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'For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.'
1st Corinthians 15 Verse 22

My thoughts while reading this chapter have gone from the resurrection of Christ, to Adam being banished from the garden and from there to the seed sown in our own garden and the flowers now blooming in the early morning sun.

There seems to be more colour in our garden this year than I can ever remember. The warm, dry and sunny spell that we have enjoyed has brought Ann's little garden to life.

If Christ be not risen then our faith is vain. Paul drives this vital message home by repeating it in this chapter. Perhaps there may be some who may not realise the importance of the resurrection of Christ.

Is Jesus your Saviour and mine? Did He die on the cross at Calvary? Did He die for sinners like me? Did He shed His blood? Was His sacrifice a perfect atonement for sin? Is He the only Saviour for sinners?

We may rejoice and say yes to all of these questions.

Would that have been enough to save me?  What would things be like if He had not risen from the grave?
The death of Christ would have been in vain. A dead Christ is of no use to me. It was at this point that my thoughts went to Adam being banished from the garden.

What if Adam had managed to get to the middle of the garden and eaten the fruit from the tree of Life? Was it purely as a judgement that the flaming sword barred his way or was there a measure of love and mercy in the flaming sword?

If Adam had eaten, he and all his posterity would indeed possess eternal life. I would have eternal life, but as a sinner! I would never know mercy, or justification, or heaven, or peace and I would forever be at enmity with God. I would remain alive as a sinner in this body forever!

Praise the Lord for that flaming sword!

Had Christ not risen from the grave we would not have glory to look forward to. Our sins would not have been forgiven. It would have meant that His sacrifice had been in vain. The Father openly acknowledged the perfection of Christ's sacrifice for sin BY or THROUGH His resurrection from the grave.

The resurrection of Christ from the tomb was an open and visible sign from God the Father that He hath done all things well. Justice was satisfied, mercy and peace kissed mutually and the way to everlasting life was at last opened for sinners.

Let us yearn for resurrection power in our lives today that we may walk in newness of life, spiritual beings and not carnal.

A seed when it is sown in the soil must die, before it is quickened by God into life. If you sow carrot seeds you do not expect to reap turnips!

Christians believe that Jesus Christ the Son of God died in their room and stead on the cross at Calvary. We believe that through His sacrifice our sins are forgiven and through His resurrection we are also raised to newness of life. We believe through faith. We are born again.

We were dead in trespasses and sins. Now we are alive in Christ Jesus because He has quickened us.
If we may put it another way. Think of the old man as a natural seed. It is God's work to regenerate.

The natural seed (the old man) dies! That seed being sown by God's grace is quickened to become a spiritual body (a new man). We are born again of the spirit of the living God.

Dying with Christ on the cross - the seed being natural - and raised to newness of life through the power of His resurrection. Sown as natural bodies, raised as spiritual. We are new creations in Christ Jesus. A brand new being! Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.

Think of it my friend, God the Father could not have adopted us into His family had we remained in our sins. Having changed us through regeneration He has made a way whereby He delights to adopt us as His children because we bear the image of Christ. Sins have been washed in the blood of Jesus.

Put another way, we were sown Christless and raised complete IN Christ.

Please forgive me if you have difficulty in following my train of thought today, but I have tried to write it in a manner that I hope will be blessed to your soul. If we have indeed been raised to newness of life, let us follow the example of the flowers in my garden this morning and let us reflect the Son.

The flowers that bloom this morning bear no resemblance to the seed that was sown in April! God has been at work, quickening that seed into newness of live. It is almost as if the flowers are lifting their petals in adoration of their Creator.

Has the Lord started a work in your soul? Are you being challenged by the truths of the Bible? When God plants a seed, He brings it to fruition. It may be a change from darkness to life or it may be a seed sown in prayer.

We may be sure that their will be a performance of those things. Where God has begun the good work in us He will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Tuesday 12 aug. 10.30 AM
Thanks Iain for you the wonderfull words this morning
they are balsem for my soul. I am your sister in Christ.
Kathy you are saying tom me in America (are you living
in America) i would go to an chiropracter my therapeut
is an chiropracter can you see we have english words in our language. And i believe our greatest psychiatric
therapeut is living in Heaven.  In 1994 i have had psychotherapie. Later i will tell about that time.
Saterday it is standing under fryday i have told that my own pastor always is saying to me you are uncertain. And thar is sure. I always must fight to that
problem. And i pray God help me.
But also your all give me power. I think God has braught me on your way. You all are helping me.
Jane tomorrow i come back on your words. The greatest of this is Love. There is something hanging
about in my room.
I thank all the people who are praying fro me.
How are you Judy B Papa John Jenny Mieka and all the others. God bless you all
for you all a   from Ria     God is loving you

Ria You are such a blessing to us all here! please post often.

Judy B

Thanks for the devotional, Iain.  I had to skim over right now, because I have a toddler on the loose,  but I will come back at nap time to "digest" it.  

