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Daily Devotional, Year 1- April 4

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PAUL’S FUN & RECREATION

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“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21

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Have you, O Christian, ever felt overwhelmed with the Christian life?

Have you ever felt that you needed something from this world to help you escape the Christian warfare?

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Maybe you thought that you needed a glass of wine, so that you can unwind?

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Or maybe a secular novel, or TV show?

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Maybe you thought of taking up some hobby?

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Or maybe a night on the town?

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Offering a toast with sparkling wine flutes – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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PAUL’S ENCOURAGEMENT 

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So, just what does Scripture say about all this?

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“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless,  and I count all things but loss

for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:

for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,

and do count them but dung,

that I may win Christ,”

Philippians 3:7, 8

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So, is Paul being a little extreme and severe?

After all, society tells us not to take our religion too seriously!

You might say that Paul is what society calls ‘a religious fanatic’!

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Well, shouldn’t we live a life more like the people of this world, with worldly dreams, aspirations, and even some pleasures? (see Jeremiah 45:5)

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Painting: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s

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FIRE IS NEVER SATISFIED!

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The fact is, a Christian will never be satisfied with just a little worldly fun (see Ecclesiastes 1:8).

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There will always be a clamoring and a fire burning within, for more and more of this world!

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Listen… “There are…things that are never satisfied…a fire that will never say, ‘It is enough'”. Proverbs 30:15, 16 (condensed).

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Yes, the desires for the things of the world are like a raging fire, that burns to the depths of the human soul.

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Painting: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s

Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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PAUL’S FUN & RECREATION

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But how did Paul enjoy himself? How did Paul unwind?

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Did Paul ever just go do secular things to get some “R & R”?

After all, Paul was not under the letter of the law!

“All things are lawful!” Right? (1st Corinthians 6:12, & 10:23)

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But Paul had a whole different attitude about the things that brought him fun.

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Just listen… “According to my earnest expectation and my hope,

that in nothing I shall be ashamed,

but that with all boldness, as always,

so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,

whether it be by life, or by death.

For to me to live is Christ,

and to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:20, 21.

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Here was Paul’s “fun”!

To become Christ-like was Paul’s greatest joy:

to walk along the dusty roads, and sing, pray and meditate on God’s Word;

to go into a synagogue or forum, and begin to preach the Gospel;

to go into this or that city, and work, day and night, on behalf of the church in that city;

and yes, even to suffer for the Name of Jesus!

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These kinds of activities were Paul’s joy and recreation (of course, all this was only possible through the miraculous power of the indwelling of the Spirit of Holiness).

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Painting: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s

Paul Preaching in Athens (Raphael, 1515) – Wikipedia – US public domain

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THE JOYS OF HEAVEN

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To those who are the Elect of God, there’s no need for the amusements of the world, in order to be fulfilled…

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Listen… “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

my soul shall be joyful in my God;

for He hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation,

He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Psalm 61:10.

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Does this verse sound like the Christian life is a total bore?

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On the contrary, God gives the Christian more joy in prayer, Bible study, and witnessing than from all the hobbies and entertainments of the world (see Luke 14:33).

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And the Holy Spirit in-dwelling the Believer can give great joy to that Christian in ways that the world just cannot understand!

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

DECEMBER 1 (Apostle Paul’s Fun & Recreation, Part 2: How Should I Unwind?)

Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may also have joy in all matters of Heaven…

Morning Prayers – Ebenezer Newman – Downard – 1860 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Running The Christian Race (Part 3, Sensual Music)”…

or you can also read… “Running The Christian Race (Part 1: Paul & John: Our Role Models)”

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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A HEAVENLY HOBBY

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“Lift up your eyes on high,

and behold Who hath created these things;

that brings out their host by number:

He calls them all by names

by the greatness of His might,

for that He is strong in power;

not one faileth.”

Isaiah 40:26

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped  and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS

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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).

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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).

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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.

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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Orion the Soldier and the Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades & Pleiades, etc.) – winter constellations – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial use

ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Signs Of Heaven”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

” April 5th (Following Jesus!)”

Jesus Calls Disciples – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO 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 #94 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #94

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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