A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

The Terror Of The Lord (#19940805)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” (II Corinthians 5:11).

The use of the English word “terror” in this verse, as a translation of the Greek phobos (from which we get out word “phobia”), indicates that the frequent Old Testament phrase, “fear of the LORD,” means much more than implied in the modern euphemism, “reverential trust.” The only other New Testament use of this phrase is in Acts 9:31: “Then had the churches rest . . . and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”

These two passages seem to be informing us that, when a church is “walking in the terror of the Lord,” its members will be seeking every means whereby to “persuade men” to come to Christ, and therefore its numbers will increase.

This impassioned persuasion of the lost is motivated by knowledge that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (II Corinthians 5:10). That is, we know that the Lord Jesus, who died for lost sinners and has commissioned us to tell them of His great salvation, will be highly displeased if we don’t do so, or if our testimony is compromised by our selfish lives. At His judgment seat, “the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. . . . If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (I Corinthians 3:13,15).

The terror of the Lord, when we appear before Him in that day, is not the only motive for witnessing, of course. “The love of Christ constraineth us,” and when our testimony is received (our motives being “manifest unto God” and even to the “consciences” of those to whom we witness), then the glorious result is “a new creature” in Christ! (II Corinthians 5:14,17). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Fear Of The Lord (#19940806)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).

This key phrase, “the fear of the LORD (”Yahweh“) occurs in a distinctive pattern in the Old Testament. There are 14 occurrences in the book of Proverbs and 7 in the other books, or a total of 3 x 7 altogether, both important Bible numbers .

As we see from the verses in Job preceding our text, when God first made man He told him that true wisdom is “the fear of the Lord” (Adonai—the only use of Adonai with this phrase). Unfortunately, Adam and Eve sought wisdom in the tree of knowledge instead (Genesis 3:6) and soon were hiding themselves in fear. The psalmist testifies: “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). The final occurrence of the phrase is also in a wisdom context. “And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is His treasure” (Isaiah 33:6).

There are numerous other references to fearing God, and a survey of all these would quickly show that the fear of the Lord is far more than mere “reverential trust,” as some would define it. It means profound awe, intense awareness of God’s absolute holiness and hatred of sin, as well as His omniscience and omnipresence, and living in light of the certainty of facing Him at His future judgment seat. It means unquestioning belief in God’s word and in His unmerited gift of salvation.

But then it also means “the beginning of knowledge,” “to hate evil,” “prolonged days,” “strong confidence,” “a fountain of life,” and a “satisfied life,” as well as attaining true “riches and honor” (Proverbs 1:7; 8:13; 10:27; 14:26; 14:27; 19:23; 22:4). “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever” (Psalm 19:9), and those who truly fear the Lord have everlasting life. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Born To Die (#19940807)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Especially as noted in the gospel of John, Christ identified many reasons why He had been born. Consider the following samplings of verses and references.

First and foremost, Christ came to redeem those who would believe. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). But under that umbrella of redemption come many other aspects.

Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). God’s will was paramount even in judgment (John 5:30) as well as resurrection “this is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40), and teaching (7:16,17). In everything, Christ sought to bring glory to His Father (7:18).

Many aspects of Christ’s work are to be realized in this life for He said: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (10:10). His desire in it all was that we might have an eternal relationship with God. “That they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

But the primary goal was to bring to climax His redemptive strategy. He knew that none of the other aspects of His work had any effect without atonement for sin, which was only possible if a blood sacrifice was made for that sin. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). This was the reason He came to earth. JDM

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The Rock That Withstands A Flood (#19940808)
by Connie J. Horn

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (Matthew 7:24,25).

It is noteworthy that Jesus uses terms that describe a flood when He speaks of the consequences of obedience or disobedience to His word. Four times in the account of Noah it is said that Noah “did all that God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22; 7:5,9,16). The foundation of Noah’s obedience was that he first “found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:.

This first mention of grace in the Old Testament is a beautiful illustration of God’s sovereignty as He reached down to one man and his family in the midst of a world that was totally corrupt. “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Hebrews 11:7). God “spared not the old world, but saved Noah, . . . a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly” (II Peter 2:5).

