A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

From The Throne Of Heavenly (#19951005)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Who, being in the form of God, . . . made Himself of no reputation, . . . and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6–8).

Our text explains that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ voluntarily left heaven to die on our behalf. Verse three of our study hymn, “He Ransomed Me,” begins with the same thought.

From the throne of heav’nly glory— Oh, the sweet and blessed story! Jesus came to lift the lost in sin and woe Into liberty all-glorious, Trophies of His grace victorious, Evermore rejoicing here below.

Truly this is a sweet and blessed story. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9). The story becomes even more blessed when we recall just how lost in sin and woe we were. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like” (Galatians 5:19–21).

And yet despite all this, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (I Timothy 1:15). One day the entire creation “shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).

Paul wrote, “by the grace of God I am what I am” (I Corinthians 15:10), a trophy of His grace. “Being justified by His grace, we [are] made heirs” (Titus 3:7); “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) of the kingdom which He left to become our Savior. Hallelujah! Jesus ransomed me. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Singing With The Hosts (#19951006)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Revelation 15:3).

These last few days we have been allowing the beloved Christian hymn, “He Ransomed Me,” to direct our study. Verse four speaks of the Christian hope, the ultimate realization of our full ransom.

By and by with joy increasing, And with gratitude unceasing, Lifted up with Christ forever more to be; I will join the hosts there singing, In the anthem ever ringing To the King of Love who ransomed me.

In this life we may go through “fiery trials,” but they will be over by and by. Rather “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (I Peter 4:12,13). “Giving thanks unto the Father. . . . Who hath delivered [or ransomed] us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12–14).

The work of Christ lifted us up out of bondage to sin, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6), “and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:17).

What shall we do there? Among other things, as we see in our text, we will sing. Moses’ “song” was written on the far shore of the Red Sea and celebrated their ransom from Egypt and protection from their enemies. “The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2).

We’ll also sing “a new song,” a song of ransom. “Thou art worthy . . . for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” (Revelation 5:9). He redeemed us, but Hallelujah! Jesus ransomed me! JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Knowing Christ (#19951007)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7,8).

In the three verses prior to our text, Paul focused on his Jewish heritage, his past accomplishments, and his blameless lifestyle, claiming that “if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more” (v.4). If it were possible to be saved by works, Paul would have been.

But look at how Paul evaluated his sterling past. First, he said: “I count all things but loss.” This is a banking term, indicating a financial liability on a total business loss. Furthermore, he considered all these things “dung”—human waste or garbage—the lowest possible evaluation.

In verses 7 through 9, Paul revealed his new-found focus in life by the repeated use of the name of his Lord: “I counted loss for Christ . . . the excellency of the knowledge of Christ . . . that I may win Christ . . . the faith of Christ.” He mirrors here the mind of Jesus, who said: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

His goal in life was now two-fold; first, “the knowledge of Christ.” “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). Second, to “be found in Him,” not through his “own righteousness, which is of the law” (v.9), but through “the . . . righteousness which is of God by faith” in Christ.

In these days of large churches, nationally-known preachers, denominational pride, and emphasis on personal accomplishments, may our priorities be the same as Paul’s—to know Christ and to be found in Him. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Everlasting Contempt (#19951008)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).

Some claim that the Old Testament knows nothing of a resurrection, but this promise of God clearly refutes such a notion. Not only will some be raised to everlasting life, but some to everlasting shame and contempt!

What a bitter end this will be for those who now look with contempt upon the Bible. The Hebrew word translated “contempt” is used only one other time, in the very last verse of Isaiah, but is there translated “abhorring.” “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24).

There is probably no doctrine of the Bible more hated by unbelievers than the doctrine of everlasting punishment. It was this teaching (not the imaginary evidence for evolution) that turned Charles Darwin away from God. Nevertheless, it was verified by Christ Himself. “It is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where . . . the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:47,48). Christ will say to the “goats” on His left hand, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: . . . these shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:41,46). Paul also warned that those who “obey not the gospel . . . shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (II Thessalonians 1:8,9). Everlasting contempt, everlasting fire, everlasting punishment, everlasting destruction—these await all who reject God and His saving word, through Christ. How much better to “awake to everlasting life!” HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Greetings From Peter (#19951009)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord” (II Peter 1:1,2).

