A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

High Sight (#19950713)
by Kenneth B. Cumming, Ph.D.

“For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death” (Psalm 102:19,20).

Ever since man went into space, he has changed his perspective of his home, earth. Each of us has now seen pictures of the amazing blue and white orb as an object at a distance and not as a surrounding landscape. Throughout time we have contemplated the moon, but the earth we now admire and respect for its amazing fitness for life. In a different manner God looks down, not from the moon or a satellite, but from His heaven, and beholds the earth. And what does He see as He looks down (v.19)?

He sees the lost! While we are caught up in the awesomeness of the planet, He is concerned for the prisoner who cries out in his misery for release. Each of us have known the pressure and restraint of our limitations in this present life. Some have suffered close confinement, others house arrest, still others psychological fetters that make us long for total release, fresh air, open space. He longs to hear our prayers and will not despise them (v.17). His desire is to loose those that are scheduled for death, to deliver them from the decay that is inevitable. “As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed” (v.26).

This psalm was written for us and any who shall praise the Lord (v.18). He gives us access to the Creator of heaven and earth, and in so doing, He encourages us, as with all generations, to focus on His enduring nature. We have ample evidence that we are withering as the grass and our days are declining. But there is deliverance and His servants shall continue, and our children will be established before Him (vv.26,28). It takes a heavenly view to enable us to realize our frailty. KBC

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The Voice Of The Lord (#19950714)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty” (Psalm 29:4).

This solemn phrase, “The voice of the LORD,” occurs seven times in Psalm 29, centered especially on the awful judgment of the great Flood in the days of Noah. “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters” (v.3). It occurs many other times in the Old Testament as well, with a wide variety of applications and circumstances.

The very first time it occurs, however (and this is also the first occurrence of “voice” in the Bible, indicating thereby that it is God’s voice—not man’s—which we must hear, if we seek guidance for life), is in the Garden of Eden immediately after man brought sin into the world. “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden. . . . And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:8,9). Mankind is lost and separated from God, but God calls unto each of us, as He did to Adam, and we desperately need to hear His voice if our lives are to be fulfilled.

In contrast to this scene of alienation, the final occurrence of a “voice” in the Bible is a beautiful scene of reconciliation when God again speaks to lost mankind, this time in glorious restoration of that broken fellowship. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall he with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).

To hear His voice then, however, we must first hear His voice now, through His word. Jesus said: “He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life. . . . the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (John 5:24,25). HMM

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Down But Not Dead (#19950715)
by Connie J. Horn

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen. but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:17,18).

Too often we are so attuned to our present troublesome circumstances that immediate relief or gratification motivates what we do. Not so with Paul. He realized that our affliction is “light” and lasts “but for a moment.” When we are in the pressure-cooker of tribulation, we should remember that it is only temporary.

In our text Paul focuses on the unseen in times of trouble. Note: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (vv.8,9). “Troubled” is the same Greek word as afflicted, and it is “on every side” and yet, he says, we are “not distressed.” If Paul had seen only his circumstances, he would have given up, but he focused on the truth that “God is faithful, who . . . will with the temptation also make a way to escape” (I Corinthians 10:13). Next, he says we are “perplexed, but not in despair.” A Christian is never without resources: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Paul was persecuted, but, through it all, he saw the unseen Savior who suffered, being forsaken by His Father, that we might never be deserted or left behind.

Finally, Paul says we are “cast down, but not destroyed.” The Bible says that “A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Proverbs 24:16). To be destroyed is to be dead, but a Christian possesses the greatest of all trouble-conquering resources—eternal life. CJH

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Old Testament Love (#19950716)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt Love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18).

Many people have mistakenly rejected or neglected the Old Testament on the basis that it speaks about a vindictive God of judgment, in contrast to the New Testament God of love manifest in Jesus Christ. This perspective, however, is completely wrong.

One day a lawyer asked Jesus: “Master, which is the great commandment of the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36–40).

Both of these commandments were recorded, of course, in the Old Testament. The first one in Deuteronomy 6:4,5, is perhaps the most revered of all passages to the Jews: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” The second great commandment is the one in our text for the day. This law is buried deep in the Pentateuch, in the unlikely heart of the book of Leviticus. In the New Testament, it is even called “the royal law” (James 2:.

