A Daily Devotional

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Nehemiah's Effectual Praying


A prime example of the fulfillment of the above text is found in the person of Nehemiah. He was a man who served King Artaxerxes in the land of Persia around 445 BC. King Cyrus the Great had in 538 BC allowed the children of Israel to return to Jerusalem to re-establish temple worship but the walls were still broken down and the gates burned with fire, plus, the Jewish people were in great affliction, being reproached by the enemies of God (Nehemiah 1:3). When Nehemiah heard this eye-witness account from his brother, Hanani, he immediately "sat down and wept, and mourned . . . and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven" (1:4). Thus begins his effectual, fervent praying that lasted for close to four months and availed much. His prayer, in 1:5-11, contains valuable lessons on how to approach God with a heavily burdened heart.

1. He appealed to the God of the universe. "O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God" (v.5). We must acknowledge that God is Sovereign and the Lord of all His creation.

2. He appealed to the God who keeps His Word. "God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love Him" (v.5).

3. He appealed to the God who forgives sin. We "confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee" (v.6).

4. He appealed to the God who listens to those who have a personal relationship with Him. "O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant" (v.11).

5. He appealed to the God who loves personal requests. "Prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day" (v.11).

God answered his prayer, using him to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.

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The Lord Will Provide


"And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen" (Genesis 22:14).

Abraham had just passed the most severe of tests. He had been willing to offer up his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord. He must have wondered why God had asked him to slay the son of promise, through whom many descendants were promised, but he didn't refuse or even question God. He was convinced that "God was able to raise him up, even from the dead" (Hebrews 11:19). Yet he must have been greatly relieved when God stopped him from slaying his son, and thankful indeed when he found that God had already provided a ram to be used as "a burnt offering in the stead of his son" (Genesis 22:13).

While journeying to the place of sacrifice, Abraham had said that "God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering" (v.. Appropriately, after the incident, Abraham named the mountain Jehovah Jireh .

In Hebrew there is not a specific verb form to designate the future tense, and so the word Jireh could easily be translated "is providing." Actually, where the Lord's provision is concerned, the tense makes little difference. The Creator of time (Genesis 1:1) stands outside of time. We may sometimes be frustrated and disturbed because we see only the present, and we don't even see that very clearly. But God sees and answers in the proper time, perhaps later than we have asked, or perhaps, as in Abraham's case, beforehand, providing the ram already caught in the thicket.

How often have we received an answer to prayer, only to realize that events had been set in motion long before we had prayed? We should be aware of and thankful for God's anticipation of our needs. "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24).

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The Great Commission


"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).

These incomparable words were spoken by Christ on a mountain in Galilee (v.16), sometime after His resurrection. He had already told His disciples while they were still gathered in the upper room: "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John 20:21). Then the sense of His instruction on the mountain was: "As you go into the world, you are to make disciples in every nation."

What an amazing thing to ask of such a small, unpromising group of followers. Yet, soon afterward, on the Mount of Olives, He made this command an actual prophecy: "Ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:. This absurdly impossible prophecy seemingly could never be carried out by such a motley group, but somehow it has! There are today millions of followers of Christ, some in practically every nation on Earth. The prophecy seemed humanly impossible, but the Holy Spirit of God came upon them in great power, and He has been with Christ's witnesses in every age since.

Not only the Spirit of God, but also the Father and the Son. New disciples were, in fact, to be identified as such by baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One name, yet three names! The three are each equally and fully God, and each is vitally involved in the redemption, guidance, and ultimate glorification of each believer. "For through we both [that is, Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). Someday the Great Commission will have been completed, and all the disciples from every land and every age will assemble in praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the heavenly "city of the living God" (Hebrews 12:22)

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The Time of Old Age


"Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come" (Psalm 71:18).

One tends to grow resentful against the limitations and increasing infirmities associated with aging, even complaining to God and others about growing old--at least until one considers the alternative! We need to remember that, as long as the Lord preserves our lives, He has some ministry for us to perform for "this generation" and "to every one that is to come."

The Scriptures abound with promises of blessing in old age, so growing old should be an occasion for rejoicing and deepened commitment to whatever the Lord enables one to do. "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: . . . Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age" (Psalm 92:12-14). But if there develops a tendency to grow spiritually cold with age, the admonition of Paul is appropriate. "Aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, . . . teachers of good things" (Titus 2:2-3).

