Daily Devotional – FEBRUARY 2 (Where Are My True Affections? “Furry Foragers”)
By admin On January 19th, 2021.
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Daily Devotional – FEBRUARY 2
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Where Are My True Affections?
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“Furry Foragers”
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“Wisdom is before him that hath understanding;
but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.”
Proverbs 17:24
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Since man’s fall, nature has likewise fallen, to a great degree.
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And yet, if we look at nature, it is not hard to see nature’s beauty. Even in this fallen world, nature still retains some of the beauty which our unfallen parents enjoyed in their days when in Eden, “the garden of God” (Ezekiel 28:13)!
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The hopeful songs of the birds, the quiet mountain brook, the little flower of the field, the giant sequoias, the majestic roar of the ocean waves! These are just a few of the countless wonders of nature!
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Make Room for Me! Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0 License
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NATURE OUR TEACHER
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But God has created nature in such a way, that even in its fallen state, all of nature has become a teacher of both good and evil.
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Listen… “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee;
and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee:
and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing,
and the breath of all mankind.”
Job 12:7-10
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This above passage from Job gives us a hint about nature’s wisdom. Yes, wherever we look in nature, there is heavenly wisdom to be found!
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The Little Friend – Rabbit – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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FORAGERS OF THE FIELD AND FOREST
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Now, today’s devotional will focus on a few of the forest creatures which are classified as foragers.
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That is, let’s take a moment to consider those little furry creatures whose lives are dedicated to seeking after the green herbs of vegetation in the fields and forests of this world.
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Now what lesson can we learn from them? Probably many gems of truth can be gleaned from considering their earth-bound existence!
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But there is an analogy to be seen between them and our own selves. Yes, just like those furry little forest beasts, we too, have spent our short existence, completely devoted to getting as much as we can from the earth!
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Eastern Grey Squirrel – black – GNU Free Documentation License, – cropped image – Wikipedia.
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“For after all these things do the Gentiles seek”
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Oh no, we don’t look for green herbs like those forest-and-field-foragers!
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Or do we?
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Perhaps, in our own way, we do seek for our own version of green herbs: that new car, or that new house, or that better job, or that new stereo system! Could these things be considered our green herbs?
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Well, one thing is for sure! These are definitely the things of the earth!
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And prior to our conversion, we have devoted much of our lives to seeking after all those countless things, which come from the earth!
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Mall Market culture – Jakarta – Wikimedia – share-alike-lic.
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JESUS: OUR DIVINE PATTERN
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But when Jesus came to live among us, He lived a life, unconcerned with all such things of the earth! Oh yes, Jesus ate and drank, and wore clothes, and worked as a carpenter, and slept, and enjoyed nature. And yet, these things were not his main focus in life! His main focus was on the virtues of Heaven: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, meekness, self-control, prayer and praise, wisdom, etc…. Yes, His greatest joy was to do the will of His Father in Heaven!
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And through the pen of Paul, the Apostle, He counsels us…
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
Colossians 3:1-3
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“THE GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR COUNTRY!”
Proverbs 25:25
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The Good News in all this is, that God has still left open the door of Salvation! And as we look out at this vain and hopeless world, we can begin to look up at that incomprehensible Heavenly gift of everlasting life, offered to each and every person willing to take hold of that gift!
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Yes, if we will only turn our eyes away from all the perishing things of earth, and turn our eyes upon Jesus; then the words of that old song will begin to speak to our hearts…
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“Turn your eyes upon Jesus!
Look full in His wonderful face!
And the things of the world, will grow strangely dim,
in the light of His glory and grace!”
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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain
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“Therefore take no thought, saying,
‘What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)
for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and His righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:31-33
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Take away my love for the things of the world! Give me an all-consuming love for the things of Heaven…
Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “February 5th (The Monkey Trap!)“, or you can also read… “January 25th (Nature’s Four Witnesses)”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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THE SEEKER (THE SADDUCEE)
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LOCATING THIS 3RD FACE
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The 3rd face of the Moon is a bit more difficult to locate, because it is mostly upside down. But this photo and this sketch are how this face would appear if it was turned right side up. (In the southern hemisphere, however, this is how the Moon would appear.)
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The third face is the most difficult to see in the northern hemisphere, but once you do, it then becomes easy. This face is like a furry creature of the field. Maybe a rabbit. Maybe a squirrel. Perhaps a chipmunk. Probably a mouse. All “seekers”; all foragers or scavengers.
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And while this picture shows this little “beast of the field” right side up, this 3rd face is always pretty much in an upside-down position.
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The other two faces appear right-side-up, and are easier to locate. This photo and this sketch are both turned around to help you see this 3rd face easily. This enhanced sketch to the above right is merely to help you to see this face more easily. (As already stated, this 3rd face is right side up in the southern hemisphere.)
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ABOVE PICTURE – moon – 3rd face – Sadducee Seeker
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LOCATING 3rd FACE AT BEGINNING OF NIGHT
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But this sketch here to the right is how this 3rd face actually appears when the Full Moon is in the east, at the beginning of night, in the northern hemisphere. But all you can readily see is the 1st face.
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What you must do to see the 3rd face is to tilt your head to the right, 90 degrees.
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Do you see it? (You may find it easier if you just turn your screen on its left side, if you are using a laptop. But please don’t do anything to put your computer in jeopardy!)
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The easiest time of the month to actually see this face is when the Full Moon is in the east, just after dark. It then can be seen by tilting your head 90 degrees to the right. But as night progresses, the Moon rotates clockwise, until this face is completely upside down, as the Moon works its way to the west.
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon into Blood Trilogy: 3rd Face: The Sadducee Seeker”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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TOMORROW…
FEBRUARY 3 . . . . Our Favorite Babysitter: Satan!
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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY IN JEREMIAH
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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
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THIS STUDY #398 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…
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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain