Author’s Note: This is part of a 40 Day Lenten & Easter YWAP Devotional that explores self-sacrifice as it relates to the death and resurrection of Christ
FUNGUS & PEARLS
There is a process that I do my best to follow when I write a book or a devotional. My plan is to ask God the day before I write, to show me what I'm supposed to write about. Sometimes it's easy and the subject readily appears through people, Bible reading, daily occurrences or a picture will appear in my mind. Today's writing has been a struggle. Last night just before I went to sleep, a picture came to mind that was almost undecipherable. The picture in my mind's eye looked like a purple fungus in a reef with the lips of an oyster.
My mind went blank as I went to sleep. Except for the purple picture, I had nothing to meditate on. This morning I woke up and still had no idea what I would write about. Several things crossed my mind, but nothing took center stage in my thoughts. Maybe by the end of this writing, the Holy Spirit will bring clarity to the whole matter. How did I start writing this devotional when I wasn't sure what to write about? I went for a walk in the mountains to pray and seek some answers.
My morning always begins with coffee, a bible and the cat on my lap. Fungus crossed my mind several times, but the only things I could find in the Bible were mold, mildew and leprosy. All of those things are nasty. Mold and mildew are associated with fungus and grow in dark, damp places where there is lots of decay. Leprosy in Biblical times covered a bunch of skin aliments on people and rotting decay on buildings and clothing. Leprosy was known as a curse from God because of sin in people. The curse of sin, death and decay entered the world through Adam and Eve. The Garden of Eden was a perfect place without any end to life. After breakfast I took off for the mountains with the purple picture in my brain. I thought about fungus and oysters.
I know that sin is the decay infects our relationship with God and causes separation which can lead to hell. Some folks believe it's enough give your sins to Jesus and confess your belief in his death for your sins and his resurrection from the dead, that life will be good forevermore. The Bible does make a case for that. John 3:16 is a perfect example. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." As for me, I know I've sinned and there's still some sin in my human bag of tricks. I'm saved and I know I'm going to heaven, but I'm also not taking any chances. Why? Because I still sin from time to time - too many times! I think a good "Washed-In-The-Word" cleansing on a daily basis is a good "mold-in-the-mind" remover. Mold and mildew in my mind must be removed by the renewing of my mind. “and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude],” Ephesians 4:23 (AMP)
My mind shifted to oysters as I walked in the shadows of the mountains. My step quickened as the subject of oysters and pearls took over my thoughts. Cool beans! Pearls are a better subject to think about instead of fungus, mold, mildew, leprosy and the dark, damp, decay of sin. Jesus told a parable abut the Pearl of Great Price. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV) My personal thought on that parable is that Jesus is the Pearl of Great Price. He took all our irritating sins, covered them with his sacrificed blood on the cross and gave us access into the kingdom of heaven.
Pearls are made from oysters when an irritant invades their shell. They react defensively by covering the irritant with layers of a substance called nacre. Eventually the nacre covered irritant becomes a valuable pearl. I know my sins are covered. I also know that I still have some irritating ways that need to be pearlized (new word.) So what did I learn from all of this?
1. Any dark areas in my thoughts that create conditions for fungus (sin) to develop and feed the decay of my life in Christ need to be washed away immediately. I need to be washed clean.
2. I need to ask God to examine my heart and point out any irritating habits. I ask him to cover my irritating ways in his mercy, grace and forgiveness and remove them. Then I become worthy to share the Pearl of his Love with others.
3. Have I given everything I have to accept Jesus into my life?
DAY 9 WORD
“Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.
Remove your evil actions from my sight
and stop sinning![a]
Learn what it means to do what is good
by seeking righteousness and justice!
Rescue the oppressed.[b] Uphold the rights of the fatherless
and defend the widow’s cause.[c]
Come now and let’s deliberate over the next steps to take together.[d]
Yahweh promises you over and over:[e]
“Though your sins stain you like scarlet,[f]
I will whiten them like bright, new-fallen snow!
Even though they are deep red like crimson,[g]
they will be made white like wool!”[h]
If you have a willing heart to let me help you,
and if you will obey me, you will feast on the blessings
of an abundant harvest.[i]
But if you are stubborn and refuse to obey,
the sword will eat you instead.”[j]
The mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”
Isaiah 1:16-20 (TPT)
HEART THOUGHTS
Is there any irritating way in you? How do you handle people who irritate you? Do you give them pearls in return for them irritating you?
