Today’s Devotional – July 18th (Kunta Kinte Christians, Part 2: “Sitting Still”)

By admin On January 31st, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – July 18th

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Kunta Kinte Christians,

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Part 2:

“Sitting Still”

TO READ PART 1, JUST CLICK HERE… “July 17th (Kunta Kinte Christians)”

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“And take heed to yourselves,

lest at any time your hearts be overcharged

with surfeiting, and drunkenness,

and cares of this life,

and so that day come upon you unawares”

Luke 21:34

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In yesterday’s devotional, the book, “Roots” was the centerpiece for a discussion about how God quite often allows Christians to suffer afflictions.

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And the concept about “suffering with Jesus” was brought out in a manner that is not very well accepted in today’s gospels which often focus on earthly prosperity.

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**But perhaps, this (possible) historical figure, Kunta Kinte, can also be used for today’s subject of “sitting still”.**

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Roots 25th Anniversary Edition – Wikipedia – click here for info about Non-Free Media Rationale

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AMPUTATION

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Now author, Alex Haley, wrote that his ancestor, an American slave named Kunta Kinte, had the front-half of his foot amputated, so as to keep him from running away from his master.

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And of course, this was a very cruel and heartless way of dealing with another human being!

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Nevertheless, Kunta Kinte’s loss of limb forever solved the problem of him running away from his slave-masters and from his family.

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Roots 25th Anniversary Edition – Wikipedia – click here for info about Non-Free Media Rationale

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SPIRITUAL AMPUTATION

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But like so many things in nature and like so many things in the world, Kunta Kinte’s amputation also has a spiritual analogy, when you really think about it.

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**Listen… “*The LORD lifts up the meek:***

He delights not in the strength of the horse:

He takes not pleasure in the legs of a man.

The LORD takes pleasure in them that fear Him,

in those that hope in His mercy.”

Psalm 147:5, 6, 10, 11

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Notice it says here that the Lord “delights not in the strength of the horse: He takes not pleasure in the legs of a man.”

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So what in the world can this remarkable statement have to do with the Gospel!?!

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Does God really take no pleasure in a man’s legs?

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So why does God take no pleasure in a man’s legs?

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legs – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

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“BE STILL & KNOW THAT I AM GOD!”

Psalm 46:10

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Well, listen to this verse about God’s rebellious people… “therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.” Isaiah 30:7.

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This statement was made at a time when God’s people were looking to Egypt for help and strength.

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And today, far too many Christians are running ahead of the Lord, involving ourselves in things that the Lord has not called us do!

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So often, we are not content to simply put on Christ’s very light and pleasant yoke and do the work which God has given us.

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Yes, in a very real sense, we are making the very same mistake which God’s people also made, during Old Testament times!

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And so, God says to us also… “Their strength is to sit still.” Isaiah 30:7

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Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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CHRIST’S YOKE IS EASY!

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No, Jesus isn’t putting a heavy yoke around our necks!

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He’s not a cruel taskmaster, like so many slave-owners were (and still are today)!

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But Jesus only wants us to get to know Him! That’s the one thing that God requires, is for every Christian to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn of Him.

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Listen… “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

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Yes, the burden which Jesus imposes upon us, is a very light burden, indeed!

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All He asks is for us to get to know Him.

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And the Bible is that means by which we grow more and more, in knowledge, and insight, and wisdom regarding our great God!

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Listen… “And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee…” John 17:3.

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And as we hide His Word in our heart, the life of Jesus will, more and more, begin to manifest itself in our thoughts, words, and doings.

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

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BUSY MARTHA & “LAZY” MARY

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Remember the story of Mary Magdalene and her sister Martha? Martha was always busy doing physical labor, while Mary devoted herself to sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His Word.

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But when Martha complained that Mary was being lazy and not busy like herself, Jesus very kindly and ever-so-gently scolded Martha, saying…

…”Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful:

and Mary hath chosen that good part,

which shall not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41, 42.

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Notice that Jesus said, “But one thing is needful!”

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And what is that one thing which is needful?

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Hearing the Word of Jesus! That’s the one thing which is needful! Hearing His Word!

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Well, just like Mary Magdalene, the Christian needs to sit at His feet and hear His Word!

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But like Kunta Kinte, so many of us have constantly run away from that one all-important duty, and instead, have entangled ourselves with many other less meaningful things!

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Jesus – Johannes (Jan) Vermeer – Christ in the House of Martha and Mary – Google Art Project – Public Domain

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STAY PUT!

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So, before God has to “cut off our right foot”, so to speak, we need to divest ourselves of all unnecessary endeavors, and enter into our chambers, and burn that midnight oil, as we begin to hide God’s Word in our heart.

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Yes, there are many things that our loving Heavenly Father might employ, to keep us from straying away from our Heavenly duties, without having to actually physically harm us.

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But there is no substitute for one’s own personal study of God’s Word, to get to know Him!

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No religious duty will excuse us from hiding God’s Word in our heart!

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And this following passage is so appropriate to end this devotional…

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“Through wisdom is an house built;

and by understanding it is established:

And by knowedge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war:

and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Wisdom is too high for a fool:

he opens not his mouth in the gate…

My son, eat thou honey, because it is good;

and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul:

when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward,

and thy expectation shall not be cut off.”

Proverbs 24:3-7, 12, 13

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Yes, there is no greater duty for the Christian than to armor up with God’s infallible and live-giving Word, The Bible!

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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE…

August 31st (Kunta Kinte Christians, Part 3: Golden Shackles!)

Roots 25th Anniversary Edition – Wikipedia – Non-Free Media Rationale

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Keep me from getting involved in things that are not necessary, and keep me searching Thy Word daily, seeking after wisdom and knowledge of Thee, and Thy will for me…

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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A CROWN OF 12 STARS UPON HER HEAD” …

If you have access to a very dark sky out in the country; if you watch this wreath, you will eventually see 5 more very faint stars, making a total of 12 stars, plus that single star in the middle.

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This wreath now becomes a crown of 12 stars.

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**This goes along with Revelation 12, which tells of a crown of 12 stars upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12.**

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Just listen to Revelation…

…“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven;

a woman…and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:”

Revelation 12:1.

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**But this crown is not yet upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (also known as Ursa Major).**

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It is just above her head, as if she has yet to attain it.

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Of course, the 13th star in the middle would represent Christ (Who is our true Crown of our rejoicing).

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Okay, so we have a picture of Christ and His twelve tribes of Israel.

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But also, we have a picture of Christ and His twelve apostles, which is a picture of His Church.

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So, this heavenly crown is a multi-faceted concept.

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/ark & Rev. 12 Woman – www.theheavensdeclare.net

Signs Of Heaven