Thus the heartfelt prayer of the psalmist in our text is still appropriate today, for all who will, sooner than they think, enter the time of old age. Note also the following prayer: "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth" (Psalm 71:9). That God will answer such a prayer, offered in faith and sincerity, was affirmed by David when he said: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25). The time of old age can be a time of happy harvest, if we have sowed the seeds of good fruit.

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Our Job As Ambassadors


"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God" (II Corinthians 5:20).

Christ has made each of us His ambassadors here on Earth. He is no longer here in the flesh, and so now He expects us to faithfully and effectively represent Him. As His ambassadors or representatives, He has given us two basic tasks to perform.

First of all, we are to spread the good news of salvation in such a way that unbelievers will be drawn to the light and out of their darkness. "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me" (Acts 26:18). To do this, an ambassador must live a life of conformity to His life and teachings. "As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (I Peter 1:15), adequately representing Him.

Secondly, we are to saturate ourselves totally with the knowledge of His will and His Word so that we will be enabled to encourage other Christians, strengthening them for their duties as ambassadors as well. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15), applying our attention to His directives. "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 3:16-17).

It has rightly been said that the only two things which will last for eternity are people and the Word of God. These things must occupy our attention if we are to be effective "ambassadors for Christ."

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A New Song


"O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvelous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory" (Psalm 98:1).

The theme of singing is frequently found in the Bible. Probably the first song ever sung was by God's angels at the time of creation, as God laid the corner stone of the Earth, "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7).

There are nine occasions when a "new song" was to be sung by the people of God. The very first, appropriately, was to extol God's Word and His creation. "Sing unto Him a new song; . . . For the word of the Lord is right," and then "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made" (Psalm 33:3-6). Then the second new song is placed prophetically on the lips of Christ, representing His thoughts on the cross after His sufferings were finished and He had paid the redemption price for all our sins. "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, . . . And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God" (Psalm 40:2-3).

The next has to do with spreading the good news. "O sing unto the Lord a new song: . . . shew forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people" (Psalm 96:1-3). The fourth is our text, focusing on Christ's future coming as King. The next three new songs (Psalms 144:9; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10) continue that great theme.

Finally, there are two new songs to be sung by the redeemed in heaven (Revelation 5:9; 14:3). We shall then all be singing to the Lord Jesus Christ: "Thou art worthy . . . : for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of ever kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10).

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Take Heed Therefore


"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).

On his way back to Jerusalem, Paul decided not to stop at Ephesus, fearing a lengthy delay. But this church was much on his heart, and he recognized that he might not see them again. In order to give them one last bit of instruction and encouragement, he called the elders to meet with him, where they had a most touching time together (vv.30-38). What was Paul's main concern? "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember" (vv.29-31).

Later, Paul sent Timothy to Ephesus, "that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine" (I Timothy 1:3). The Greek word used here means "a different kind of doctrine" and is used only twice. Certainly, the false doctrine that concerned Paul the most was a works-oriented salvation. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (Galatians 1:6).

Paul also concerned himself with lifestyle. "If any man teach otherwise , and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness . . . from such withdraw thyself" (I Timothy 6:3,5). The list of characteristics of the false teachers given (vv.4-5) contrasts markedly with those resulting from proper doctrine and life, "charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (1:5). May our lives be characterized by these qualities.

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Tomorrow


"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1).

The sin of procrastination may not be one of the so-called "seven deadly sins," but it may come close if it involves neglecting to do what God has clearly commanded us to do. Sins of omission may well be as serious in many cases as sins of commission. The Bible warns: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

To the professing Christian who deliberately goes against God's will, either by neglect or intent, Jesus warns: "And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes" (Luke 12:47). This was spoken in the context of a parable, but the message was clear that it is dangerous to ignore God's revealed will.

The principle even applies in the secular realm. "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow" (James 4:13-14).

The most dangerous sin of procrastination, of course, is neglecting to come to Christ for forgiveness and salvation. As Paul stressed: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2). Ignoring God while fully involved in pleasure or business or anything else is at least presumptuous. To the rich man in Christ's parable who had spent his life concentrating on accumulating goods, God said: "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" (Luke 12:20). We do not know what even one tomorrow may bring, so we need to "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" (Colossians 4:5).