Ria, glad to see you posting.  I, for one, look forward to hearing more from you.

Hi Sonifo, see you are in here right now.  How goes it??

Hi everyone from a foggy Georgia.  We once again had close to an inch of rain yesterday afternoon and more predicted for this afternoon.  Today is our monthly senior's luncheon at our local Senior Center.  For some reason it starts at eleven and we are usually finished shortly after twelve.  That works well for me, however, in that this is the day of the week I go to the Calvin Cove Adult Day Care Center at our church to lead the singing and play the piano for them.  

Iain, a lot to think about in your devotional thoughts this morning.  I liked your example of the seed and the quickening from the physical to the spiritual being.  

A big welcome to Darin Y.

Mieka, thanks for posing your questions yesterday.  I think we all learn from the discussions, at least I do.

Sonja, glad you stopped in yesterday.  Always good to see your postings.

I will try to get back later.

I don't believe I have ever heard this hymn before but it has a beautiful melody and wonderful words.

Another excellent study, Iain. Thank you!

I have a busy day today.  If any of you want to join me in painted my kitchen cabinets, come on over I will cook lunch!

Hope you all have a good day!

Love Sonja

Good Morning. Iain That you for your wonderful devotional this morning. It leaves me with much to think about and ponder on throughout the day. I am working on making the Lord present in ALL the things that I say and do. Praying about ven those little things that may seem insignificant.

Larry that is a wonderful song. Wesang it a lot in the church down south.

Good marning to all who  have been here and allthose yet to come today.

Sonja, HELLO> Are you just about done with your busy summer days so you can come back more often?

TTYL

Sonja: in yesterdays thread you asked where it could be found in the Bible about who satan being a fallen angel. It is in Ezekiel 28: 12-19.

This is from Jenny in the U.K.

Dear Marilyn
Quickly.......Virgin having serious web prolems with Windows...ME.....I keep
being taken off after two minutes ...If you don't hear from me at C.P. Tell
them I'm thinking of you all and send love util I can  come back.....Hope
soon.
Chris taken some milk this a.m. still very hot...but hot here and clammy.
Love
Surely these are the "margins of His ways"...
Jenny.

Hello Larry:
I wanted to hear the song Jesus, Jesus, Jesus but for some reason the music would not come through.  Oh well, I know the song well and will sing it all day.  Thank you for posting it.  I am on holidays this week so can take the time to comment.  Hoping you are all having a wonderful summer.  Praying for Pat that her holiday will be a a time of renewal and refreshing.

Love Ruthie

hello to all this morning (almost gone as it's 11 AM here in the sunny south)
Iain..your devotional is very thought provoking. Yes, I am sooo glad that I have been changed like the flower.  I want to bloom in God's garden and show how much accepting Christ as my Savior and Lord has changed me.  My prayer is that everyone will see Him as their Savior, also.
This will be my last post for 2 weeks as I am off on  vacation with no computer.  I'm headed over the the prayer list to make my
own list to carry on vacation.  
God's love to all...kathy

Hi all,

I , too, was having problems with computer --on and off line every few minutes.

Paper says its a virus in the Microsoft system --there is a flaw. If you are using windows 2000 and windows xp.

Tech tried to explain what to do but my son, thank heavens,
came by and check out my computer and found I didn't have my "firewall" protection on (whatever that is!!!)
and so far I am still here.

If it is not corrected and I go off again; Remember  I am thinking about you.

Going to check out Prayer forum.

Hopefully I will make it back later.\
]
Karmet, my husband says to tell you he enjoyed what you said about the devil, the fallen angel, he has preached on that subject to many.

Try not to dwelve on the enemy that much; he wants nothing better to do than to cloud your mind and create confusion in a most cunning way.

he is a master of lies; the great manipulator of evil; he is defeated at the cross and he knows his time is limited.

So keep your thoughts on the Scriptures ; the true words of our Heavenly FAther.

Fill your mind with thoughts on how to better serve HIM and give HIM all the praise and glory that HE created you for.

He made you to become Christ like in nature and to be HIS companion.

That's what keeps me going; knowing Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour.

Take care and as always,

Love in Christ,
Joyce

Thanks Iain.  Each morning you use words to create a beatiful picture of God.  To me, the words of our Lord is like moisture falling on a parched earth.  We need this in order to grow.

That is a beautiful song and we also used to sing it in church.  So much of the old music stirs the heart and yet is now seldom heard.  I find that hard to understand as there should be room for both the time tested...and the new.

I had to load a Crescendo program in order to hear the music thro' my Real 1 player.  Possibly that is the problem when it won't play....?  Have a wonderful day all....

Hello from SW Kansas!  More wonderful thoughts here today.  Isn't it wonderful that God's word is inexhaustible?  There is something new and fresh each time we open the Book!  He is SO good!

It is hot again today, but not the extreme heat we have been enduring, so there is always something for which to thank God.

Pat and Etta Sue, if you pop in "Hello!  God bless you, and have a wonderful day!"