All too often we skip over the introductory verses of greeting in a Bible book, but many times these verses contain rich information. Such is the case in today’s text.

We first notice the strange paradox in Peter’s identification of himself. He is both the authoritative “apostle,” the officially commissioned ambassador of Jesus Christ, and His “servant,” or bond-slave. Historically, we know that Peter was one of the inner circle of disciples in whom Christ placed great responsibility, but he was also the one who denied Christ at His trial. Christ had bought him with His blood as a slave would be bought, forgiven him much, and had sent him out on a life-long mission.

The letter is written to those “that have obtained like precious faith,” i.e., the same kind of precious faith possessed by the apostles, implying equal standing and privilege before God, obtained through His righteousness.

Peter uses two descriptive names for Christ, calling Him both “God and our Savior,” referring to His dual divine/human nature and role. Peter’s prayer for us (possessors of like precious faith) is moving. He desires the sanctifying and sustaining grace of God for us, the peace of God which brings joy even in the face of adversity, and that both would be multiplied. These traits would come “through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus, our Lord.” Much of the rest of the book deals with false teachers and false knowledge, but Peter would have us grow into “full knowledge” (literal translation; see also vv.3,8) of God, through the walk of grace and peace. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

True Science (#19951010)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

There is widespread propaganda being circulated today, emanating from the highest circles of establishment science and education, to the effect that Biblical Christian faith is either antagonistic to science or irrelevant to it. Therefore, these spokesmen argue that science must be taught on a purely naturalistic basis, with no reference whatever to God, or creation, or to the supernatural.

The Christian is thus forced to make a choice—the scientific establishment, or God. God’s word makes it plain that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7) and “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). The New Testament, likewise, notes that in Christ “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Since Jesus Christ is the incarnate word of God, “and without Him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3), it is necessarily true that true science must be built on the knowledge of Him who created the world that scientists seek to study.

This is why science itself could only have developed—as indeed the leading historians of science recognize it did—in the context of the Christian worldview. Practically all the founding fathers of modern science (Kepler, Newton, Boyle, Ray, Linnaeus, etc.) were men who believed in God, special creation, and the Bible. They “did their science” with the motivation that they were merely “thinking God’s thoughts after Him.”

When scientists try to eliminate God from His creation, using evolutionism as their explanation for the origin and history of the world, they are not building up science, but “science falsely so called” (I Timothy 6:20). True science always supports the Scriptures. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Doxology To The King (#19951011)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (I Timothy 1:17).

In this stirring doxology to the One who allowed him into the ministry (vv.12,13), whose grace “was exceeding abundant” (v.14), who “came into the world to save sinners” (v.15), who showed mercy and longsuffering, and who grants “life everlasting” (v.16), Paul uses several majestic descriptive terms. Each deserves our attention.

The King eternal. God’s sovereign kingship is in view here. The phrase literally translates, the “King of the ages.” “But the LORD is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting King” (Jeremiah 10:10). He is the King, and we must stand in submission to Him.

Immortal. The Greek word used here implies more than mere exemption from death. A fuller meaning would include total incorruptibility; i.e., the inability to be stained by either decay or death. What a comfort to realize that the believer’s crown in glory will be likewise incorruptible (I Corinthians 9:25) as will his resurrection body (I Corinthians 15:52).

Invisible. God is a Spirit, and as such cannot be seen. He has chosen to appear on numerous occasions, most notably as Christ, but is usually unseen, the primary meaning of the word. Christ “is the image of the invisible [same word] God, the firstborn of every creature”(Colossians 1:15). Seen or unseen, He merits our praise.

The only wise God. God is unique in His existence and wisdom, “God only wise” (Romans 16:27). He stands alone, solitary, apart from all others.

Surely to this eternal, incorruptible, unseen, unique, wise, sovereign King belongs “honor, and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Cure For Spiritual Weariness (#19951012)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:3).

Faith in Christ does not make one immune to spiritual weariness and faintness of mind. This condition may arise from frustration at our own natures, our inability to love God as we ought, to pray effectively, to understand the Scriptures. We may feel that our best efforts to represent God in our community have been of no avail, and very few show by their lives that our witness and ministry have been effective.

Sometimes we may question why God does not choose to favor all those who follow Him with material blessings and pleasant circumstances; but instead, at times, the wicked prosper. Looking at the tide of evil sweeping our world can leave us faint and weary.