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Rest for the People of God


"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9).

This has long been a favorite verse of those who labor. Many employees may work a five or six day week, but mothers work seven days. Missionaries and people in special ministries are often heard to say that, while they never grow tired of the work, they do get weary in the work, for the needs seem so great that they dare not stop even for a day.

The Lord knew His people would need rest, of course, and so ordained a weekly day of rest. In fact, the only reason He took six days to do the work of creation was to set the pattern for man's six-day work week (Exodus 20:8-11). Yet Jesus also indicated it is still "lawful to do well on the sabbath days" (Matthew 12:12), and the Scriptures command us to be always "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16), so it is often difficult for concerned Christians to find the time for needed rest, even on the "sabbath days," let alone an annual vacation.

Our text verse seems to have a threefold application. The word for "rest" is actually the special word for "sabbath rest," used only this one time in the New Testament, evidently indicating that the weekly rest day (like each of the other laws in the Ten Commandments) is still a divine principle in the Christian dispensation, and violating it is to our detriment. It also refers, in context, to the rest we find in Christ, "For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His" (Hebrews 4:10).

There is surely also a most comforting application for our future life: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: . . . that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13).

For now, however, even when it is hard to find time for physical rest, we find rest for our souls in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Going Forth to Work


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

This verse is a capsule job description of God's plan for man after the Flood. Psalm 104 first deals with the initial creation (vv.1-5), then with the Flood (vv. 6-9), and finally with God's provisions for the life of the post-Flood world -- plant life, animal life, and human life (vv. 10-35).

As in the beginning with Adam (Genesis 3:17-19), man's life would continue to be structured around his personal labor to provide for himself and the needs of his family. It is thus ordained by God for man to labor in some honorable vocation, but disgraceful for him not to work as long as he is able. "The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labor" (Proverbs 21:25). Christians are exhorted to be "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11). The apostle Paul commanded "that if any would not work, neither should he eat" (II Thessalonians 3:10).

It is significant that the modern recognition of the dignity and importance of labor largely originated in Christian nations, especially England and America. Labor Day itself seems to have started with an annual parade in New York City back in the 1880s, organized by an early labor union, the Knights of Labor. It was in 1894 that Congress passed a bill making the first Monday in September a legal holiday. Like most holidays, however, its original purpose now seems to have become largely taken over by commercialization and recreation. The former six-day, dawn-to-dusk work week has given way to the 40-hour (or less) work week and the TGIF syndrome.

But this attitude should not characterize Christians. The job assignment God has given each of us to do should be done "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23), "forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (I Corinthians 15:58).

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The Book of Books


"This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him" (Genesis 5:1).

The Bible (literally, "the book") contains over 200 references to books. This implies, among other things, God's approval of communication by books. Our text, containing the first mention of the word "book" in the Bible, indicates that the very first man wrote a book! "Give attendance to reading," Paul recommends (I Timothy 4:13), especially the Holy Scriptures (II Timothy 3:15-17).

The pattern of first and last mentions of "book" in the Bible is noteworthy, for all refer to divinely written or divinely inspired books. The first use in the New Testament is in the very first verse -- "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ" (Matthew 1:1). The book of Adam's "generations" is in a special sense, the Old Testament, the book of the generation of Jesus Christ -- the last Adam -- is in a similar sense the New Testament.

The final mention of "book" in the Old Testament is in Malachi 3:16: "A book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name."

The third-from-last verse of the New Testament contains no less than three references to God's books: "If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, . . . and from the things which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:19).

Note the significant modifiers attached to these six key references: "the book of the generations of Adam," "A book of remembrance," "the book of the generation of Jesus Christ," "the book of this prophecy," "the book of life," and finally, simply "this book!"

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Raised Us up Together


"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6).

The Bible clearly identifies the resurrection of Christ as central to the Christian message, just as crucial as the atoning death of Christ. "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins" (I Corinthians 15:17). And just as surely as Christ is raised, we who have put our faith in Him shall be raised.

What kind of body will we have then? "We shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (I John 3:2). In His resurrection body He could appear and disappear (John 20:19), pass through closed doors (v.26), be felt by others (Matthew 28:9; John 20:27), eat food (Luke 24:42,43), and He eventually rose into heaven (Acts 1:9).