Thus, the great underlying theme of the Old Testament is love—love for God, and love for others—and this truth is stressed by Christ Himself in the New Testament. Even greater is God’s eternal love which was ours from before the world and which will never end. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3). HMM

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Deeper And Deeper (#19950717)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17–19).

Every sincere Christian longs for a deeper relationship with Christ, driving them to more effective prayer and Bible study and service. The rich old hymn, “Deeper and Deeper,” reflects this heart cry. Its verses can help focus our thoughts these next five days.

Into the heart of Jesus, deeper and deeper I go, Seeking to know the reason why He should love me so— Why He stooped to lift me up from the miry clay, Saving my soul, making me whole, Though I had wandered away.

“Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (I John 3:1). God’s infinite grace is “a mystery” to us, “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit” (I Corinthians 2:7,10).

These mysteries were revealed by the Spirit primarily to the writers of the New Testament who wrote them down for our instruction through the empowerment of the Spirit (II Peter 1:19–21). Only in His revelation to us can we hope to understand something of His love and mercy and grace, but only through a close heart-walk with Him in the Spirit can we know His heart. “The LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee” (I Chronicles 28:9).

We who had wandered away from Him were saved and made whole, for “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:. “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay” (Psalm 40:2). He did this all out of a heart of love. God grant us an ever deeper knowledge of His heart. JDM

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Surrender To His Will (#19950718)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1,2).

To be a true follower of Christ, we must know His will and submit to it. Our text informs us that His will has ever deeper stages, but once a saint sacrifices his own body and mind and submits his will to His, we will “prove” it to be “perfect.” The second verse of that grand hymn, “Deeper and Deeper,” echoes this thought.

Into the will of Jesus, deeper and deeper I go, Praying for grace to follow, seeking His way to know; Bowing in full surrender low at His blessed feet, Bidding Him take, break me and make, Till I am molded and meet.

God may give a Christian a burden to accomplish a task or a life’s work, and then open and shut doors to make it possible. Discerning His will has never been easy, but we must seek earnestly to know it and follow it. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord?” (Romans 11:33,34) are the verses just prior to our text.

The key, then, to knowing God’s will is full surrender to it, whatever it may be, starting with obedience. “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 14:23). To be useful to Him, we must be broken of our own pride and self will, then remolded as He desires. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (II Timothy 2:21). God grant us an ever deeper submission to His will. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Fellowship Of The Cross (#19950719)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10).

The third verse of the precious hymn, “Deeper and Deeper,” speaks of the suffering which the Christian will encounter if mature in Christ and effective in His service.

Into the cross of Jesus, deeper and deeper I go, Following through the garden, facing the dreaded foe— Drinking the cup of sorrow, sobbing with broken heart; “Oh, Savior, help! Dear Savior, help! Grace for my weakness impart.”

But this suffering, while not welcome from a human perspective, still is not a thing to be avoided or refused. As our text explains, we are privileged to experience “the fellowship of His sufferings.” He did so willingly, but not without asking God to “remove this cup [of sorrow] from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42). His suffering included betrayal and arrest and finally crucifixion, dying with a broken heart, but purchasing our eternal life with His death. By “fellowshipping” in His sufferings, we identify with His death, share His reproach, and follow His example. We, through His death, pass through death into a new life of victory over sin and death (I Peter 4:13).

Therefore, we accept and even welcome sufferings as a gift from God. “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29). Paul said, “we ourselves glory in . . . all your persecutions and tribulations . . . that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God” (II Thessalonians 1:4,5). Of course, suffering isn’t easy, and we need our Savior’s help and grace to “endure” (James 5:10,11). But “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him” forever (II Timothy 2:12). May God grant us a deeper fellowship in the cross. JDM

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The Joy Of Jesus (#19950720)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“ . . . Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:7,8).

Because of Christ, we “rejoice with joy unspeakable,” and the deeper we know Him, the more our joy. The fourth verse of our study hymn, “Deeper and Deeper,” speaks of this joy. It was written by a young man whose life in the years to come was marked by a deep and fruitful walk with God.

Into the joy of Jesus, deeper and deeper I go, Rising with soul enraptured far from the world below; Joy in the place of sorrow, peace in the midst of pain, Jesus will give, Jesus will give, He will uphold and sustain.

