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Today’s Devotional – February 5th

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The Monkey Trap!

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It’s a good thing we humans are so much smarter than animals! Oh yes!

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Take for instance, the little monkeys! Can you believe it! All you need to do to catch a monkey, is nail a coconut to a tree, and bore a hole just large enough for the monkey’s paw to fit in. Then put some glittering object in that hole.

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The monkey will put his hand in that hole and grasp that shiny object and attempt to pull the object out. But his paw, now holding that object will no longer fit back through that little hole.

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And so, even when the monkey-hunter returns, the monkey will still not let go, in spite of the approaching trapper! 

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Domesticated monkey – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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THE HUMAN TRAP

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Oh yes, it’s a good thing we humans are so much smarter than those simple-minded little monkeys!

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Or are we?

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Well, when you think about it, isn’t that exactly what Satan does to us? Doesn’t he put shiny objects within our reach? And then, when we hear that we can live forever in a blissful paradise, if we will only forsake all to follow Jesus, we refuse to let go of those shiny objects.

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Yes, we humans are so short-sighted, we would rather hold fast to the shiny objects of this very short life, rather than forsake them in trade for the never-ending Paradise to come, which Heaven offers to all!

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“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33. These are the very words which Jesus spoke to His disciples.

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And these are the very words that Jesus speaks to us today!

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Domesticated monkey – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

Mall_Market culture_- jakarta75 – Wikimedia – share-alike-lic.

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FEW WILLING TO FORSAKE ALL

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Do you remember the story of the Rich Young Ruler?

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This rich young ruler wished to become a Disciple and follower of Jesus.

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But he just couldn’t part with his earthly riches!

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Many people only think of money and power when hearing this story of the Rich Young Ruler.

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But this young man was not only rich, but also had his youth, and probably was handsome, and talented, as well. And most likely, besides enjoying a high station in life, he no doubt also had other various hobbies, and interests, and further aspirations in life!

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And not to mention, all those comfortable little self-indulgent pleasures which everyday life affords. 

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Rich Young Ruler Hoffman complete and entire surrender of this world, in order to gain Christ – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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“HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL”

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And Jesus said to that rich young ruler…“If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:21, 22.

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This rich young ruler didn’t want to give up all to follow Jesus!

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He enjoyed this life!

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This present world was “his oyster”, as they say!

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There were simply too many things for him to give up! In essence, this poor man got his hand stuck in the “Monkey Trap”!

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Rich Young Ruler Hoffman complete and entire surrender of this world, in order to gain Christ – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

Domesticated monkey – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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THAT RICH, YOUNG RULER IS US!

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And these are the very same “shiny objects” that people today are not willing to sacrifice, to follow Jesus!

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And like that rich young ruler, there are many of us churchgoers who merely try to keep the Law to the letter. Like that rich young ruler, we think we can fulfill the Law’s demands, and yet still hold on to this life, with all its aspirations, pleasures, and amusements!

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But listen to Jesus… “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24.

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Yes, God has allowed the Devil to design this selfish world, with all its glittering tinsel-like attractions. And God asks us to choose this short and selfish world, or instead, choose the everlasting and loving world to come.

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And so, we each must choose one world or the other.

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New York Times Square – terabass – CROPPED IMAGE – Wikipedia – share-alike license.

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“MEN…SUPPOSING THAT GAIN IS GODLINESS: FROM SUCH WITHDRAW THYSELF”

1st Timothy 6:5  

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Now of course, the Great Deceiver understands how self-deceiving the human heart is.

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And this Father of Lies has “crept in unawares” into the local congregations and into the great denominations via his so-called, “ministers of righteousness” (see Jude 1:4 & 2nd Corinthians 11:15).

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And by filling many pulpits with his own “wolves in sheep’s clothing”, he has transformed the church-world into a prosperity-driven “Christianity” in which churchgoers are deceived into the belief that they can have Christ while still pursuing the selfish pleasures, treasures, and the proud, ambitious pursuits of this fallen world.

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And the result of this fatal error is that the vast majority of churchgoers have one foot in the church and the other foot firmly in the world!

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Thus, the entire church-world has fallen into utter and irreparable apostasy!

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We have our hand caught in that proverbial Monkey Trap, i.e., the world!

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ABOVE PICTURE: The False Prophet – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

Domesticated monkey – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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“AND THEY FORSOOK ALL & FOLLOWED HIM”

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Now, in contrast to this rich young ruler, is the account of Jesus calling Peter, John and James and Andrew.

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When Jesus called those disciples, it is written…

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“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.” Luke 5:11.

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Yes, those disciples totally forsook the pleasures and pursuits of the world, and followed Jesus. And those disciples were a picture of what God expects from us.

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And God expects no less from us, than He expected from those faithful disciples.

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Christ calling His Disciples – by Edward Armitage – 1869 – courtesy wikigallery.com – public domain

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“A BILLIONAIRE…NO…A TRILLIONAIRE!!!…”

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But just because a follower of Jesus renounces all the riches and glitter of this selfish world, does not leave that new Believer a poor man!

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No, by becoming a true follower of Jesus, the Christian will become one of the wealthiest persons on Earth! A billionaire! No…a trillionaire!!

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And how is this possible?

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This is because, as God’s child, He has promised eternal life to all those who persevere in following Him. And of course, everlasting life is worth more than all the riches that this world could possibly give, wouldn’t you agree?

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This star-chart shows the Summer Constellations which God created to show the basic gospel.

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But notice that this Revelation 12 Woman appears to be grasping at these heavenly treasures, instead of earthly treasures?

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“SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS!”

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But if that’s not enough, the redeemed will eventually inherit the vast riches of love and knowledge and wisdom and everlasting life, and all the other treasures that Heaven has to offer, as is written… “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.” Revelation 21:7.

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And beyond all these things, we just cannot now comprehend all the unknown mysteries and heavenly spiritual treasures which are in store!

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NOW THAT’S TRUE RICHES! Wouldn’t you agree?

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be enamored with the glittering tinsel-like attractions of the world. But rather, lead me upward on that heavenward pathway…

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Pray for Our Nation sign – Wikimedia – Share-alike-lic.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… ““Vanity Fair” & The False Prophet” or you can also read… “Television & The Image That Speaks”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

The info and pics of the constellations on this site are all taken from Wikipedia and from The Internation Astronomical Union (click here to view their site)

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“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman…And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads…And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:1, 3, 15

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

February 6th (Forked-Tongued Christianity)

Brown tree snake – Boiga – Wikipedia – 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 #36 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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