It is good to be speaking to you all again another week through our weekly devotion. Grace has taught me to be grateful and within my gratefulness I must admit that communicating with you all is something that stays on my heart and mind everyday of the week. In meditation this week, there has been a few issues on my heart for us to briefly discuss specifically this upcoming week but in the midst of the few issues I believe that God wants us this week to specifically consume our hearts and minds with the proposition of "But Is It?" ( I physically spoke the nature of this with someone already this week.) "But Is It?" has the connotation of something specifically "appearing to be" the something that it specifically appears to be which keeps awareness to the fact that sometimes things that appear to be something specific can potentially be something different. Appearing to be is the same as seeming to be or having the look of or conveying the impression of. Keep in mind that this devotion is not a declaration of identifying the specific thing but a concentration on not taking for granite or remaining in the land of complacency regarding things specifically being what they actually appear to be. A pearl has a smooth and hard usually round shaped body that grows within a shell of some oysters and certain bivalve mollusks and forms around grains of sand, a parasite, or some foreign object. Well, while walking and seeing a beautiful shell in the sand, wisdom says: "But Is It?". It's wise to not take for granite that it's solely a beautiful shell. Why? Because there is a beautiful smooth and hard usually round shaped gem (a precious stone) that's not the shell. In the pearl's case, to understand and see the precious stone (the pearl) is to understand something appearing to be something that it specifically appears to be ( a shell) can be actually something different (a precious stone.) In the spirit of love, no condemnation, and no specific declaration, let's look at the same concept towards personal discipleship in Christ Jesus. The focus on being consciously aware (not taking for granite or remaining in the land of complacency) that the appearance (the seeming to be, having the look of, or conveying the impression of) of genuine discipleship of Christ can potentially be something different than genuine discipleship for Christ which can be separated from an actual declaration of personal discipleship for Christ. Again, this devotion is not a specific declaration of your personal discipleship. However, if you can walk away from this weekly devotion simply understanding, accepting, and remembering to be conscious of "But Is It?" genuine discipleship for Christ (towards your personal discipleship for Christ and others personal discipleship for Christ which is appropriate by trying the spirit by the spirit and knowing those who labor amongst you) then mission accomplished for this week's devotion (awareness of discipleship of Christ's potential deceptive vacillation.) To God be the glory!
When concentrating this week on "But Is It?", I encourage you to meditate upon three things: 1) The issue comes directly from the vocal chords of Jesus himself (no interpretation of Jesus vocal chords), 2) The issue was/is articulated in literal literary language (not metaphorical literary language), and 3) The issue pertains specifically "established" profession and doing service for God through Christ Jesus. Established profession and doing service for God through Christ Jesus acknowledges an actual history of professing and doing service for God through Christ Jesus which is huge because it identifies the application of serving God through Christ Jesus relationship with the history of serving God through Christ Jesus. In other words, in day to day, real life you evaluating you, you evaluating overall spiritual climates which includes others (trying the spirit by the spirit and knowing those who labor amongst you), others evaluating themselves, and others evaluating you (trying the spirit by the spirit and knowing those who labor amongst them, it's essential for new converts (new believers) to be conscious of "But Is It?" from the perspective new believers depending, shadowing, and being mentored by "the established" (those who have a history of professing and serving God through Christ Jesus), new believers personal discipleship in Christ, and new believers accountability to God through Christ Jesus. Also, day to day, in real life it's essential for established believers (those who have a history of professing and doing service for God through Christ Jesus) to be personally conscious of "But is it?" from the perspective established believers personal discipleship in Christ, accountability of appropriately mentoring new believers, remaining in sight with spiritual climates, and personal accountability to God through Christ Jesus. By no coincidence, Jesus's literal words (see scripture below) was directed towards the established (a history) of professing and doing service for God in his (Jesus's) name. Again, established is huge because day to day application of ALL SERVICE TO GOD (from both new and established believers) has an essential relationship with the history of actual professing and doing service for God through Christ Jesus. Is the appearance of genuine discipleship of Christ serving God actually genuine discipleship of Christ serving God or something different? Jesus plainly-literally identifies that there is a difference between appearing and being and the difference of appearing and being exists.
Enjoy your personal time with the Spirt of God this week regarding the issue of "But Is It?". Through prayer and a concentration on the below scripture (notice: this week we will concentrate only on one scripture with different translations whereas we normally concentrate on various scriptures.) In your contemplations this week, keep in mind that declarations of genuine discipleship of Christ serving God is your personal declaration and not this devotion's declaration knowing that righteous judgement is declaring decisions based on the word of God and unrighteous judgement is based on condemnation and I encourage you to declare by the word of God and do not condemn. Prayerfully and hopefully there are established, maintained, and increased understandings and acceptances that the appearance of genuine discipleship of Christ serving God can potentially be something different than it's appearance can be a beautiful thing. Why? Because it's an amazing opportunity to genuinely grow in personal discipleship of Christ serving God leveraged from being conscious of (not taking for granite or remaining in the land of complacency) "But Is It?". Love you all in Christ, you and your families have an amazing week, and please share this devotion with others for their enlightenment and encouragement. Look forward (by the grace of God) to communicating with you all in next week's weekly devotion and heads up, I will periodically restart communicating with you all through our weekly devotions via video (visual and vocal, not written.)
"Many will come to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" Matthew 7:22-23 (KJV Translation)
"Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" Matthew 7:22-23 (NIV Translation)
"Many will say onto me that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS." Matthew 7:22-23 (NASB Translation)
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