HEART REFLECTIONS
Is your heart willing to sell all that you hold precious to buy the Pearl of great Price?
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
#ywap40daysoflent #ywap4Christ #JLYAS
My mind went blank as I went to sleep. Except for the purple picture, I had nothing to meditate on. This morning I woke up and still had no idea what I would write about. Several things crossed my mind, but nothing took center stage in my thoughts. Maybe by the end of this writing, the Holy Spirit will bring clarity to the whole matter. How did I start writing this devotional when I wasn't sure what to write about? I went for a walk in the mountains to pray and seek some answers.
My morning always begins with coffee, a bible and the cat on my lap. Fungus crossed my mind several times, but the only things I could find in the Bible were mold, mildew and leprosy. All of those things are nasty. Mold and mildew are associated with fungus and grow in dark, damp places where there is lots of decay. Leprosy in Biblical times covered a bunch of skin aliments on people and rotting decay on buildings and clothing. Leprosy was known as a curse from God because of sin in people. The curse of sin, death and decay entered the world through Adam and Eve. The Garden of Eden was a perfect place without any end to life. After breakfast I took off for the mountains with the purple picture in my brain. I thought about fungus and oysters.
I know that sin is the decay infects our relationship with God and causes separation which can lead to hell. Some folks believe it's enough give your sins to Jesus and confess your belief in his death for your sins and his resurrection from the dead, that life will be good forevermore. The Bible does make a case for that. John 3:16 is a perfect example. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." As for me, I know I've sinned and there's still some sin in my human bag of tricks. I'm saved and I know I'm going to heaven, but I'm also not taking any chances. Why? Because I still sin from time to time - too many times! I think a good "Washed-In-The-Word" cleansing on a daily basis is a good "mold-in-the-mind" remover. Mold and mildew in my mind must be removed by the renewing of my mind. “and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude],” Ephesians 4:23 (AMP)
My mind shifted to oysters as I walked in the shadows of the mountains. My step quickened as the subject of oysters and pearls took over my thoughts. Cool beans! Pearls are a better subject to think about instead of fungus, mold, mildew, leprosy and the dark, damp, decay of sin. Jesus told a parable abut the Pearl of Great Price. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV) My personal thought on that parable is that Jesus is the Pearl of Great Price. He took all our irritating sins, covered them with his sacrificed blood on the cross and gave us access into the kingdom of heaven.
Pearls are made from oysters when an irritant invades their shell. They react defensively by covering the irritant with layers of a substance called nacre. Eventually the nacre covered irritant becomes a valuable pearl. I know my sins are covered. I also know that I still have some irritating ways that need to be pearlized (new word.) So what did I learn from all of this?
1. Any dark areas in my thoughts that create conditions for fungus (sin) to develop and feed the decay of my life in Christ need to be washed away immediately. I need to be washed clean.
2. I need to ask God to examine my heart and point out any irritating habits. I ask him to cover my irritating ways in his mercy, grace and forgiveness and remove them. Then I become worthy to share the Pearl of his Love with others.
3. Have I given everything I have to accept Jesus into my life?
DAY 9 WORD
“Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.
Remove your evil actions from my sight
and stop sinning![a]
Learn what it means to do what is good
by seeking righteousness and justice!
Rescue the oppressed.[b] Uphold the rights of the fatherless
and defend the widow’s cause.[c]
Come now and let’s deliberate over the next steps to take together.[d]
Yahweh promises you over and over:[e]
“Though your sins stain you like scarlet,[f]
I will whiten them like bright, new-fallen snow!
Even though they are deep red like crimson,[g]
they will be made white like wool!”[h]
If you have a willing heart to let me help you,
and if you will obey me, you will feast on the blessings
of an abundant harvest.[i]
But if you are stubborn and refuse to obey,
the sword will eat you instead.”[j]
The mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”
Isaiah 1:16-20 (TPT)
HEART THOUGHTS
Is there any irritating way in you? How do you handle people who irritate you? Do you give them pearls in return for them irritating you?
HEART REFLECTIONS
Is your heart willing to sell all that you hold precious to buy the Pearl of great Price?
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
#ywap40daysoflent #ywap4Christ #JLYAS
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