Noah is the best illustration of a man who obeyed God, and, in so doing, built his house (or home or family) upon a rock, because the floods did come, even to the degree that the highest mountains were covered (Genesis 7:20). He built his house upon that “spiritual Rock,” that is, Christ (I Corinthians 10:4). “He is the rock, His work is perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4). “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God” (Psalm 18:31). “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved” (Psalm 62:1,2). CJH

[Soldier4Christ]

The New Heavens And New Earth (#19940809)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind ” (Isaiah 65:17).

There is a glorious future awaiting the redeemed. Although God’s primeval creation of the heavens and the earth is eternal (note Psalm 148:6, etc.), these are now groaning in pain under the effects of sin and the curse. When the Lord returns, they will be “delivered from the bondage of corruption into . . . glorious liberty” (Romans 8:21), and God will make them all new again, with all the scars of sin and death burned away by His refining fires (II Peter 3:10).

There are four explicit references in the Bible to these “renewed” heavens and earth. In addition to our text, which assures us that they will be so wonderful that this present earth and its heavens will soon be altogether forgotten, there is the great promise of Isaiah 66:22: “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.” Thus, that heavens and earth will remain eternally, and so will all who dwell there, with their true spiritual children. Note also that both God’s “creating” and “making” powers will be applied to the new heavens and new earth, just as they were to the first (Genesis 2:3).

The third and fourth references are in the New Testament. “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (II Peter 3:13). Not only will no sin be present there, neither will the results of sin and the curse. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; . . . And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:1,4). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Gospel By Revelation (#19940810)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11,12).

In writing to the believers in Galatia, Paul was very concerned that they were “so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel” (Galatians 1:6).

What was Paul’s gospel that he was so concerned about? “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever” (Galatians 1:3–5). Furthermore, he added that “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9). They were not to listen even if Paul or “an angel from heaven” (v. preached a false gospel.

Paul’s gospel, on the other hand, was “not after man,” i.e., not the sort of thing that men would make up. Human religions are all man-glorifying and God-degrading, blurring the difference between the two and tempting man with the age-old taunt: “Ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5). In contrast, the gospel which Paul preached recognized man’s utter sinfulness and worthlessness and rested in a glorified Christ for His finished work.

Paul had not “received it of man.” This was not the tradition among his people. “Neither was I taught it,” said Paul, even though he had been taught extensively in the religion of Judaism. On the contrary, he was taught the gospel “by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” We can therefore not only be sure of its accuracy, but, also with Paul, join in the “ministry, which (he) received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Battle For Purity (#19940811)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Timothy 2:19).

One of Paul’s major messages to his young disciple Timothy was to strive for purity in every area of his life. Compromise and impurity were not to be glossed over; they were to be vigorously opposed.

Concerning purity in doctrine, Paul charged: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). He was to “charge” his followers not to wrangle over trivial issues, and not to listen to false teaching (v.14). They were to “shun” vulgar and empty talk, knowing that such will only lead to more impurity and doubt (vv.16–18). Furthermore, he was to actively “oppose” those who taught or lived by any other code, doing everything possible to “recover” those ensnared by satanic lies (vv.25,26).

A prerequisite for an effective battle for purity in doctrine is purity in character. A Christian leader must be prepared for the work. “If a man therefore purge himself from these [i.e., false teaching, practices and attitudes], he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (v.21).

Finally, a Christian leader must have proper and pure relationships with both those who are under his influence and those who must be opposed. “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves” (vv.24,25).

This is without a doubt a difficult task, but as in our text, our foundation is sure, and we are known fully by the one who leads and empowers us in the task ahead. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Careful Or Cared For? (#19940812)
by Connie J. Horn

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you ” (I Peter 5:6, 7).

The Bible commands: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). The kind of “care” that is anxious, is an excessive care or concern, to the point of distraction. Lazarus’ sister, Martha, was overcome by this kind of anxiety. “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled [disturbed, akin to tumult or uproar] about many things” (Luke 10:41).

