A Daily Devotional

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Blessed Are The Dead (#19940612)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

This promise applies specifically to those recent believers who will suffer martyrdom during the last half of the awful tribulation period (“henceforth,” in context). But dealing as it does with the state of the believing dead, in principle, it surely likewise applies to all who die “in the Lord.”

How are they blessed? In numerous ways, according to this verse.

First, they are blessed in that they “rest from their labors.” In this life we earn our physical sustenance by “the sweat of (our) face” (Genesis 3:19). Here we must work hard to train our minds (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Now we constantly battle our inward, fallen nature: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). Even as we attempt to serve our fellow man, our efforts are spurned and rejected. Not so for the dead! There all these labors will cease, and joyous, eternal service to the Lamb will commence (Revelation 22:3).

Secondly, they are blessed in that their labors continue to bear fruit even after they have gone. Perhaps even a previous word or act of testimony will be the eventual tool God uses to bring someone to Himself, and the reward will be properly distributed. No act done to the glory of God will pass unnoticed.

Thirdly, what a blessing to know that this state is promised by the very Spirit of God Himself. One’s worth at death is not measured by the content and sincerity of the opinions of friends at his funeral.

This doctrine should produce both great courage for the Christian and great comfort for the bereaved. JDM

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The Weary Dove (#19940613)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark” (Genesis 8:9).

Unlike the raven, which Noah had sent out first, the dove could not live on the carrion floating on the flood waters. After nine months cooped up in the ark, she had reveled in her freedom when Noah first released her from the window of the ark. Unaware of the outside perils while safe with Noah, she flew gaily off into the open spaces beyond, just like many a professing Christian, eager to cast off the constraints of his or her parental religion. “And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness” (Psalm 55:6,7).

But the dove could find no rest away from Noah, whose very name means “rest!” His father, Lamech, by prophetic inspiration, had called his name Noah, saying, “This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed” (Genesis 5:29). So she finally returned, finding rest once again in Noah’s outstretched hands.

Just so, the Lord Jesus, in His greater ark of secure salvation, is waiting at its open window, with arms outstretched, inviting all those weary of the doomed world outside to return to Him. “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). Christ’s message to the weary wanderer is: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, . . . return unto me; for I have redeemed thee” (Isaiah 44:22). HMM

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Flag Day (#19940614)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Numbers 21:.

The Hebrew word nes frequently is used to denote a flag or banner, raised on a conspicuous hilltop for all to see, around which the people would gather or rally. However, in its twenty-one occurrences, several other meanings are also implied which warrant our attention.

Consider the rebellion of Korah against Moses when “the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up . . . and they became a sign [nes]” (Numbers 26:10) (i.e., a warning and a reminder).

Our text describes a most important event when many of the people of Israel were dying due to a plague of serpents as a judgment for their constant complaining. Moses constructed a brass model of the serpent and “set it upon a pole [nes]” for all to see. Those who believed, and in faith looked at the serpent for “salvation,” were healed (Numbers 21:4–9). Only later would this event take on full significance, for Christ told Nicodemus, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14).

The message of salvation in Christ as related to the word nes is found also in the Old Testament. “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign [nes] of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10, see also Isaiah 49:22).

Finally, the concept is even incorporated into the name of God, when after a supernatural defeat of their enemies, “Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi [i.e., the LORD is my banner]” (Exodus 17:15). Let us make the Lord our banner today. J

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Witnesses Of The Trinity (#19940615)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Also I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:.

In this passage we see, perhaps, a hint of the triune nature of the Godhead. It is as if God the Father is inquiring of God the Son and God the Spirit as to whom other than one of them would be an effective representative for them. Isaiah, in his freshly forgiven and purified state (vv.6,7), offers to accept the commission and represent the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. A similar call is issued to each of us today.

Elsewhere in Scripture we are told more plainly of the fullness of our call to represent God the Father: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am He: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and beside me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:10,11).

