Sunday, March 12, 2023

Reflection - Richard DeHaan - Dead-Sea Christians

Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 41, "Dead-Sea Christians", Page 48.
By Richard DeHaan, Our Daily Bread Author
 

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. - John 7:38
PHOTO: Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. - John 7:38

The Dead Sea is so salty that it contains no fish or plant life. What accounts for this unusual condition? There are absolutely no outlets. A great volume of water pours into this area, but nothing flows out. Many inlets plus no outlets equals a dead sea.

This law of nature may also be applied to the child of God, and it explains why many believers are so unfruitful and lacking in spiritual vitality. It's possible for some people to attend Bible conferences, listen to religious broadcasts, study the Scriptures, and continually take in the Word as it is preached from the pulpit, and yet seem lifeless and unproductive in their Christian lives. Such individuals are like the Dead Sea. They have several "inlets" but no "outlets." To be vibrant and useful believers, we must not only "take in" all we can, but we must also "give out" in service to others.

May the Lord make us refreshing fountains where thirsty souls may drink. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we possess the "living water" and can be channels of blessing to those in need. From hearts of love, let us pour out to others what we have first received from God. If we do, we will never become Dead-Sea Christians.

To be a channel of blessing, let Christ's love flow through you.


Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. - John 7:38
 
PHOTO: Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. - John 7:38
Picture posted by CaoChiNhan on 08 August 2014 - Aquarius
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFbo6mMcQdfVNHGGbUdbtaw6QpeSB5EGId9int5i-qv9JKDrEL9_yNfS8FtpXAhFbsjcgkmHW9JpFgy6NabMkpkV23Zg8HX02LfA6EPR69SgRQAypPIqywdXbxlHjTPwnla3uM2cQB8HyU8vMw0zBKK4emjLaJcup_VLpl12iIILszfNeSiZ_dqW4/s1558/aquarius_by_caochinhan_d7u8rrz-fullview.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/d9ee1869-bf07-4091-ba1f-8a2a4297fb11/d7u8rrz-3f46da12-287c-44dd-831a-a5bb4699e1bb.png/v1/fill/w_1280,h_1558,q_80,strp/aquarius_by_caochinhan_d7u8rrz-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTU1OCIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2Q5ZWUxODY5LWJmMDctNDA5MS1iYTFmLThhMmE0Mjk3ZmIxMVwvZDd1OHJyei0zZjQ2ZGExMi0yODdjLTQ0ZGQtODMxYS1hNWJiNDY5OWUxYmIucG5nIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTEyODAifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.LWtzL7PvJMC2NZuPDTO-8GokicYlLhi6LCxpdujWN5I
https://www.deviantart.com/caochinhan/art/Aquarius-474060959


The Dead Sea is so salty that it contains no fish or plant life. What accounts for this unusual condition? There are absolutely no outlets. A great volume of water pours into this area, but nothing flows out. Many inlets plus no outlets equals a dead sea.
 


This law of nature may also be applied to the child of God, and it explains why many believers are so unfruitful and lacking in spiritual vitality. It's possible for some people to attend Bible conferences, listen to religious broadcasts, study the Scriptures, and continually take in the Word as it is preached from the pulpit, and yet seem lifeless and unproductive in their Christian lives. Such individuals are like the Dead Sea. They have several "inlets" but no "outlets." To be vibrant and useful believers, we must not only "take in" all we can, but we must also "give out" in service to others.
 

 This law of nature may also be applied to the child of God, and it explains why many believers are so unfruitful and lacking in spiritual vitality.
PHOTO: This law of nature may also be applied to the child of God, and it explains why many believers are so unfruitful and lacking in spiritual vitality. It's possible for some people to attend Bible conferences, listen to religious broadcasts, study the Scriptures, and continually take in the Word as it is preached from the pulpit, and yet seem lifeless and unproductive in their Christian lives. Such individuals are like the Dead Sea. They have several "inlets" but no "outlets." To be vibrant and useful believers, we must not only "take in" all we can, but we must also "give out" in service to others.
Picture posted by brandrificus on 29 April 2012 - Water Element
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyhyglbelfMuAYHJB1MNK2dMey7JQwB7RdN7Xokg4xYraHsbdIgbesgBzBhHAzoYiGup3tlrcedT8pCxjnbFFDV-rqRGfcZJcHYPDrg7MU2z-vJ0_lrqjnUEbKbf0dHsAMnGlxyyGziu9sT0N4IwgEhWJR6IghnCvCa-K8lo741A749pIqpYKUjcH/s1449/water_element_by_brandrificus_d4y1228-fullview.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/8d46ff84-9bd9-477d-9e6d-f70952379464/d4y1228-2cb3b300-18e7-4dc7-924e-e498fda7edf3.jpg/v1/fill/w_900,h_1449,q_75,strp/water_element_by_brandrificus_d4y1228-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTQ0OSIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzhkNDZmZjg0LTliZDktNDc3ZC05ZTZkLWY3MDk1MjM3OTQ2NFwvZDR5MTIyOC0yY2IzYjMwMC0xOGU3LTRkYzctOTI0ZS1lNDk4ZmRhN2VkZjMuanBnIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTkwMCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.YQJr6p74n2XmSq5svhRPefCquNKDtQ68MlAL0opGDuU
https://www.deviantart.com/brandrificus/art/Water-Element-299020976


May the Lord make us refreshing fountains where thirsty souls may drink. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we possess the "living water" and can be channels of blessing to those in need. From hearts of love, let us pour out to others what we have first received from God. If we do, we will never become Dead-Sea Christians.
 
 
May the Lord make us refreshing fountains where thirsty souls may drink.
PHOTO: May the Lord make us refreshing fountains where thirsty souls may drink. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we possess the "living water" and can be channels of blessing to those in need. From hearts of love, let us pour out to others what we have first received from God. If we do, we will never become Dead-Sea Christians.
Picture posted by Far From Gone


To be a channel of blessing, let Christ's love flow through you.
 
 
 Reflect and Pray
PHOTO: Reflect and Pray
Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true. - Wilson
Picture posted by Harris Rosenberg
Reflection - Richard DeHaan - Dead-Sea Christians
Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 41, "Dead-Sea Christians", Page 48.
By Richard DeHaan, Our Daily Bread Author

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Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html 


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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 

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Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
 

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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
 

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Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
 
 
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
 
 
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 Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
 
 

Reference
[1] From "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Chapter 41, "Dead-Sea Christians", Page 48.


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