This kind of care is to be cast “upon Him”: “And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and He healed them” (Matthew 15:30), for He cared for them. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). “And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean” (Mark 1:40,41).

The compassion of Jesus is illustrated in the account of the prodigal. “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). Along with Jesus’ command to “be careful for nothing,” He extends His everlasting compassion and gives us an invitation to bring our burdens. “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22). CJH

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The Removal Of Sin (#19940813)
by Norman P. Spotts, D.D.

“And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17).

In stark contrast to the Old Testament’s yearly remembrance of sin, the New Testament believer’s sin and iniquity is forever forgotten. This is due to the shed blood of Christ who entered into the holiest of all to make a perfect atonement for us.

There are a number of descriptive phrases in Scripture to show just how completely God has done away with those sins that once plagued us. They are as follows: Isaiah 44:22: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” Sins are compared to clouds in that there are a large number of them; they cause darkness; they completely obscure heaven; they come between heaven (God) and earth (man), and they are a sign of an impending storm (judgment). Yet now, in Christ, those sins that separated us from God have once and for all been blotted out. Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Because of Christ, we will never meet up with our sin again. Micah 7:19: “He will subdue our iniquities; and cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Iniquity has been conquered (subdued) and sin hurled (cast) into the deepest sea. It is destroyed, lost and irrecoverable! Isaiah 38:17: “But thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” God hurls sin behind His back because it is abominable and loathsome. He will never turn and look at it again. He has completely separated Himself from it.

The reason why all of this is true is found in II Corinthians 5:21, “For He hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” NPS

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Power In The Ark (#19940814)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again” (I Samuel 5:3).

The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant, where God met with His people, and set it up in the temple of their god, Dagon. The first night, Dagon fell down before the ark; the second night, he fell down broken in pieces. On the next day, a great plague fell on the people of Ashdod, and forthwith they sent the ark away!

Just as Dagon fell before the ark, which was a type of Christ, so the priests and soldiers, who came to take Jesus away, “went backward and fell to the ground” in His presence (John 18:6). Similarly, just as the temple of Dagon could hold the ark no longer than three days, and the whale could only hold God’s prophet Jonah for three days, so the grave could not hold Jesus longer than three days.

The ark also exhibited its great power both to bless and to curse. It brought death to the Philistines who desecrated it, and even to the Israelites at Beth-shemesh, when they foolishly looked into the ark (I Samuel 6:19). However, it evidently brought blessing to the house of the Levite, Abinadab, where it stayed for twenty years (I Samuel 7:1,2) and later to the house of Obed-edom (II Samuel 6:11).

The same is true of the Lord Jesus Christ and of all who are “in Him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:10). The presence of Christ was a blessing to many, but others “besought Him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear” (Luke 8:37). “For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life” (II Corinthians 2:15,16). HMM

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To the Animals


"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest" (Proverbs 6:6-8).

Adam and Eve originally were given dominion over all the animal creation (Genesis 1:26), but sin came in and things changed. Then, after the Flood, God placed the fear and dread of man "upon all that moveth upon the earth" (Genesis 9:2), and the primeval fellowship between man and his animal friends was broken.

More seriously, their fellowship with God was broken, and soon, in their autonomy, the source of true wisdom was largely forgotten. "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23).

Ironically, God now directs such foolish people to the animals they worship to find the wisdom they should have learned from God. "Go to the ant," says the Lord, to learn industry and prudence. "There be four things which are little upon the earth," the Word says, "but they are exceeding wise: The ants . . . ; The conies . . . ; The locusts . . . ; The spider. . . ." (Proverbs 30:24-28). "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider" (Isaiah 1:3).

"But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee" (Job 12:7-8).

If nothing else, the intricate design of even the lowest animal is eloquent testimony to the wisdom of its Creator and the madness of those who deny Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Pierced Ear (#19940815)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever” (Exodus 21:5,6).

Our text refers to an indentured Hebrew servant, obligated to serve his master for six years, but then free to leave in the seventh. If in the meantime, however, the master had obtained a wife for him, and then children, the law permitted the master to keep the wife and children in servitude while the man left with his freedom.