Paul, who has now been dead nearly 2000 years, asserted: "We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body" (Philippians 3:20-21). How can a person, long since dead, whose spirit has been in God's presence, receive once again a body? This, of course, is a miracle, for the physical elements which once made up Paul's earthly body have long ago changed their form, and even while he was alive, were continually being replaced. No, God will not restore a prior body to the dead, but will present them with a new "glorious" body, fit for the eternal environment and service of heaven. Paul could only write of it by analogy, comparing the difference between the old and the new bodies to the difference between a seed and a plant, to different kinds of living things, and to different kinds of celestial bodies. "So also is the resurrection of the dead." It is sown in corrupt ion, dishonor, weakness, as a natural body, but it is raised in incorruption, glory, and power, as a spiritual body (I Corinthians 15:37-44).

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Our Lord's Hands


"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not" (Revelation 1:17).

The apostle John, upon seeing the glorified Christ in Revelation 1:13-16, is so overwhelmed with reverential awe and godly fear that he falls at Jesus' feet as dead. (Will not every believer do the same when seeing their Savior for the first time?) At that moment the Lord laid His hand upon him, telling him not to fear. The touch of the Master's hand does take away all fear.

We also find in Scripture that the Lord's hand is a hand of power. With His hand He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead (Luke 8:54-55); cleansed a leper by touching him (5:13); healed Peter's wife's mother of a great fever by touching her hand (Matthew 8:14-15) and brought life to the widow of Nain's son by touching the bier and commanding him to arise (Luke 7:14).

But the most powerful event of all time concerning the hands of our Lord was prophesied by David in Psalm 22:16, "They pierced my hands and my feet." Christ, by means of the crucifixion was "wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5). The piercing of His hands, His feet, and His side all give clear evidence of how much the Lord loved us in procuring our salvation. In addition, He used the marks to show the reality of His bodily resurrection. "Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands . . . and be not faithless, but believing" (John 20:27). These pierced hands will provide eternal evidence of His gracious provision on our behalf (Revelation 1:7).

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28).

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Fountain of Life


"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death" (Proverbs 14:27).

This beautiful phrase, "fountain of life," is used several times in the Old Testament, serving as a metaphor to illuminate a number of important aspects of spiritual faith and experience. Our text stresses "The fear of the Lord" as providing deliverance from death to life, picturing this new life as flowing from a heavenly spring.

A very similar verse is Proverbs 13:14: "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Thus, the fear of the Lord is somehow tantamount to "the law of the wise." Those who are wise will fear the Lord, and thus receive living water from "the fountain of life."

King David penned the wonderful truth of Psalm 36:9. "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." "God is light" (I John 1:5), so "the fountain of life" becomes the source also of all true light, whether physical or spiritual. "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).

The same word translated "fountain" is rendered as "well" in Proverbs 10:11. "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked." Thus, when a believer has received life from the divine fountain, his testimony becomes a fountain of life to others.

The Lord Himself is the fountain of life in Jeremiah's prophecy, but the supposed people of God have refused to drink. "For my people . . . have forsaken me the fountain of living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13; 17:13).

Nevertheless, this fountain is still there for all who will come. The very last promise in the Bible has to do with this great fountain. That fountain yields "a pure water of life, . . . proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. . . . And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:1,17).

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The Carnal Mind and Death


"To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:6-7).

This passage defines for us both the carnal mind and the spiritual mind, not with formal definitions, but by giving equivalent terms.

First, the carnal mind is identified as being "enmity against God" (8:7), a rampant disregard for God's law. Furthermore, the carnal mind is equated with death, specifically eternal, spiritual death. A physically living person may have a carnal mind, bringing with it a spiritual deadness and eternal doom. This also serves us as a working definition of death -- being hostile toward God, or minding the things of the flesh. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you" (vv.8-9).

Next, we see that the spiritual mind is "life and peace" (v.6) -- a supreme preference for God and subjection to His will. This state not only leads to eternal life but is life, along with peace, even now. There can be no peace for the carnally minded.

Some would wrongly teach that the physical death of the unbeliever leads to the total annihilation of his body, soul, and spirit. However, this passage teaches that the minding of "the things of the flesh" (v.5) does not only lead to ultimate physical death, but is death right now.

Death is not the extinction of being, but the alienation of that being from Christ. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (v.13). "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness" (v.10).