Ultimate Journey

~ Mere Words Cannot Describe 3 Biblical Things ~

God’s Indescribable Gift  ~  “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). 

The Believer’s Inexpressible Joy  ~  “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.  Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6-9). 

Heaven’s Inexpressible Words  ~  “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast.  I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.  And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.  For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth.  But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me” (2 Corinthians 12:1-6). 

Summary  ~  These three are interrelated as they describe the progression of the Christian’s journey: first they receive the indescribable gift of salvation (a past, present, and future reality), causing them to experience the inexpressible joy (never ending from the time of accepting the free gift), and ultimately they will reach their inexpressible eternal home in heaven (a wonderful eternal future lies ahead).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

The Divine Sport

~ Does God Favor One Sport? ~

Tennis?  ~  I once met a fellow who believed God’s favorite sport was tennis—his reasoning was that Moses served in Pharaoh’s court. 

Baseball?  ~  A much better argument could be made for baseball being the divine sport of favor.  There are at least five reasons.

1. The principle of first mention is typically important in studying Scripture—and some would argue that baseball is mentioned in the very first verse of the Bible, where we read, “In the big inning…”
2. Still in the first book of the Bible we read God instructing Noah in the following way, “Make an ark of gopher wood with rooms in the ark—pitch it inside and pitch it outside” (Genesis 6:14). 
3. In the book of Job we read a concern that “There is no umpire” (Job 9:33 nasb).
4. Near the end of the Bible we read that the New Jerusalem is laid out in the same shape as a baseball diamond (equal distances between bases), “The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide” (Revelation 21:16).
5. Finally, there is Scriptural numerology.  The one number which the vast majority of theologians agree on is the number seven—as a number of completeness.  In baseball each batter is allowed four balls or three strikes to complete their time at bat. 

Thank you Pastor Raoul Robles for contributing some of the concepts presented.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

A Leper’s Firsts

~ The Leper of Mark 1 ~

Realization (the leper’s acknowledges his need)  ~  “Now a leper came to Him [Jesus]” (1:40a). 

                           

Response (the leper came by faith)  ~  “Imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean’” (1:40b). 

Note that the leper did not question His ability to heal!  Perhaps, this is related to what we read earlier in the chapter:  “At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him” (32-34).

       

Response (the compassion of Jesus Christ)  ~  “Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed” (40-41).  It is an interesting side note that in the Bible the word compassion is only used of Christ and of Christians. 

Result (the Leper experiences some firsts)  ~  “As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed” (42).  This was not only the first time the leper had healing but also in all likelihood the first time the leper ever experienced the touch of another person.  It would have been a violation of both social and medical protocol for anyone to come close to the leper—let alone touch the leper. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).