A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

At Ease Or At War (#19940903)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?” (Numbers 32:6).

Just as the children of Israel were ready to cross the Jordan and conquer the promised land, two of the tribes decided they would rather just remain in the lands which all the tribes, working together, had already conquered. This was the occasion for Moses’ sharp rebuke.

It is understandable, and quite typical, that Christians who have been long “in the trenches,” as it were, working hard to achieve a spiritual goal, should be anxious to rest and enjoy the fruits of their labors once that goal has been reached. Like the rich man of the parable, they say in effect, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease!” (Luke 12:19).

But God says: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion” (Amos 6:1). There is yet much land to be conquered, much work to be done, many battles to be fought, and “if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (I Corinthians 14:.

Such a scene is all too common today. The ungodly world, with its philosophy of evolutionary humanism and its hedonistic practices, has all but engulfed the church. The spirit of steadfastness in faith and conquering zeal in practice is found more among the aggressors of socialism and the fanatics of false religion, than among the “good soldier(s) of Jesus Christ” (II Timothy 2:3).

The tribes of Gad and Reuben, after being shamed by Moses, finally did redeem themselves by going to war along with their brethren until the rest of the victory had been won. May all those Christians today who are “sitting here” in their Christian ease likewise awaken to their responsibilities while there is still time. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

A Test For False Prophets (#19940904)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Ye shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him” (Deuteronomy 13:4).

Our text for today seems somewhat out of place, for it is tucked into a passage dealing with false prophets: instructing the people of Israel in ways to detect one who would lead them into false worship. The penalty was death, “because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt” (v.10). The purpose was both purification and example, for “all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you” (v.11).

The chief test of a prophet was not his ability to perform signs and wonders (v.1). Elsewhere the test of total, lifelong accuracy was applied. “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously. . . that prophet shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:22,20). A more immediate test lay in the absolute harmony of the prophet’s message and deeds with the revealed word of God, and the wholehearted commitment to the Lord Himself. This test takes the form of the holy standard set forth in our text.

Note that an inward attitude will be expressed, as given in the six action verbs. if we are to please God, we must “walk after” or “pursue” Him, and “fear” or “reverence” Him in all things. Furthermore, we must “keep” His commandments, striving to “obey” Him on every issue He addresses. He expects such a one to “serve” Him: to do His bidding. Finally, we must “cleave” or “cling” to Him, holding fast to Him in an ever deepening relationship. To do less is to fail the test used to discern false prophets, incurring at the least His displeasure; at the most His wrath. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Man And His Labor (#19940905)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening” (Psalm 104:23).

The 104th psalm is a beautiful psalm of creation and the flood, supplemented by God’s providential care of His creatures in the post-flood world. Our text makes man’s activity seem almost incidental in the grand scope of God’s activities on behalf of His whole creation.

Nevertheless, it reminds us of God’s first great commission to mankind concerning that creation. “Have dominion . . . over all the earth . . . to dress it and to keep it,” (Genesis 1:26; 2:15). This primeval mandate, though still in effect as man’s stewardship responsibility for the earth and its creatures, has been seriously impacted by sin and the curse. “Cursed is the ground for thy sake,” God told Adam; “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread” (Genesis 3:17,20).

And so it is that men (women, too!) must work, and the work often is laborious, and stressful, and unappreciated. Yet the divine rule is “that ye study to be quiet and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands . . . that ye may walk honestly . . . , and that ye may have lack of nothing” (I Thessalonians 4:11,12). “For . . . if any would not work, neither should be eat” (II Thessalonians 3:10).

Thus labor is necessary, even for those who don’t know the Lord. But it is far better if we work, not just to earn a living, but to please the Lord. “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23).

Whatever our job may be (assuming it is an honorable occupation), it can be regarded as serving Christ and as helping to fulfill His primeval-dominion commandment, and even as helping to lead others to know Him. Therefore, whether the work is easy, or hard, we should be “always abounding in the work of the Lord, . . . your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Holy Spirit (#19940906)
by Connie J. Horn

“Howbeit 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” (John 16:13).

It is impossible to fully understand the infinite Holy Spirit of God. But if one is to gain an understanding of what takes place at the moment of salvation, a study of the divine Spirit of God is necessary. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:7,8).

The Holy Spirit is God (see Acts 5:3,4). He is in all believers: “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:9). He does not glorify Himself (see text verse). He teaches: “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. . . . But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth” (I John 2:20,27). He comforts: “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16,17).

He reproves the world (John 16:; He empowers (Acts 1:; He bears witness “with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16). He leads us (Romans 8:14); He seals us “unto the day of redemption” Ephesians 4:30). Through Him, we submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ (I Corinthians 12:3–6), and it is He that “maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). We should “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16), “live in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25), and be “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). CJH

[Soldier4Christ]

Lean Not (#19940907)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water” (Isaiah 3:1).

