A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

The Christian's Power (#19940514)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“. . . the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe . . .” (Ephesians 1:19).

The power of the triune Creator, as displayed in the resurrection of Christ, is directed toward us! We can be certain that we will never fully comprehend that, but the Scriptures provide several clear statements that will help us get some usable grasp on this resource: We receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us (Acts 1:. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer (John 14:17; I Corinthians 6:19) and is therefore readily accessible to all believers (Ephesians 3:20). We use the power of God every time we preach the gospel (Romans 1:16; I Corinthians 1:18), whether to one person or to thousands. We learn of the power of God through “great and precious promises” (II Peter 1:3,4). Indeed, those promises involve “all things that pertain to life and godliness.” We see the results of the power of God in our lives when our characters reflect “all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11).

The Lord desires “that (we) might be filled with all the fulness of God” Ephesians 3:19) and “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). The purpose of this empowering is to be “. . . rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith” (Colossians 2:7), “able to comprehend . . . the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know (!) the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18,19).

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20,21). HMM

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The Christian's Parentage (#19940515)
by Henry Morris III, Th.D.

“And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).

There are three descriptions of what we were prior to God’s work in us: We were “dead in trespasses [activities] and sins [character, attitude, condition].” The result was that we were unable to understand or seek God on our own (Romans 3:10,11). Nor are we able to know the “things of God” by our own intellectual prowess (I Corinthians 2:14). “We walked according to the course of this world” (Ephesians 2:2), in “bondage” to the world (Galatians 4:3) and with the eyes of our minds “blinded” by Satan (II Corinthians 4:4). We are “by nature the children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3). Both our natural desires (Ephesians 5:5,6) and our willful unbelief (John 3:36) have placed us under the ever-increasing wrathful judgment of God (Romans 2:5–9).

The transformation performed by God on us can only be “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:10). It involves God’s rich “mercy” and “great love” (Ephesians 2:4) to make us alive when we were dead (see John 5:21–24; Romans 6:4–6,9–11).

That power “raises” us and “seats” us with God in the heavens (Ephesians 2:6). That “grace” is effected through faith, and even “that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Whatever all of these promises may ultimately involve, they assure us of permanent status as the chosen, holy ones of God (Romans 8:29–39), “that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). HMM III

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The Psalm Of Life (#19940517)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

This marvelous psalm of life and security follows a psalm of frailty and death (Psalm 90) written by Moses, who may have been the author of this psalm, as well. For our study today, attention is called to the change of personal pronoun throughout, implying a dialogue between three speakers.

The psalm begins as a godly teacher, or prophet, or perhaps an angel, bestows a benediction upon the believer: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (v.1), ascribing the security of the believer to the character of God.

The believer responds to this blessing by avowing his trust in God and in His character (v.2).

To this testimony, the first speaker replies, expounding on the former blessing, detailing the protection provided by God (vv.3–8) and the blessings of that care. Note, “Because thou [the believer] hast made the LORD [Jehovah], which is my [the speaker] refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (vv.9–13).

At the end, Jehovah Himself responds, confirming all that the speaker has said: “Because he [the believer] hath set his love upon me [Jehovah], therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation” (Psalm 91:1–16). JDM

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Home School (#19940518)
by Connie J. Horn

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children” (Deuteronomy 6:6,7).

Education in the home is nothing new—in fact, this is precisely what takes place in the life of every child, whether or not he at some point in his life, is placed in a public or private institution for formal schooling.

In the book of Judges there is an interesting Hebrew word used for the word “family” (Judges 6:15). The word has the connotation of being yoked together and is elsewhere translated “oxen,” or “kine.” It is derived from a root word meaning “to associate with” which is elsewhere translated “learn,” or “utter,” or “teach.” We can deduce, therefore, that a child will learn the principles of Scripture as he is “yoked together,” so to speak, within his own family unit, all of whom will be pulling together toward the common goal of serving God.

With this in mind, everything the family undertakes becomes a learning experience for the child because of the godly response of the parent to everyday circumstances. This world view must come from a diligent study of God’s word. Deuteronomy’s commands to “teach your children” (Deuteronomy 4:10; 6:7; 11:19; 32:46) are couched in language that assumes the parent knows and reverences the word of God. “Lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul” (Deuteronomy 11:18), “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day” (Deuteronomy 32:46).

The greatest education a child can have is one that will equip him for every good work. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . . that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16,17). CJH

[Soldier4Christ]

The Time Of Old Age (#19940519)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come” (Psalm 71:18).