Joy is, of course, part of “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22) of Christ, who had prayed to His Father, “now I come to thee . . . that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13). Most specifically, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ . . . and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1,2). In joy we rise over the lure of sin and the world. “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Romans 4:7).

The joy of the Lord is not predicated on external circumstances. “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things” (II Corinthians 6:10). And “I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation” (II Corinthians 7:4).

The last line is well supported in the writings of David, where the Lord provides this joy. “Though (a good man) fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand” (Psalm 37:24). “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22). May God grant us an even deeper joy in Jesus. JDM

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Oh, How He Loved (#19950721)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:9,10).

The final verse of Oswald J. Smith’s touching hymn, “Deeper and Deeper,” enjoins us to enter into God’s love, and sing of it throughout eternity.

Into the love of Jesus, deeper and deeper I go, Praising the One who brought me out of my sin and woe; And through eternal ages gratefully I shall sing; “Oh, how He loved! Oh, how He loved! Jesus, my Lord and my King.”

The word “deep” or “depth” in Scripture comes from the Greek word bathos from which is derived several English nautical terms, and includes the concept of the deep ocean. Thus probing “deeper and deeper” into the heart, the will, the cross, the joy, and now the love of Jesus takes on proper proportion. Each is immense, beyond our conception.

We should continually acknowledge, as does the song, that His love brought us out of our sinful condition, which had totally separated us from Him. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [i.e. made us alive] together with Christ, (for) by grace ye are saved” (Ephesians 2:4,5). “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. . . . We love Him, because He first loved us” (I John 4:9,19).

We will have the opportunity to sing of that love throughout eternity, because “in the ages to come He (will) shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). May God grant us an ever deepening love of Jesus. JDM

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Forget Not God's Commandments (#19950722)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:9,10).

The final verse of Oswald J. Smith’s touching hymn, “Deeper and Deeper,” enjoins us to enter into God’s love, and sing of it throughout eternity.

Into the love of Jesus, deeper and deeper I go, Praising the One who brought me out of my sin and woe; And through eternal ages gratefully I shall sing; “Oh, how He loved! Oh, how He loved! Jesus, my Lord and my King.”

The word “deep” or “depth” in Scripture comes from the Greek word bathos from which is derived several English nautical terms, and includes the concept of the deep ocean. Thus probing “deeper and deeper” into the heart, the will, the cross, the joy, and now the love of Jesus takes on proper proportion. Each is immense, beyond our conception.

We should continually acknowledge, as does the song, that His love brought us out of our sinful condition, which had totally separated us from Him. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [i.e. made us alive] together with Christ, (for) by grace ye are saved” (Ephesians 2:4,5). “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. . . . We love Him, because He first loved us” (I John 4:9,19).

We will have the opportunity to sing of that love throughout eternity, because “in the ages to come He (will) shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). May God grant us an ever deepening love of Jesus. JDM

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Every Good Work (#19950723)
by Kenneth B. Cumming, Ph.D.

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work” (Titus 3:1).

In the process of presenting the duty of Christians in all matters of life, Paul challenges Titus to “set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (1:5). The character of God’s people must be above reproach in order that they “may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (v.9).

Paul knew that an orderly life and lots of good works are not the means of salvation: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (3:5). Rather, that “they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (v..

Now, it is one thing to be good to those who are good to us, but another to be good to those who might abuse us. Civilian authorities sometimes carry out procedures which are detrimental to individual citizens possibly because of inequities in the law or maybe by intent. Either way, it is easy to become provoked at the bureaucrat and treat him as the arch enemy. Curt responses and ugly letters become the means of evening the score.

Yet, even in these wrongful situations, the follower of God must “be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work” (v.1). In so doing we can display a similar undeserved love to that which Jesus showed us as an example. Remember, “the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man . . . which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (vv.4,6). This kind of love alone produces every good work. KBC

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Ask What Ye Will (#19950724)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).

The precious promise in this verse has been an inspiration to the faithful down through the centuries. It becomes even more amazing when attention is paid to the original Greek language in which it was written.

Abiding implies a close personal fellowship with someone, in this case, the personal, loving Lord Jesus: “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love” (v.9). Such an abiding on our part will be evidenced by obedience, love for Him and for the brethren, and joy (vv.10–14). Our minds and hearts will be in total harmony with His, guided by such a walk and His words.