Isaiah lived and wrote during a time of spiritual poverty in the nations of Judah and Israel, as well as national decline. He foresaw and foretold in graphic detail the coming captivities of both nations, but was particularly concerned with the state and future of his homeland, Judah, and his hometown, Jerusalem.

The first several chapters of his hook consist of a strong denunciation of the practices of the people of Judah. The nation was literally disintegrating due to rampant sin. In preparation for the coming national and ultimate judgments, Isaiah warned against personal pride and reliance on human resources. “The loftiness of man shall be . . . made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day” (2:17).

In our text, the words “stay” and “staff” are the masculine and feminine forms of the same word, both derived from the word meaning “support,” translated “stay of bread.” Thus, Isaiah uses this idiom and the next several verses to teach that God will remove any semblance of support for this sinful people, whether mighty man, soldier, judge, prophet, seer, elder, captain, artist, orator, or mature ruler (vv.2–4), for the purpose of humbling them, “the people shall be oppressed, every one by another” (v.5), and demonstrating that the LORD, Jehovah Himself, could be their only real stay or staff. “In that day shall the Branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious” (4:2).

The word “stay” is elsewhere translated “lean,” “rely,” or “rest.” “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

God, Save Us (#19940908)
by Kenneth B. Cumming, Ph.D.

“And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?” (Isaiah 36:4).

Hezekiah had a visitor one day from Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. Rabshakeh, one of Sennacherib’s chief officers, came to Jerusalem to intimidate the king before going to battle with the army. His taunt was: “What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?” (v.4).

The invading king’s lieutenant questioned how the Jews thought they were prepared for the battle saying, “I have counsel and strength for war” (v.5). If the Jews were trusting in Egypt to help them, they might as well forget it, for as soon as Sennacherib heard that the Egyptian army was coming to the aid of the Jewish rebellious coalition, he engaged the Egyptians themselves in battle.

On the other hand, if the Jews were saying, “We trust in the LORD our God” (v.7), then that was a contradiction, for the Jews had just spent much time taking down their idols and altars under Hezekiah’s reign. How could any “god” of theirs help them? What Rabshakeh didn’t know was that the Jews knew that Hezekiah was removing the idols and substitutes for true worship in an attempt to restore proper worship to God.

Rabshakeh’s threats were in vain, for Hezekiah commanded, “Answer him not” (v.21). Hezekiah took his plight to God in prayer, and God answered by destroying the Assyrian army and sending them away.

What about us today? Do we have faith to believe that God, who answered Hezekiah’s prayer, can answer ours? Time has passed, but God’s sovereignty is unchanged. What onslaught is there that God is unable to deal with? “Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only” (Isaiah 37:20). KBC

[Soldier4Christ]

Statement Of Christ's Purpose (#19940909)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

Schools, businesses and institutions are all well advised to develop and live by a “statement of purpose” if they are to be successful, evaluating each activity by its effectiveness in fulfilling that purpose.

As Christians, we should also have a well defined purpose. Each individual’s specific purpose will vary somewhat, depending on that person’s giftedness, background, and circumstances; but since Christ is our example, each Christian’s statement of purpose should reflect His priorities and values.

In many ways Mark’s gospel provides the most vivid and explicit insight into the work of Jesus, and in this book we see Jesus often repeating His statement of purpose. “Jesus came . . . preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying . . . repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:14,15). Jesus Christ had come with the specific purpose of saving the lost, and everything He did pointed to that end. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (2:17).

Christ not only preached to sinners, but He trained and sent out His followers to see that His mission was effectively carried out, even after He was gone. “And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth. . . . And they went out, and preached that men should repent” (6:7,12). Regarding His approaching death, He explained: “The Son of man came . . . to give His life a ransom for many” (10:45). As He left them, He commanded, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (16:15).

Our priorities should be the same as His. If everything we do points toward this end, His mission will thereby be accomplished. “Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (8:35). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Why Judas? (#19940910)
by Norman P. Spotts, D.D.

“Ye are clean, but not all. For He knew who should betray Him; therefore said He, ye are not all clean” (John 13:10,11).

Our Lord did not make a terrible mistake in selecting Judas to be one of the twelve disciples. It was neither an accident nor a blunder. There were very definite reasons for Judas being in this select group; even though he was unclean (unsaved) and referred to as “the son of perdition” (John 17:12).