But the answer to our dilemma is Christ! Reflection on Him will re-energize even the most discouraged saint, for He “endured such contradiction [or opposition] of sinners,” was victorious, and now promises to lead us to similar victory (see Hebrews 2:17,18; 4:15,16, for example). It will help us to persevere if we notice how He endured: “Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again” (I Peter 2:23), and that He endured it all, not just for Himself or just for His followers, but also for us, who, “when we were enemies [of Christ], we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son”(Romans 5:10).

The so-called “Hall of Fame of Faith” (Hebrews 11) immediately precedes our text. Reflection on the testimonies of those faithful and victorious warriors coupled with our example of Christ will make our greatest burden seem light and should spur us on to even more effective and sacrificial labor. JDM

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God's Everlasting Covenants (#19951013)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee” (Genesis 17:7).

The phrase “everlasting covenant” (or “perpetual covenant”) is used no less than 16 times in the Old Testament plus once in the New. It always refers to a covenant promise of God to man, made in grace, for only He can make an everlasting promise.

The first everlasting covenant was made with Noah (Genesis 9:16), a promise never to send a worldwide Flood again, sealed with the sign of the rainbow.

The second is recorded in our text and was God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants. The promise was to give them “the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:, and the seal was to be the rite of circumcision.

Many of the “everlasting covenant” promises have to do with Israel. Some were stated unconditionally, but others were “broken” because of rebellion against God’s covenant terms. One of the latter was the covenant of the Sabbath. “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath . . .for a perpetual covenant. 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” (Exodus 31:16,17).

The last reference is the most important of all: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20,21). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Fervent Love (#19951014)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (I Peter 1:22).

In reading this verse it might seem strange that God would commend the saints for their “unfeigned [sincere] love of the brethren,” and yet in the next phrase exhort them to “love one another with a pure heart fervently.” The resolution of this seeming paradox lies in the fact that two different words for love are used; indeed, two different kinds of love are in view.

The first “love” implies brotherly love, certainly a proper love between Christians. Fellowship within the family of God is sweet, and ideally Christians should genuinely care for one another. This kind of love results from obedience to the teachings of Scripture, through the work of the Holy Spirit in each individual’s life and the accompanying purification of their souls. Yet it has limits. It has no standards of right and wrong, no provision for self-sacrifice for the other’s benefit. A response of love is necessary, and therefore it can degenerate into a self-centered relationship.

The second love is the well known “agape” love, God’s kind of self-sacrificial love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). It is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), described in detail in I Corinthians 13. “God is love” (I John 4:.

“Fervent” love is literally that which is “stretched out, extended to the limit.” It must come from “a pure heart,” as an overflowing of the inner purified nature. This kind of love has the well-being of the other as its sole motivation and is sorely needed in our churches today if we are to adequately demonstrate the love of God. JDM

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Hating Knowledge (#19951015)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:22).

This ancient question by the wise man, Solomon, was posed almost 3000 years ago and is still relevant today. “How long?” he asked. How long will men continue to scoff at true knowledge? “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

The answer to your question, Solomon, would have been 3000 years at least! Peter prophesied “that there shall come in the last days scoffers . . . saying, Where is the promise of His coming?” (II Peter 3:3,4); and Paul said “that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be . . . boasters, proud, blasphemers. . . . Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Timothy 3:1,2,7).

Throughout history, men have scorned the true knowledge of God and His creation. Peter says they “willingly are ignorant,” and Paul says they are “without excuse” (II Peter 3:5; Romans 1:20), but they “delight in their scorning” nonetheless.

It is remarkable that their hatred of God’s true knowledge is cloaked in a robe of scientism and evolutionary pseudo-knowledge that even deceives many professing Christians. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22), despising the true wisdom and instruction of God’s word.

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). Those who scorn God’s word have no light of their own, despite their scientific pretensions. “Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction” (Proverbs 10:14). HMM

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Let Him Hear (#19951016)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:22).

It makes an eternal difference whether a person hears—yet doesn’t hear—or really hears what he hears,especially when God speaks! In Christ’s seven letters to the seven churches (Revelation 2 and 3), representing all churches, each letter concludes with His words in our text. How important it is to really hear when He speaks!