Likewise, God the Son called us to be “witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:.

Conversely, we are not called to be witnesses of the Holy Spirit; rather, we are to be co-witnesses with Him of Jesus Christ. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26,27). “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you” (John 16:13,14). What a privilege! What a message! What a Partner! JDM

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The Peace Of Christ (#19940616)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

The peace of Christ is not the peace of the world. If history is any criterion, the search for world peace always will be futile, for there have been wars going on somewhere in the world practically every day throughout history.

But even if the world’s leaders could bring peace to the world, it would not be true peace. “My peace,” said Jesus, “is not as the world giveth.” Peace is internal, not external. “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (James 4:1).

The true Christian will never be left at peace in the world, even when there are brief respites of peace between the nations of the world. Only in Christ is there real peace. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The Lord Jesus Christ alone can give true peace, for only “He is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). He is the true peacemaker, for He “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). Before there can ever be genuine peace between man and man on Earth, there must be peace between man on Earth and God in heaven.

Once a person has been “justified by faith,” however, he has eternal “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Then, for daily peace, he can simply appropriate this truth in his life. “In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7). HMM

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On Raising Children (#19940617)
by Paul G. Humber, M.S.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

A popular book on raising children says, “Everyone, grownup or child, gets in a jam occasionally when the only tactful way out is a small lie, and this is no cause for alarm.” This poison from the serpent needs to be challenged.

For one thing, evaluating lies as either big or small is not the important question. All lies are sin, and thus dangerous. The statement says that there is “no cause for alarm.” This is false. Jesus said that “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). If Jesus, the maker of our children, is concerned about idle words, how much more about lying of any kind? “Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD” (Zechariah 8:16,17).

Secondly, the statement that lying may be the only tactful way out implicitly denies the Biblical teaching: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13). The Lord never puts His people in impossible situations where only evil options are available. He always gives a way out. That way may include death, but the Lord gives counsel even here (cf. Matthew 10:28).

Raising children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” carries many joys, but this does not mean it is easy. Teaching them to be honest is just one of the many challenging tasks. PGH

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Everything We Need (#19940618)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (II Peter 1:3).

In His wisdom and grace, God has seen to it that we have everything we need to produce “life and godliness.” “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (v.4). This all-sufficient tool is, of course, the written word of God, much of which came through the incarnate word, Jesus Christ, who in turn claimed it came from God the Father: “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me” (John 17:.

Furthermore, the written word is the source of our faith and the only hope of salvation. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). This word in which our faith is grounded is forever alive, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (I Peter 1:23), and not to be altered, edited, or supplemented. “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And 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” (Revelation 22:18,19).

Rather, we must live by the words of this book: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

To ensure that the “great and precious promises” regarding “life and godliness” are ours, we must believe, guard, and follow the teachings of this book. “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 1:13). JDM

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The Father Of Spirits (#19940619)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9).

In these days when parents are urged by special interest and political groups not to discipline their children, and children’s rights are championed at the expense of parental authority, it is comforting to read in Scripture that the normal response to parental discipline is reverence. Thankfully, even most secular “experts” today recognize the child’s need for parental guidelines, reinforced by physical discipline as appropriate.

But this passage is primarily discussing the role of chastening father that God plays in the lives of His spiritual children. “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord . . . for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth. . . . But if ye be without chastisement . . . then are ye . . . not sons” (vv.5–8). This discipline is “for our profit” (v.10) and “yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (v.11) in our lives. The natural response should be both “reverence” and “subjection” (v.9).

In our text, God is identified as the “Father of Spirits,” reminding us that God is Creator. “The LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him” (Zechariah 12:1). He who created all things, including the spiritual side of mankind (Colossians 1:16), recreated each spirit at the time of salvation (II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; etc.). His wise and timely chastening is “for our profit” and has as its goal “that we might be partakers of His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10).

