A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Moved By The Holy Spirit (#19951130)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Exodus 4:11,12).

Time and again we find the human authors of Scripture claiming personal, supernatural involvement in their speech and writings. Usually, however, the resultant communication was not a direct dictation from God—it came through men. Somehow, in a way known fully only to Him, both God and man wrote the Scriptures with the end result being exactly what God wanted.

Note some other instances. “David . . . the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my tongue” (II Samuel 23:1,2). “But the LORD said unto me [i.e., Jeremiah] . . . whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. . . . Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:7,9). “The things that I [Paul] write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (I Corinthians 14:37).

Peter wrote perhaps the most definitive description of this process: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). The word “moved” is translated “be driven” in Acts 27:17, and implied a ship carried along by a strong wind. The Holy Spirit carried along willing prophets, that our Bible might be without error.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Love, Faith, Joy (#19951201)
by John Morris, Ph.D.
“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: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (I Peter 1:8,9).

Peter had seen the Lord, but he was writing to those who hadn’t, including us. Like them we can have a personal relationship with the Lord, even though we haven’t physically seen Him. “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Also like them we can have terrible trials (I Peter 1:7). Their responses to Christ while in the midst of trials, as given in our text, are likewise appropriate for us.

    They loved Him: Love many times makes a trial bearable. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (I John 4:19). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). He loves us too much to abandon us, and we love Him in return.

    They believed: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth [or believes] in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters” (Jeremiah 17:7,8). Our faith is well founded.

    They rejoiced: “But 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 4:13). The proper response to trials brings inexpressible joy.

The end of such faith as explained in our text is the complete and ultimate salvation of our souls with many victories of faith along the way. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Justification (#19951202)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.
“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1).

This is the first mention of the great doctrine of justification in the Bible-that is, being seen as “righteous” by God. The same Hebrew word is translated “just” in Genesis 6:9: “Noah was a just man.” The reason why Noah was seen as righteous and therefore as just, or justified before God, was that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:. This is the first mention of “grace” in the Bible. The first mention of “faith” or “belief” is also associated with justification. “[Abraham] believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

Thus, justification is by grace through faith in the Old Testament and certainly in the New. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” and also “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:24; 5:1).

Justification-that is, being seen and proclaimed as perfectly righteous, even in spite of past sins-must of course be authorized by God the Creator. “It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:33). That God can indeed be both “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26) is based entirely on the substitutionary death and bodily resurrection of Christ who conquered death. “Being now justified by His blood,” the Lord Jesus Christ “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 5:9; 4:25).

Now, although we are freely justified by grace through faith, such justification inevitably generates good works also, for “by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Things To Keep (#19951203)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.
“And He said unto him, Why callest thou me good ? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17).

The two main Greek words for “keep” in the New Testament both mean more than just “obey,” though this meaning is certainly included. They also mean “guard” and “preserve.” We are thus told by Christ, in our text above, to guard and obey God’s commandments.

The same urgent command to keep what God has given is applied to many other entities in Scripture. For example, Paul stresses that we are to “keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (I Timothy 6:20). In other words, false science (evolution) and vain babbling (humanistic philosophies) will seek to destroy the tenets of God’s truth, so we must always be diligent to guard and protect these truths.

Each person is also urged to “keep himself unspotted from the world” and to “keep thyself pure” (James 1:27; I Timothy 5:22). The forces of darkness make perpetual attacks against the spiritual and moral integrity of the Christian, so we must constantly be alert to protect ourselves against their enticements. Then we must also endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3), and to “keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21), for the enemy will continually try to sow discord and bitterness among God’s people.

There are many verses which stress the keeping of His commandments (e.g., John 14:15) and the keeping of His words (e.g., I John 2:5). Finally, in the very last chapter of the Bible, the Lord sums it all up, as it were, when He promises: “Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Opened Prison (#19951204)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).

The Lord Jesus appropriated this beautiful verse of the prophet Isaiah to Himself, preaching from it one day in the Nazareth synagogue, and proclaiming: “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21). Note that He came to preach the gospel to the meek, not the arrogant, and to bind up the brokenhearted, not the hardhearted.

He also came to set the captives free. This was not, however, to deliver the Jews from Roman bondage as many had hoped, but a far greater deliverance. In the Hebrew, the phrase, “opening of the prison,” is only one word (a doubled word), and it occurs only this one time in the Old Testament. When Christ quoted it in the synagogue, He actually expanded and interpreted it as follows: “. . . recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).

The “prison” which Christ came to open is evidently a spiritual prison; a binding of the soul; a blinding of the mind. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)-free from the bondage of sin, translated, “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9).

There was also another prison, a very real prison deep in the heart of the earth, to which He came. While His body slept in the tomb, His spirit descended into Hades, where the spirits of all who had died in faith were awaiting Him, and “When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and . . . ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things” (Ephesians 4:8,10). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

A Canaanite Dog (#19951205)
by Paul G. Humber, M.S.

“It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26).

What kind of words are these to say to a woman seeking mercy? The Lord Jesus had just referred to Jews as lost sheep (v.24), but then referred to this woman and non-Jews in general as dogs. Before sitting in judgment over Him, however, let us first contemplate how low He stooped to save such people. In a prophetic psalm describing His death, He said:

“I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, . . . Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion . . . dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:6,7,12,13,16).