One tends to grow resentful against the limitations and increasing infirmities associated with aging, even complaining to God and others about growing old—at least until one considers the alternative! We need to remember that, as long as the Lord preserves our lives, He has some ministry for us to perform for “this generation” and “to every one that is to come.”

The Scriptures abound with promises of blessing in old age, so growing old should be an occasion for rejoicing and deepened commitment to whatever the Lord enables one to do. “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: . . . Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age” (Psalm 92:12–14). But if there develops a tendency to grow spiritually cold with age, the admonition of Paul is appropriate. “Aged men (should) be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, . . . teachers of good things” (Titus 2:2,3).

Thus the heartfelt prayer of the psalmist in our text is still appropriate today, for all who will, sooner than they think, enter the time of old age. Note also the following prayer: “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth” (Psalm 71:9). That God will answer such a prayer, offered in faith and sincerity, was affirmed by David when he said: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). The time of old age can be a time of happy harvest, if we have sowed the seeds of good fruit. HMM

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Standard Bearers


"Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle . . . shall they pitch" (Numbers 2:2).

Of all the days for flying our flag, and pitching our "standard" on which is displayed the "ensign" of our forefathers, Flag Day is perhaps the most appropriate since this day was so designated for that very purpose. This particular date was originally selected because it was on June 14, 1775, that our U.S. Army was first organized, a year before our Declaration of Independence was adopted.

But the use of flags, or standards, or ensigns, to represent nations or other groups goes back at least to the ancient Egyptians and Assyrians. The first reference to them in the Bible is in connection with the standards that were pitched by the camp of each of the twelve tribes during their time of marching through the wilderness (Numbers 1:52-2:34).

Christians also have a standard--not the so-called "Christian flag" which is occasionally displayed in gatherings of believers as they sing "Onward Christian Soldiers," but the very character of the One who is "the captain of their salvation" (Hebrews 2:10). His "manual of arms," the written Word of God, has enjoined us to "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (II Timothy 2:3-4).

As followers of our great standard bearer, we must continually seek to "have the mind of Christ" (I Corinthians 2:16), to keep ourselves pure, "even as He is pure" (I John 3:3), and in all things remember that He "suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (I Peter 2:21). Our goal is to be able to say some day, as Paul could say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II Timothy 4:7).

[Soldier4Christ]

Altar Building (#19940520)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will l give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him” (Genesis 12:7).

This is the first reference to Abraham building an altar in Scripture. Building an altar and making sacrifice to God denotes total dependence and reliance on Him. It implies saying no to self and yes to God—in effect presenting one’s self in submission to God as a sinner, trusting Him for gracious handling of one’s sin, and discounting one’s value apart from His work. Building altars became a habit with godly Abraham, the “Friend of God” (James 2:23), and he practiced it many times during his life (see also Genesis 12:8; 13:4; 13:18).

We can surmise that at an early age, Abraham’s son, Isaac, was taught this same practice. It doesn’t seem that Isaac misunderstood or debated the situation, even when he himself was identified as the sacrifice to be slaughtered (Genesis 22:9). He fully trusted and worshiped the same God, and evidently agreed with Abraham’s obedient act. Later, Isaac, himself, practiced altar-building once on his own (Genesis 26:25).

Compare Abraham and his family to Lot and his family. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that Lot built an altar and recognized God as worthy of worship. No doubt as a direct result, Lot’s wife, sons, and daughters totally rejected these ideas, preferring the sinful practices and mentality of Sodom. Lot was a true believer (II Peter 2:7,8), but his lifestyle and lack of “altar-building” rubbed off on his family, to the detriment of himself and the people of God ever since.

Here is the question: Do we want to be Christians who ignore proper worship and total submission to God and have families who do likewise? JDM

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Christian Music (#19940521)
by Connie J. Horn

“And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3).

Over fifty times in the Bible the phrase “sing unto the Lord” or “sing unto Him” is used. The singing in thirteen other Old Testament verses is directed to the Lord in praise “to the name of the LORD most high” (Psalm 7:17), “praises to His name” (Psalm 68:4), “to the God of Jacob” (Psalm 75:9), and in prayer (Jeremiah 31:7). Still more verses (at least nine) sing and praise His power (Psalm 21:13), His righteousness (Psalm 51:14), His mercy (Psalm 59:16), and the honor of His name (Psalm 66:2).