Mieka, isn't it great how your questions make us all think, and dig into the Word, in order to help you understand something?  You are so precious!

We are getting ready to go on a short vacation, so I need to get some things done today.  We are taking the 5th wheel trailer to Minden, Nebraska, and will be staying out at Pioneer Village there.  They are having something called Pioneer Farming Days.  I think we will be home on Sunday night or Monday......leaving on Thursday morning early.

I wish all of you a joyful, God-filled day!

Good Morning and love to all.  Francy  
P.S. Grandbaby coming so have to hurry.

Happy Grandbaby Day, FRANCY  

Dear Mieka,
please put satan out of your mind as much as possible; he is, and always will be, your enemy!
He is the enemy of the gospel and the enemy of the Lord Himself.
He tried to destroy Jesus, read about him in Ezekiel ch. 28 and Isaiah ch. 14 if you like, but please do not pray for him as he is already a defeated enemy who knows his time draws near for eternal punishment.
This is already decreed by our Saviour as you can read in Revelation ch. 12 onward.
God has decided his fate and we must never pray for him.
He would destroy you if he could, but you are under the Lord's protection and need not worry unduly about this.
A lovely old Christian lady once told me that "the more you talk about satan the less time you are talking about Jesus" and that's just what he wants!
To be the centre of attention!
Don't let him be!.
Whatever things are pure, good,  holy, think on these things, and fill your young mind with Christ, and what He has done for you at Calvary, where He defeated the evil one once and for all, and gave us the victory too.
The Lord bless you, young lady, fix your eyes upon Jesus.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/u/turnyour.htm

Mr Chris & Ms Margit,
I thank you both for these words today.
I did pray for some time last night and again today that I can undarstand who is my enemy.   I think I do not have a enemy other than the Satan  

I will not pray for him any more. He does not take my mind and heart away from God. I only find him very sad.

To take the weed from the garden one must take the root.

It is my dream that pain and evil will one day be gone and there is soon a cure for all that is sad. I have share this thoughts with God many times. Is it wrong to pray in this way? that this weed of satan can one day be gone from the garden and the many flowers of God can fill the air with all that is good?

I pray for many things each day. There are so many things I wish to know of this heaven.  I do thank you all for the words I find here each day that help me to take my thoughts to God with more knowledge.

Mieka, you are a great lass,and we are so proud of you,we are your brother and sister, we are family, so please address us as Chris and Margit, family are not so formal.
You are very caring, and that is the life-blood of Christianity, to care for others and to care about the state of the life going on around us.
Especially to care about what the Lord thinks about us!
We are here to please Him, and mainly Him, so we cannot be men pleasers, for what is pleasing to men is anathema to God.
The world's values are not our values, as we march to a different drum.

"You are blessed when you work up a good appetite for God, He is food and drink, the best meal, you will ever eat.
You are blessed when you care, at the moment of being 'care-full' you find yourself cared for."
Matthew ch. 5 v 6-7=The Message
Eugene H. Peterson
Be strong in the Lord,=Ephesians ch. 6 v 10-18.
Love, Chris and Margit.

It sounds as though our numbers are being depleted - but only temporarily.   First Pat and Judy Mc and Etta Sue headed west, now Kathy is taking off and Janet as well.  They'll all be missed, but won't it be great when everyone is back!  

It is now evening here in Georgia and is good to see so many postings during the day.  

We had a nice get together at our local Senior Center.  Our State Senator was there and answered some questions.  Our area is growing so quickly that there are many problems with traffic and zoning.  I then went to the adult day care center at our church and we sang hymns today.  One lady was new there today and couldn't understand why we all didn't know her husband and was concerned he wouldn't know where to find her.  We all tried to reassure her he would be there to get her when everyone left.  

Ruthie, I was having trouble getting the songs to play as well and had to download the last version of the Windows Media Player and now I can hear the music.

Hope everyone has a nice evening and I will see you all tomorrow.

this has been a very busy day. The girls are all in bed and I am following.  

I hope everyone enjoys the heat, at John's work the thermometer registered 103 degrees.  That is VERY hot for us northern babies!

VBS is going well, and we have a lot of non church kids too.  Pray for these kids

I must go and get some rest

Love to all JudyB

Iain:  I always enjoy reading what you post, so encouraging.

Larry: We often sang Jesus Jesus Jesus as a prayer at the start of the morning service, I needed to hear it to night.

Mieka:

To take the weed from the garden one must take the root.

I have never heard the above expression before, but it sure gives a lot to think about.

I will visit all of you tomorrow.
Please remember me in prayer as I deal with me concerning a phone call.

May God Bless all of you.
Ruth

Larry:  Thank you for posting the beautiful music.  It is lovely.  Tonight, the Public T.V. station had a special with the music from Billy Grahmn - something about Homecoming, I believe.  I missed most of the program but did get to see and hear some of the great old music.

Judy B:  Now, you are hot!  Tell your guy to drink plenty of water.

Carol