“Ye shall ask” does not carry the proper force in English. This is a command, in the imperative mode in Greek—a challenge, if you will. He challenges us to “ask what ye will” (literally, “whatever ye desire”) and see Him faithful. Desire speaks of something different than need, indeed it speaks of an “inclination.” He is not afraid we will ask for selfish inclinations, for if we “abide” in Him, our desires are His desires, and we will naturally ask for those things which glorify Him. “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (v..

Notice the word “done,” which in Greek stems from the word meaning “to come into existence.” God will answer our unselfish prayers, even if He has to transcend natural law or even create something to do so. He even challenges us to “ask” without hesitation, as implied by the Greek construction.

If we meet the condition of “abiding” in Him, as a branch “abides” in the vine (vv.1–5), He will place in us the desire to bring forth much fruit (v.5) to His glory and to our everlasting delight. JDM

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Creation and the Finger of God


"It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed. And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God" (Exodus 31:17-18).

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (II Timothy 3:16), but this portion of Scripture was given by direct inscription of God! Moses testified: "The Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the Lord spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly" (Deuteronomy 9:10). "He wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments" (Exodus 34:28). Thus, out of all the Holy Scriptures, God chose to write this section, not through one of His prophets, but with His own finger! It should, therefore, be taken literally and most seriously.

It is also significant that these commandments were structured around a weekly day of rest, "remembering" God's Creation Week--six days of creating and making everything in heaven and earth, followed by a sanctified day of rest and refreshment (note also Exodus 20:8-11 and Genesis 1:31-2:3). Ever since the creation, people have observed a weekly calendar. The seven-day week (unlike the day, month, and year) has no astronomical basis at all. People keep time in weeks simply because God did! Even those who deny the six-day week of creation must observe it, for their biological rhythms are constructed that way by God. "The sabbath was made for man," said Jesus (Mark 2:27). Since God considered the truth of the literal Creation Week so important that He inscribed it Himself, we should believe this portion of His Word first of all.

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Global Warming (#19950725)
by Paul G. Humber, M.S.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (II Peter 3:10).

The world was destroyed in the past by global flooding, and the tremendous sedimentary deposits and billions of fossilized animals lie in evidence of this truth. Some unbelieving scientists religiously deny this reality, holding instead to supposed slow deposition of sediments over eons of time and to a fantastic story of trial-and-error generation with concomitant destructions.

The Bible not only tells us about a past devastation, it also predicts a future one. Concern has been expressed about a gradual warming of earth’s surface with negative consequences. While some question this, there is a global warming coming that will be utterly devastating. The “earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up,” and “the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” If the Lord provided an escape for Noah and his family during earth’s first cleansing, is there any hope of escape from this future one?

The answer is yes: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Those in the Ark did not perish during the Flood, and those “in” Christ Jesus will not perish during the final burning. Peter continued a few verses later, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (II Peter 3:13).

Let us entrust our whole beings to those arms that long ago opened on a cross to receive the burning heat of God’s wrath for human sin. Time still remains, but “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. ” PGH

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Hear, Oh My People (#19950726)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Hear O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me. . . . open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:8,10).

This psalm was evidently used as an introduction to one of Israel’s feasts and begins on a note of joy (vv.1–4) and a reflection on God’s sovereign provision for the people (vv.5–7). But then it merges into a warning not to leave the God of their fathers, sternly reminding them of the commandment! “There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god” (v.9).

Such rebellion grieves God. “So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels” (v.12). When we will not go His way, He does not abandon us, but does allow us to go our way. He permits us to learn hard lessons by our own folly, lessons that He would rather have taught us gently, while in fellowship with Him.

“Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries” (vv.13,14).

He reminds us that He is capable of meeting all our needs, of every sort. “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” (v.10). The imagery used here is that of a mother bird feeding her otherwise helpless young. They are dependent on her for all their needs, even life itself.

Jehovah invites us to wholeheartedly trust Him for all our needs. His reservoir is boundless; how much He gives to any one individual depends only on how much we allow Him to give. He adjures us to open our mouths wide, so that He can abundantly fill them.

May God develop in us, not only “wide mouths,” but the faith to trust Him for abundant provision. JDM