Exodus 15:1–19 records Moses’ song after the crossing of the Red Sea. The song begins with fourteen third-person references to the Lord: He, God, Him, the LORD, and His. The song then shifts from singing about the Lord to singing directly to Him. Second-person references (i.e., “Thy,” “O LORD,” “Thine,” “Thou” and “Thee”) occur no less than thirty-four times in the next twelve verses. God’s actions and attributes comprise the majority of the song’s content: “He hath triumphed gloriously” (15:1); “Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power” (15:6); “Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders” (15:11); etc. God is not only the subject of Moses’ song, but the one to whom it is directed.

Moses sang a song of praise as he began his journey, and ended with a song that taught and admonished God’s children (see Deuteronomy 32; Colossians 3:16). God’s standard for Christian music is His word, and we are admonished to “let no corrupt communication proceed out of (our) mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying (building), that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). CJH

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Books (#19940522)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him” (Genesis 5:1).

The Bible (literally, “the book”) contains over 200 references to books. This implies, among other things, God’s approval of communication by books. Our text, containing the first mention of the word “book” in the Bible, indicates that the very first man wrote a book! “Give attendance to reading,” Paul recommends (I Timothy 4:13), especially the Holy Scriptures (II Timothy 3:15–17).

The pattern of first and last mentions of “book” in the Bible is noteworthy, for all refer to divinely written or divinely inspired books. The first use in the New Testament is in the very first verse—“the book of the generations of Jesus Christ” (Matthew 1:1). The book of Adam’s “generations” is in a special sense, the Old Testament, the book of the generation of Jesus Christ—the last Adam—is in a similar sense the New Testament.

The final mention of “book” in the Old Testament is in Malachi 3:16: “A book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.”

The third-from-last verse of the New Testament contains no less than three references to God’s books: “If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, . . . and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:19).

Note the significant modifiers attached to these six key references: “the book of the generations of Adam,” “a book of remembrance,” “the book of the generation of Jesus Christ,” “the book of this prophecy,” “the book of life,” and finally, simply “this book!” HMM

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The Savior's Incredible Promise (#19940523)
by John L. Groenlund, Th.D.

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

No one in history has pronounced such a gracious uplifting invitation as the Lord Jesus Christ in these three verses of Scripture. And, throughout history, no one has had a greater number of faithful followers than He. His martyrs of the ages died with smiles at their future in Heaven’s glory and with relief from earth’s miseries.

Every human being experiences fear at times; stress is present even in the loveliest homes and most successful businesses, sometimes with no apparent reason. Goals selfishly set may remain unreached! Idealism may be present, but realism sours its grandeur. Depressed, some head for skid row; others vent their agony; still others lose their purpose in life. For a few, death seems more desirable than life, and they terminate their earthly existence—not realizing what lies ahead!

But for the one who has personally accepted the Lord Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, as Savior and Lord, trials can turn into victories. Some of the martyrs of days gone by went to their deaths singing and will have a place of special honor in their heavenly home. All can rest in Matthew 11:28–30, if they have trusted Jesus Christ for their salvation. They can rest in faith on the promises of God’s word: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations” (I Peter 1:5,6). He is more than Savior; He is Lord, comforter, supplier, helper and rewarder. JLG

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Waters Above The Mountains (#19940524)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Thou coverest it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains” (Psalm 104:6).

Many Christian intellectuals have argued that the flood of Noah’s day was only local, being unwilling to reject the current system of evolutionary geology. Modern geologists usually assume the earth’s fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks represent billions of years of evolution rather than the deposits of the worldwide flood, as the founding fathers of geology had all believed.

However, this idea is clearly refuted, not only in the actual record of the flood (Genesis 7,8), but also in later Biblical passages. Our text verse, for example, says that the waters of the “deep” once covered the earth like a garment covers the body. Furthermore, these waters stood above all the antediluvian mountains. This was no local flood!

These standing waters of the deep were finally caused to “haste away” (v.7) by means of great movements of the earth’s crust. “Mountains rose up and great basins opened up” (literal rendering of v., and the vast flood waters rushed down off the newly elevated continents into the newly opened ocean basins, carving out great canyons and transporting great quantities of sediment into the ocean depths. In the process, as God has promised Noah (Genesis 9:11), He had “set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth” (Psalm 104:9).

There have been many devastating local floods in all parts of the world ever since Noah, but God has kept His promise never again to send a flood which will cover the earth. The mountains of the present world were all uplifted towards the end of the flood period, but they still bear witness, in the form of marine sediments and marine fossils near their summits, of the time when the waters stood above the mountains. HMM

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The Living And True God (#19940525)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (I Thessalonians 1:9).