First of all, when we truly hear His call, He gives salvation. “He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). Then, if we have really become His sheep, we will hear His voice and follow Him as He leads: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. . . . He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out” (John 10:27,3). Also, if we really hear when He speaks through His word, we will do what He says. “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” (Matthew 7:24).

The voice of the Lord can even raise the dead: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, And shall come forth” (John 5:28,29). Now, if even those who have died physically can hear Him, surely He is able also to quicken those who are spiritually dead if they will only listen as He calls. But it is necessary that they hear! “To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke. . . . Whose carcasses fell in the wilderness. . . . So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:15–19). “He that hath an ear, let him hear!” HMM

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Tragic Lot (#19951017)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1).

One of the most tragic figures in all of Scripture is that of compromising Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who renounced the land of promise for the sinful society of Sodom, ultimately to lose everything of importance.

His slide into apostasy, as traced in Genesis chapters 12–19, seems to parallel the progression described in our text as not becoming a godly believer.

Lot is first mentioned as traveling with Abram and Sarai from their homeland to Canaan in obedience to God’s command (Genesis 12:4,5; 13:5). A petty problem arises which surely could have been resolved (13:6–10), but Lot chose (v.11) to “walk in the counsel of the ungodly.” “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly” (v.13).

Lot soon found a home in the city itself, not content to merely herd his flocks in the fertile valley. By standing in the way of sinners, when Sodom was attacked by enemies, he was captured (14:12) and later rescued by Abram (14–16).

Lot’s identification with wicked Sodom did not end there, as it should have, for when the city’s wickedness was beyond God’s forbearance, Lot was found sitting in the seat of the scornful, a leader of the city, sitting in the gates with the town fathers (19:1). Lot was a “just” [or ‘righteous’] man, “vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked” (II Peter 2:7), but his actions (Genesis 19: and his lack of spiritual influence even within his own family (vv.14,15,16,31–38) testify to the horror of such a compromising lifestyle.

May God grant us all the persevering faith of Abraham and not the compromising faith of Lot. JDM

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Sixty (#19951018)
by BRA

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks . . .” (Daniel 9:25).

Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks (of which the above quotation is a part) is one of the most amazing prophecies in Scripture. If the date of the issuance of the commandment, the date of the Messiah’s presenting Himself, and the meaning of the term “weeks” can be established, we can determine the predicted date of the Messiah and compare this with known historical data.

The only decree filling the terms of the prophecy is that of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah on March 5, 444 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1–8). The date of Christ’s triumphal entry can be established to be March 30, A.D. 33. For details, the reader is referred to “Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ,”by Harold Hoehner, in Bibliotheca Sacra, January 1975.

The term week means “a unit of seven”: The events described in Daniel 9:24–27 require that a week of years be assumed.

Sixty-nine weeks is therefore 483 years. These years, as was Jewish custom, consist of 360 days each; and 483 years is therefore equal to 173,880 days.

We now need to determine if 173,880 days actually transpired between March 5, 444 B.C. and March 3O, 33A.D. From 444 B.C. to 33 A.D. = 476 years (from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. = 1 year). Modern astronomers calculate a year to be 365.24219879 days. This number X 476 = 173,855 days. Since the commandment was given March 5 and the fulfillment was March 3O, 25 days need to be added giving 173,880 days: the same number of days predicted in the sixty-nine week prophecy.

Praise the Lord: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God . . .” (II Timothy 3:16). BRA

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From Darkness To Light (#19951019)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:3,4).

The initial aspect of God’s newly created world was one of darkness in the presence of the all-pervading waters. Since “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5), the darkness had to be specially created (Isaiah 45:7) before God could then call for the light to appear in the darkness.

This would later serve as a striking picture of the entrance of light into the darkness of a soul born in sin. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6). The light enters our soul by His word.“The entrance of thy words giveth light” (Psalm 119:130).

This great theme, contrasting the darkness of the soul without Christ to the glorious light He brings when that soul receives Him by faith, is found often in Scripture.“[Christ] hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9). “The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth” (I John 2:. Jesus even called Himself that true light which divided the light from the darkness. “I am the light of the world” He claimed; “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

And because we have received the true light, we should henceforth live in the light of His truth. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:. “Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). God’s light is good. In the Holy City “there shall be no night there” (Revelation 22:5). HMM