behold a great red dragon,
having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads…
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman,
that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.”
Revelation 12:1, 3, 15
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LOCATION…
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The Wave Constellation is primarily comprised of the Auriga Constellationplus one star from Taurus, plus one more star.
The Winter Constellations are depicted in this below sketch to the right, and shows this constellation group as they are seen in early winter, as they rise in the eastern skies.
The Woman is in the north.
The Dragon and Orion are farther south from the Woman.
ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this 44 chapter audio book, a brief history of the Church, from the Cross of Christ forward to the Return of Christ.
EXCERPTS FROM THE OPEN FORUM QUESTION/ANSWER RADIO TALK-SHOW…
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this small 30-minute sampling of the late Harold Camping’s nearly 50-year long series of 90-minute nightly talk shows…This is Open Forum Show #63
In His great mercy, the Lord raised up John the Baptist to warn His people to, “Flee from the wrath to come!” Matthew 3:7 & Luke 3:7
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And so, John the Baptist came in the traditional style of the Old Testament prophets, issuing his fiery message to the curious crowds who came from all around to eagerly hear him.
This website has a number of articles which highlight various aspects of John’s godly character, encouraging us to imitate these qualities in our own lives.
Now one quality which gave John’s ministry greater force and effectiveness was the seriousness with which he preached to the world.
There was not one ounce of frivolity nor of giddiness.
Nor was there any jesting mingled into his stern call to repent and, “flee from the wrath to come!” Matthew 3:7, etc…
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Of course, John was NO DIFFERENT from any other Bible hero in that regard.
Whether we’re speaking of Jesus, Paul (artist’s portrayal to the right), Peter, John the Apostle, never once was heard from these men the slightest use of giddiness, silliness, or comedy!
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They had a critical mission to fulfill.
And the call to, “flee from the wrath to come”, was never to be tainted by any unchristlike behavior.
We live in a vain culture in which many serious issues are dealt with by what Ephesians 5:4 refers to as “filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient (not proper nor fitting): but rather giving of thanks.”
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Yes, TV and Internet are loaded with silly talk.
This is how the world often deals with issues which are too weighty and seemingly hopeless to deal with in their spiritual darkness and disparity.
But many other issues are merely the world mocking the behaviors or inventions of their fellow humans.
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And yet, regardless of the reasons for mankind’s love for foolish talk and jesting, this should not be the manner in which Christians deal with worldly issues.
Someone said, “The greatest sermon ever preached is a warm, friendly smile!”
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There doesn’t need to be hilarity, or silliness, or sarcasm, or worldliness, or comedy, or any other unchristlike behavior.
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But rather, love, joy, peace, patience, understanding, sympathy, kindness, gentleness, and a warm, loving smile are perhaps the greatest weapons against the false charges…
…like this all-too-common accusation: “that Christians must live an austere and bleak lifeshould they decide to give up this present selfish world, in trade for the heavenly kingdom!”
Planet Earth – Wikimedia – Public Domain (altered image)
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THE DESIRE OF AGES, BY ELLEN G. WHITE
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this chapter of the audio book about the Gospel of Jesus Christ in His life and ministry.
EXCERPTS FROM THE OPEN FORUM QUESTION/ANSWER RADIO TALK-SHOW…
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this small 30 minute sampling of the late Harold Camping’s nearly 50 year long series of 90 minute nightly talk shows…This is Open Forum Show #104
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional, Year 4 – February 23 (Flee To The Mountains, Part 23: “How To Be Like John the Baptist: His Gravitas!”)
just as music-listening is a tender and very touchy subject.
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But listen to that well-known Reformationist of yesteryear, Thomas Brooks… 
not engage in comedy nor jesting! 
not engage in comedy nor jesting! 
TODAY’S PRAYER…
WHITE
QUESTION/ANSWER RADIO TALK-SHOW…