Undoubtedly Jesus was testing the woman, and probably the disciples as well. She came pleading for her daughter, but perhaps did not realize the utter poverty of her own condition. Eventually bowing in worship before her Creator, she did not seem to have taken offense. The Scripture says, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). This woman’s faith was soon rewarded; “her daughter was made whole from that very hour” (Matthew 15:28).

We do well to humble ourselves before the words of the master and not to take offense. Our responsibility is to wait upon Him (Isaiah 40:31), to bow our hearts before Him and to persevere in prayer (Luke 18:1). He is able to do far more than we could ever ask or think because one day, long ago, He became “a worm” so that human “sheep” and “dogs” could become “children” at His table. PGH

[Soldier4Christ]

The Lord Our Keeper (#19951206)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber” (Psalm 121:3).

Just as the Lord commands us to keep His words, so He promises to keep our souls. “The LORD is thy keeper,” and He “shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for ever more” (Psalm 121:5,8).

When the psalmist prays: “O keep my soul, and deliver me: . . . For I put my trust in thee,” and when he prays: “Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalm 25:20; 17:, then the response soon comes: “He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:11). “Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:7).

These are glorious promises! The Lord is, indeed, our keeper, and as the apostle Paul testified: “I . . . am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). We have entrusted our souls and our destinies to the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will surely keep them secure forever. In the upper room just before His arrest, Jesus prayed for His disciples and for us, in these words: “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are” (John 17:11). Jesus asked the Father to keep us; could we ever doubt that the Father would answer the heartfelt prayer of His beloved Son? “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude 24,25). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Signs of the Everlasting Covenants
July 17, 2006

"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth" (Genesis 9:16).

The first mention of the key word, "covenant," is in Genesis 6:18 where God promised to establish a covenant with Noah after the Flood. This everlasting covenant was made with all the earth's future populations and is still in effect, symbolized continually by the beautiful rainbow arching through the sky after a rain.

God also made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and Isaac. "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. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God" (Genesis 17:7-8). This time, the symbol of God's everlasting covenant between them and their descendents, the people of Israel, was that of circumcision, "a token of the covenant betwixt me and you" (Genesis 17:11).

There is still another everlasting covenant--this one with all the redeemed of all the ages. "I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me" (Jeremiah 32:40). God has made this "new covenant" applicable to all the saved, and this time, the sign of the covenant is nothing less than the precious blood of Christ, shed on our behalf. "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" (Hebrews 13:20-21).

[Soldier4Christ]

Fickle Political Popularity


"Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me" (Psalm 3:1).

Popularity is a fickle thing, particularly when it comes to political leadership. This was certainly true in the days of King David. Initially he had not been widely accepted as a king (II Samuel 2:5-9). Even after reigning for many years, he was forced to flee as opinion turned towards his handsome, young, politically astute son Absalom (II Samuel 15). Our text records his cry of despair to God at that time.

John 6:15 recounts how Jesus would not be flattered by the fickle multitude. "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone." The Lord received popular acclaim upon entering Jerusalem. "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David" (Matthew 21:9). But the tide of public opinion would turn against Him as "the chief priests moved the people, . . . And they cried out again, Crucify Him" (Mark 15:11,13). Pilate asked the Jewish leaders: "Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar" (John 19:15).

Today King David is remembered as Israel's most loved king. Similarly, there is coming a day when all Israel will joyfully accept the reign of King Jesus. The Revelation prophesies of Christ's return to Jerusalem. "And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (19:16). Zechariah tells how God "will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son" (12:10). Then will begin the wondrous Millennial reign: "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth" (14:9).

[Soldier4Christ]

The Captain of Our Salvation


"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:9-10).

Christ is referred to in this passage as the captain of our salvation. The word translated captain implies one who is first in line, the beginning, or the originator. So Christ is discovered to be the first in line of an endless procession of the saints of all ages resurrected from the grave and marching to the ultimate realization of their salvation. He is truly "the first born among many brethren" (Romans 8:29). "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept" (I Corinthians 15:20).

The word finds usage only three other times in the New Testament, each within a resurrection and glorification context. Peter, addressing the people of Israel, said that they had "killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses" (Acts 3:15). And later, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior" (Acts 5:30-31). As a result of what our "Captain" has done, we should 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).

The only way we could ever share in His glory is for Him to suffer and die. "Both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11).

[Soldier4Christ]

The Lord Our Keeper (#19951206)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber” (Psalm 121:3).

Just as the Lord commands us to keep His words, so He promises to keep our souls. “The LORD is thy keeper,” and He “shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for ever more” (Psalm 121:5,8).

When the psalmist prays: “O keep my soul, and deliver me: . . . For I put my trust in thee,” and when he prays: “Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalm 25:20; 17:, then the response soon comes: “He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:11). “Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:7).