The man servant might, on the other hand, choose to remain in service permanently with his wife and children. The piercing of his ear symbolized that, forever thereafter, he would hear and do only the will of his master.

This was a foreshadowing of the voluntary submission of the Lord Jesus, who “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7) being sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32; Matthew 26:15), in order to identify with His Bride, the church, “in bringing many sons unto glory” (Hebrews 2:10).

The psalmist prophesied that the coming Messiah would also say in effect: “Mine ears hast thou opened (i.e., pierced) . . . I delight to do thy will, O my God” (Psalm 40:6,8). That this was fulfilled in Christ is made clear when the writer of Hebrews, by divine inspiration, interprets this passage to read as follows: “Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, . . . a body hast thou prepared me, . . . Lo, I come . . . to do thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:5,7). He could have “gone out free,” but instead He gave up His own life that we might be with Him forever. HMM

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Onward, Christian Soldier (#19940816)
by Connie J. Horn

“They are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith” (Deuteronomy 32:20).

The word “froward” has fallen into disuse, but it simply means to turn back or turn aside, as in “to” vs. “fro” (cf “toward”). Note the following. “Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not His testimonies: But turned back . . . they were turned aside like a deceitful bow” (Psalm 78:56,57). Proverbs speaks of froward paths (2:15), a froward mouth (4:24), froward words (8:, a froward tongue (10:31), a froward heart (11:20), and a froward man (16:28).

By contrast, the Christian’s walk is to be a concentrated “forward” movement. “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:25–27). We are commanded to “keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The psalmist determined “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:3).

It is interesting that the first command in Scripture to “go forward” was directed to the children of Israel at the bank of the Red Sea. Psalm 78:52,53 records the incident thus: “But made His own people to go forth [or go forward] like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And He led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.”

We may during times of weakness or discouragement feel like turning back or turning aside, but we must always remember to be “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). CJH

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A First (#19940817)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself” (II Timothy 2:11–13).

It has been noted that our text for the day is in poetic language and form. It probably consists of an early hymn that Timothy and the other readers of this epistle knew. It consists of a series of “if . . . then” statements, each an important conditional promise, two with negative connotations and two with positive.

“If we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him.” Elsewhere: “You, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13).

“If we suffer [literally, endure], we shall also reign with Him.” “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

“If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” Christ said, “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33).

“If we believe not [literally, are unfaithful], yet He abideth faithful.” His promises are sure whether they be warnings of judgment or promises of blessing. God promised Joshua: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:5,6).

Our text begins with the statement, “It is a faithful saying,” and ends with, “He cannot deny Himself.” We can be sure that He will live up to His end of the bargain. His very nature demands it. JDM

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The Settled Word (#19940818)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).

There are yet quite a number of unsettled controversies among Bible scholars as to the original text of certain passages in both Old and New Testaments. In fact, a frequent objection raised to the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy is that, since all the original “autographs” have been lost, we can never really be sure of any passage.

It is interesting to speculate on what happened to those manuscripts directly inspired by God and penned by Moses, John, Paul, and the others. It is strange that they all simply disappeared. with not a hint as to their history. But, if they had been preserved somewhere, they would soon have become idolatrous objects of worship, as the Moslems do with the original Koran, so it is probably best that they are gone.

But where did they go? The famous “Ark of the Covenant” similarly vanished at the time of the Babylonian invasion, and many fruitless searches have been conducted for it even in modern times. In this case, however, we do have a remarkable revelation. “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament” (Revelation 11:19). Evidently, the ark has been translated into heaven! We must realize that heaven is a real place in this eternal physical cosmos. Enoch and Elijah were translated there in their earthly bodies, and Christ is there in His physical, resurrected body.

If, perhaps, angels somehow carried the original manuscripts of God’s word to heaven after enough copies had been made to assure its faithful transmission on earth, placing them there in the ark like the tablets of the law when it was still on the earth, this would surely give added meaning to our wonderful text verse: “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven!” HMM