On this day of special honor for fathers, let us not forget to honor our heavenly Father. JDM

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Root Of Bitterness (#19940620)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15).

Bitterness and a bitter spirit should never characterize a person who has experienced the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ. No matter how seriously one may have been wronged, if he has known God’s forgiving grace for his own wrongdoings, he should manifest that same grace in his life toward others, even though they do not merit it (for neither did He merit the punishment of others!).

Bitterness is a characteristic of the ungodly “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Romans 3:14). A Christian must never try to rationalize it as “righteous indignation” or to think that certain injustices give him the “right” to be bitter and resentful. “If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:14,15). Rooted bitterness will soon “spring up,” not only robbing the bitter believer of joy and true fruitfulness, but bearing bitter fruit whereby many others will “be defiled.”

The antidote, of course, is never to “fail of the grace of God.” That is, we need to be “looking diligently,” moment by moment, at the wonderful grace of God by which we were saved through faith and in which we continue to live each day.

Therefore, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31,32). Otherwise, we not only hurt both ourselves and others, but we also grieve “the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30). HMM

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New Every Morning (#19940621)
by Connie J. Horn

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34).

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21–23). “For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

In His infinite wisdom, God set time in motion at creation, encasing the day’s tasks between dawn and twilight from the beginning, when “the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5). In our text verse, He instructs us to “take therefore no thought for the morrow,” and when time has turned the page on yesterday, we can commit the past to His keeping and usage, knowing “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Man is but “dust” (Psalm 103:14) and cannot keep his mind stayed on the Savior while at the same time carrying yesterday’s regrets and tomorrow’s fears. That is why we should carefully “number our days” (Psalm 90:12), viewing each one as a gift from the One who holds all eternity in His hand—“the same yesterday, and to day and for ever” (Hebrews 13:.

Let us say with the psalmist: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up” (Psalm 5:3). Proverbs 8:17 says: “I [wisdom] love them that love me; and those that seek me early [at dawn] shall find me,” and “when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24). CJH

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Through Flood And Fire (#19940622)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 43:2).

Although this tremendous promise is primarily to be understood in a spiritual sense (deliverance through overflowing sorrows and fiery trials), God has demonstrated His ability to fulfill the spiritual aspects of the promise by its miraculous literal fulfillment in the physical realm, on special occasions. The crossing of the Red Sea by the children of Israel is an obvious example of safe passage through deep waters.

The amazing experience of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace is the most spectacular example of deliverance from burning. As the three emerged unscathed from the “exceeding hot” flames, the king was astounded when he “saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them” (Daniel 3:27).

The entire world once was caused to pass through the flood and one day must be destroyed by the fire (II Peter 3:6,10), but “eight souls were saved by water” (I Peter 3:20) as the flood carried them safely away in Noah’s Ark from the violent world of the antediluvians, and all those truly trusting in Christ will be “saved; yet so as by fire” (I Corinthians 3:15) when He comes again.

These great experiences of the past and promises of the future assure us that God is able to deliver us through the deep waters and burning trials of this present life. “That the trial of your faith, . . . though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:7). HMM

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Who Is A Righteous Man? (#19940623)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless” (I Timothy 1:8,9).

To those who practice the list of evils given by Paul in this passage (vv.9,10), the law is good, for it serves to restrain their “lawless” deeds by providing punishment. By setting up a standard of holiness, it therefore defines righteousness. Furthermore, it “brings us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24) by making clear the fact that we can’t live up to its requirements.

Who is the righteous man for whom the law does not apply? Scripture teaches that all “have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (v.20). We are totally incapable of obtaining righteousness on our own.

Thankfully, the story does not end here. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, . . . Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: . . . Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (vv.21–24).

Our Lord Jesus Christ is that righteous Man, completely living up to the demands of the law. He deserved no punishment, but shed His blood to satisfy God’s just requirement (Leviticus 17:11) of punishment for our sins. Therefore, since the penalty has been paid and God’s justice satisfied, God can “declare His (Christ’s) righteousness for the remission of sins” (Romans 3:25). He is the “justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (v.26).