At the Passover before His death, Jesus made this startling statement concerning Judas: “The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born” (Mark 14:21). So, why Judas? The betrayal of Judas gave dramatic evidence to the fact of the deity of Christ. Jesus said, “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He” (John 13:19). “He” is in italics, showing that the word is not in the Greek text and thus can be translated simply, “I am.” “I AM” is the Old Testament name, Jehovah. He predicted the betrayal and only God can do that. Judas’ betrayal was a fulfillment of Scripture. In John 13:18 Jesus quotes Psalm 41:9: “He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.” As Ahithophel turned against David and eventually hanged himself, even so, Judas would turn against Christ and die in the same manner. Judas would give vital testimony to the fact of Christ’s innocence. “When he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood” (Matthew 27:3,4). He gave true witness as to Christ’s character and person.

Judas went out into a night that never ended (John 13:30), because he never truly received Christ into his life. NPS

[Soldier4Christ]

Jesus, The Overcomer (#19940911)
by Connie J. Horn

“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).

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus has overcome death and the grave. Consider the following promises: “When He had by Himself purged our sins, (He) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). “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). “Death is swallowed up in victory [from the same Greek root word as ‘overcome’]. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? . . . Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:54–57). “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (I John 5:4,5). “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: . . . Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:3,4).

In the book of Revelation many hope-inspiring promises are given to those who overcome: they will “eat of the tree of life” (2:7): they “shall not be hurt of the second death” (2:11); they shall “be clothed in white raiment.” To the overcomer Jesus says, “I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels” (3:5). See also 2:17; 2:26; 3:12. “For the accuser of our brethren is cast down. . . . And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:10,11). Through Him, our destiny is sure. CJH

[Soldier4Christ]

Joint Heirs With Christ (#19940912)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:16,17).

Modern day humanists and unbelievers take great sport in belittling Christians, but despite their estimate, and even despite whatever humble view Christians may entertain of themselves, the fact remains that the Bible clearly declares believers to possess a position of preeminent standing and blessing.

Consider the wondrous fact that we as believers are “children of God.” “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). We are His offspring, for “according to His abundant mercy (He) hath begotten us again” (I Peter 1:3). As His children, we even look like Him, in a spiritual sense, “partakers of the divine nature” (II Peter 1:4), and His Fatherly love surrounds us.

Furthermore, we are the inheritors of all good things, just as a human child can expect to inherit from his or her human father. Christ is the Son of God, but He is also “the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Our inheritance is nothing less than God Himself: all that He is and has is ours, and we will share it all with Christ, our elder brother. “The glory which thou (the Father) gavest me (Christ) I have given them (all believers)” (John 17:22).

This standing and privilege is ours, but we must not forget it is ours as a result of His doing, not our own worth, lest we become prideful. Nevertheless, it is ours. So let us believe it, accept it, and present it in such a way that others will want to share in it. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Builder Of The House (#19940913)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“He who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but He that built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:3,4).

Perhaps the single greatest category of evidence for supernatural creation is in the nature of the creation itself, which everywhere shows such intricate design that it could not have come about by random chance. Consider the earth: its size, mass, distance from the sun and moon, rotational wobble, chemical make-up, etc., are critical within very narrow limits. Any significant deviation in any of these, or other characteristics, would make life impossible.

But inorganic molecules, planets, and galaxies are simpler by several orders of magnitude than even the tiniest living organism. The marvelous genetic code, which regulates life, growth, and reproduction, is so unthinkably complex, so obviously designed, that it would take a “willingly ignorant” (II Peter 3:5) mind to conclude a naturalistic origin for it. Life at every stage and at every level of investigation shows symmetry in its order, purpose in its function and interdependence between its parts; all of these are clear marks of design by an intelligent designer.

The evidence speaks so eloquently that even “the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20) if they choose not to believe, and therefore to merit and face His wrath (v.18).

“All things were created by Him, and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). Mankind can take no pride in it nor rebellious solace in the idea of naturalistic origin, for “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Resurrection And The (#19940914)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

The resurrection of Christ is no less critical to the gospel than the death of Christ. If He did not rise from the dead, then we who believe in Him “are of all men most miserable” (I Corinthians 15:19).

Christ’s resurrection assures us, first of all, of our justification. Speaking of Abraham’s faith and the imputation of God’s righteousness to him, Paul writes: “For us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:24,25).

God imparts to us the power to serve Him effectively through the resurrection, “that (we) may know . . . what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:18–20). As the passage continues, Paul declares that through the resurrection Christ is now “the head over all things to the church, Which is His body” (vv.22,23 and also in our text).

In His resurrected and glorified state, Christ still ministers to us. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens. . . . Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14,16).

Finally, Christ’s resurrection assures us that we too will one day be resurrected, if we should die before He returns. “He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus” (II Corinthians 4:14). JDM

[Shammu]

31 devotionals posted today brother??  Least now, I know why I've had problems keeping up with the news.

[Soldier4Christ]

31 devotionals posted today brother??  Least now, I know why I've had problems keeping up with the news.

 

Just trying to catch up with my source.

[Shammu]

Just trying to catch up with my source.

And here I am struggling with an old 486DX with Windows 95.