These are glorious promises! The Lord is, indeed, our keeper, and as the apostle Paul testified: “I . . . am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). We have entrusted our souls and our destinies to the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will surely keep them secure forever. In the upper room just before His arrest, Jesus prayed for His disciples and for us, in these words: “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are” (John 17:11). Jesus asked the Father to keep us; could we ever doubt that the Father would answer the heartfelt prayer of His beloved Son? “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude 24,25). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Dark Valleys (#19951207)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

There are many dark valleys mentioned in Scripture, and these typify the many sufferings and hard experiences through which the people of God must pass. “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).

The valley of Achor-which means “trouble”-was so named because sin in the camp of God’s people had caused great defeat for their armies there (Joshua 7:25,26). Willful sin inevitably must result eventually in a trek through the dark vale of trouble and defeat.

Then there is the vale of tears called Baca, or “weeping.” Opinions differ as to whether this was an actual valley in Israel, but it came to symbolize a time of deep loss and sorrow. Repentance and restitution will lead one out of the valley of Achor, but God’s comfort will guide through Baca. “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee . . . Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well. . . . They go from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:5–7).

Perhaps the darkest valley of all is the valley of the shadow of death. All must enter that valley once at least-some may even travel it often before its thick darkness finally conquers them. For those without Christ it is a valley of great fear; there have been multitudes "who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15).

But for those who know the Lord, they need fear no evil for God is with them. Even His guiding staff and buffeting rod are comforting for they prove the love of the shepherd. No wonder the 23rd psalm is the most requested Scripture by those deep in this dark valley. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Heaven of Heavens (#19951208)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee: how much less this house which I have built!” (II Chronicles 6:18).

This intriguing phrase, “the heaven of heavens,” is found at least five times in the Bible. Our text is taken from the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the beautiful temple he had built as a dwelling for God. Solomon understood that God was infinite and omnipresent, yet it was somehow possible for Him to be also in a finite place for a finite time.

But what is this “heaven of heavens?” Can the heavens themselves have a heaven? Whatever it is, it is part of God’s creation, and He rules over all. “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is” (Deuteronomy 10:14).

There is, of course, the atmospheric heaven in which the birds “fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven” (Genesis 1:20). There is also the sidereal heaven, containing “the stars of the heaven,” the number of which God compared to “the sand which is upon the sea shore” (Genesis 22:17). Scientists know fairly well the outer boundary of the atmospheric heaven, but the boundary of the starry heaven, billions of light-years from the earth, has not yet been reached by their telescopes.

Nevertheless, it must have a boundary, for when Christ went back to the Father after His resurrection, He “ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things” (Ephesians 4:10). Perhaps this divine realm beyond the stars is “the heaven of heavens,” the “third heaven,” where Paul “was caught up into paradise” (II Corinthians 12:2,4), and where Christ, having ascended, has entered “into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Servants (#19951209)
by Norman P. Spotts, D.D.

“Son, go work today in my vineyard” (Matthew 21:28).

Sonship requires service: “Son, go work.” Service requires urgency-“today.” Service means doing the Lord’s will in the Lord’s place, which is stated in the text as “my vineyard.” “The field is the world” (Matthew 13:38). God’s servants are to ascertain God’s will and serve as He specifies. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

Yet many evade service or refuse to go altogether. “And he came to the second [son], and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not” (Matthew 21:30). We know not how many have at one time or another dedicated their lives for full-time service, yet never fulfilled their vows to God.

Then there is a son whom we might characterize as a lazy servant. “He that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame” (Proverbs 10:5). Judas, who should have faithfully served the Lord, “sought opportunity to betray” Him (Matthew 26:16). How many Christians truly seek opportunities to serve Him? Often all-out servants are hard to find. The sad commentary on Ezekiel’s day was: “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30).

A wonderful example of a selfless servant is found in Luke 14:16–24, who, when his lord sent him to bid the guests to come to the great supper, he did it! He didn’t make excuses as to why he couldn’t go; he didn’t quit when he was unsuccessful the first time; he wasn’t ashamed of the message, and he never considered himself or his own needs. He was totally yielded to his master. May it be so with us. “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37). NPS

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The Lively Oracles (#19951210)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the Mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us” (Acts 7:38).

This pungent expression, “lively oracles,” is the felicitous King James translation of zao logion,“utterances that are vibrantly alive.” In Stephen’s address, he was referring, of course, to the tables of the law, “written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18), and received by Moses on Mount Sinai, direct from the Lord.

The Greek word logion is derived from logos (“word”) and occurs just four times. In the other three references it appears in the phrase, “oracles of God” (Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; I Peter 4:11). These “oracles” are living words, precisely because they do come from God. They include not only the Ten Commandments, but all the Holy Scriptures.

The word “lively” is the Greek zao, occurring over 140 times and translated variously (depending on context) as “alive,” “live,” “living,” “quick,” etc. It is significant that it occurs, first of all, on the lips of Christ, Himself, when He said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). We are truly alive only through the life-giving words of the living God! “For the word [that is, each individual saying] of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword . . . and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

The Bible (“the Book”) is not just a book, but the Book. Its content is “for ever settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89), “able to make thee wise unto salvation” (II Timothy 3:15), and is “given by inspiration of God” (“God-breathed”) (II Timothy 3:16). It should be our very life! HMM