Praise God! We are, therefore, in Christ, the “righteous man” who will not be judged by the law. JDM

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God Is Able (#19940624)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“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” (Ephesians 3:20,21).

The Bible portrays God as omnipotent—all powerful, able even to create all things from nothing (Hebrews 11:3). The individual is portrayed as totally insufficient to do anything but fail. Yet the Bible also teaches that great things will be done in, and through, and to us. How? It is only through God’s power and wisdom that anything of substance will be accomplished. He alone is able. Consider the following sampling of tasks He is able to perform for us.

God is able to do the work of salvation in a believer’s heart. “Wherefore (God) is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). We can entrust that salvation for eternity “unto Him that is able to keep (us) from falling, and to present (us) faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).

In this life we will have physical needs, and included in a passage on the obligation we have to give so that others’ needs will be met is Paul’s claim that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:. Furthermore, He alone is able to equip us for service. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (I Timothy 1:12).

His able ministry toward us does not stop in this life, for He “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself” (Philippians 3:21). As our text teaches, He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” JDM

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Abel's Timely Testimony (#19940625)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4).

Abel, Adam’s second son, was a faithful, God-honoring man, but he was murdered by his older brother Cain. From Genesis 4 we know that Cain’s bloodless sacrifice was not accepted by God, while Abel’s animal sacrifice was accepted. Cain’s pride, anger, and rejection of God’s offer of restoration resulted in the murder of obedient Abel. Our text tells us that Abel, “being dead yet speaketh.” What does he say? To whom does he speak?

First of all, he spoke to God. “The voice of thy brother’s [Abel’s] blood crieth unto me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). Many have followed Abel in martyrdom, and they all cry, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10).

Secondly, he spoke to Cain. “And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand” (Genesis 4:11). Cain was banished by God: “a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth” (v.12), and every spot of ground on which he placed his foot from then on would be crying out to him, indicting him of his sin.

Thirdly, Abel speaks to us. His witness reminds us that men must come to God in obedient faith, for Abel obeyed God’s instructions regarding sacrifice (Genesis 4:3,4). He offered the sacrifice in faith that God would deem him “righteous” (our text). The acceptance of the blood sacrifice and the rewards of his brother’s disobedience speak eloquently of the “wages of sin.” May God give us ears to hear Abel’s timely testimony. JDM

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Sifted (#19940626)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31,32).

In the evening, just before His betrayal, capture, torture, and trial, Christ turned to Simon with these final words, encouraging Him to remain strong. Of course, Peter boldly proclaimed that He would never deny Christ, but Christ knew better (vv.33,34).

Actually, our text is quite forceful. Christ claimed that Satan has “begged earnestly” (literal translation of “desired”), not just for Peter, but for all the disciples, as seen in the plural pronoun “you,” to “sift you as wheat.” Satan knew (as he still knows) that the fall of Christian leaders causes many others to fall, and if all of the disciples could be made to abandon the faith the gospel could not be spread.

Christ turned specifically to Peter, however, and even though He knew Peter would fall, Christ informed him that he had been prayed for, that his “faith fail not.” Indeed, Peter did turn around, once he saw the risen Lord, and became a leader in the fledgling church in Jerusalem, as well as a missionary. Through the witness of Peter and those he strengthened, the gospel has come to us.

Satan’s desire to sift those who would spread the gospel and lead others has not abated. He knows the destruction it causes in the lives of those influenced by the one who falls. The “ripple effect” may last for years, and many weaker brothers and sisters may never recover. But take heart! The One who prayed for Peter “ever liveth to make intercession for (us)” (Hebrews 7:25; see also John 17:6–26). Just as God answered Christ’s intercessory prayer for Peter, so He will answer Christ’s intercessory prayer for us. JDM