There are “gods many, and lords many” (I Corinthians 8:5) in today’s world, just as there were in the ancient pagan world. In fact, the worship of many of these ancient deities is being revived in various dark corners of the so-called “New Age” movement today. Idol worship can also involve adulation of men and women—such as rock stars (witness the annual memorial service to Elvis Presley), professional athletes, and movie idols, not to mention the humanistic worship of such political/religious leaders as Lenin, Mao, Hitler, Khomeini, and an increasing assortment of gurus and false prophets.

There is, however, only one true God, the God who created all things. “To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him” (I Corinthians 8:6). The one thing all these false gods and false religions have in common is the denial of the true God and omnipotent Creator.

For such idolatry there is no legitimate excuse. “We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one” (I Corinthians 8:4). A dead idol obviously can be of no use. The infallible test as to just who this “true” God may be is that His identity is confirmed as the only living God; therefore, He is the only true God. He died for our sins, yes, but now He lives forever as King of all His creation. We, like the Thessalonians, should turn from all our idols “to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus. which delivered us from the wrath to come” (vv.9,10). HMM

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Discretion's Foundation (#19940526)
by Connie J. Horn

“Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee” (Proverbs 2:11).

Discretion is a plan for righteous living, a blueprint designed by God. Discretion is always closely linked with wisdom. “The proverbs of Solomon. . .; To know wisdom and instruction; . . . To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion” (Proverbs 1:1,2,4). “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee” (Proverbs 2:10,11). “My son, . . . keep sound wisdom and discretion” (Proverbs 3:21).

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. . . . She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. . . . She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her. . . . The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth” (Proverbs 3:13,15,18,19, etc.). Proverbs’ description of wisdom clearly indicates that it is the wisdom of God that was personified when the “word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). It is, therefore, when we have come to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith and have been given the gift of His Holy Spirit that wisdom and discretion characterize our life.

Discretion preserves us or hedges us about, but this plan for safety is not one we can engineer; it is in the hands of God. “He that keepeth [same word as preserve] thee will not slumber” (Psalm 121:3). “The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil” (Psalm 121:7). By faith, and in obedience to His word, we believe that His plan for us is one that assures we “may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous” (Proverbs 2:20). CJH

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Threefold Deliverance (#19940527)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling” (Psalm 116:.

This is the beautiful testimony of the psalmist when the Lord answered his prayer: “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul” (Psalm 116:3,4). The Lord does, indeed, deliver our souls when we call upon Him for salvation in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Divine deliverance, however, is more than deliverance from death and hell. “Therefore the redeemed of the LORD . . . shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away” (Isaiah 51:11). “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying” (Revelation 21:4). God delivers us from the penalty of our sins, from death and hell, right now, and then from all our sorrows and tears in the age to come, delivering us even from all the effects of sin forever.

But He also delivers us right now from the power of sin in our lives, which would otherwise come again to cause our downfall even after we have been saved. Many a fearful Christian, afraid that he is unable to hang on to the Lord, needs to know that it is the Lord who hangs on to him! “For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?” (Psalm 56:13). Our Savior, who died for our sins and rose again for our justification, promises this. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall (anyone) pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27,28). HMM

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Bowing Down (#19940528)
by Connie J. Horn

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge” (Proverbs 22:17).

“Bow down” is a word used many times in the Old Testament. It is translated “incline” in the sense of asking God to hear prayer: “Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry” (Psalm 88:2). God hearing our prayer can be illustrated by other uses of this word. For example, His “outstretched” arm (Deuteronomy 26: or His mercy that “extends” to us (Ezra 9:9). It is God reaching to man.

Bowing down can be used in the sense of a command to listen and obey: “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live” (Isaiah 55:3). Listening to God is an intense exercise. This is illustrated well in the story of Samson as he stood between the pillars in the great Dagon-worship building. “And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed [or inclined] himself with all his might; and the house fell . . .” (Judges 16:29,30).

Whether it is God listening to our prayers or our attempting to obey His commands, there is a distance that must be crossed. There is only One who has bridged that gap, allowing man to communicate with and obey his Creator. God hears our prayers because He heard the cry of His only begotten Son: “He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: . . . He delivered me, because He delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness” (Psalm 18:16,17,19,20).

That is why we bow down, whether to pray or to obey . . . in Jesus’ name. CJH