A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

A Time To Sleep (#20041018)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

"And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison" (Acts 12:6). Here is an amazing thing. The apostle Peter is in prison, bound with chains, heavily guarded, probably awaiting execution (his close friend James already had been put to death by Herod), and "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him" (Acts 12:5). Yet, here he is, fast asleep! He had been imprisoned at least once before for preaching the gospel, and the Lord had miraculously delivered him then (Acts 5:17-19), so why should he be fearful now? The Lord was still in control, and there was nothing Peter himself could do about the situation, so he simply went to sleep. There are, of course, many situations where a Christian needs to stay alert and watchful. But there are also times when he has done all he can do, and there is nothing to be accomplished by further worrying, so he must leave it in the Lord's hands. In Peter's case, he was sleeping so soundly that when an angel from God came to deliver him from his "impossible" circumstance, the angel had to smite him on the side (v.7) to awaken him! In fact, he was still so sleepy that he did not really "come to himself" (v.11) until the angel left him out on the street alone. Then, of course, Peter rushed back to the house of Mark's mother, where the church was praying for him (v.12), to tell them of the amazing answer to their prayers. As with Peter, there are times when we must simply "stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus 14:13), "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:6). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

My Glory (#20041017)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

"O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory" (Psalm 108:1). This seems a somewhat strange expression. A similar statement is found in Psalm 30:12. "To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent." Also, note Psalm 57:8: "Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp." The Hebrew word is the normal word for "glory," as in Psalm 19:1 for example: "The heavens declare the glory of God." But what, then, is meant by "my glory"? The explanation is found in the way the New Testament quotes Psalm 16:9: "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth." In Acts 2:26, this verse is applied to Christ, and translated: "Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad." It becomes clear, then, that in such passages "my glory" simply means "my tongue." In fact, the word was translated "tongue" in these and other similar passages in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament. But why, then, did the inspired Hebrew text here use the words "my glory" instead of the usual Hebrew word for tongue? The answer probably is that, when our tongues are used to praise the Lord, they do, indeed, become our glory! It is this very ability, in fact, that primarily distinguishes man from the animals. Animals can bark, roar, grunt, and send out sonar signals, but they cannot speak in intelligible, symbolic, abstract speech. This is an unbridgeable evolutionary gulf that cannot be crossed, because only men and women were created in the image of God. Mankind alone has the ability to speak, for the simple reason that God desires to communicate with us so that we can respond in praise to Him. This is our glory! "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations" (Psalm 89:1). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

God-Hardened Hearts

"For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses" (Joshua 11:20).

One of the most bitter complaints of critics against the Bible is its portrayal of the severity of God, especially in His command to Moses to destroy all the Canaanites. "When the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them" (Deuteronomy 7:2). This seems more severe than ever when we read in our text that God Himself hardened the hearts of the Canaanites so that Joshua could destroy them.

But the notion that God is merely a kindly grandfather figure is a self-serving figment of man's sinful imagination. The New Testament reminds us that "our God is a consuming fire," and "the wages of sin is death" (Hebrews 12:29; Romans 6:23), and God doesn't change. "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Thessalonians 1:7-8).

As far as the Canaanites were concerned, God had given them 400 years to repent (Genesis 15:13-16), but each new generation had gone further away from God than the one before, and they were practicing (as archaeology has revealed) every form of debauchery known to man. It was an act of mercy by God toward all those who would come in contact with them in future generations to decree their destruction now. They had already irrevocably hardened their hearts toward God, so God now hardened their hearts against Israel. Thinking they could destroy God's people, they only hastened their well-deserved end.

[Soldier4Christ]

In and Out -- Out and In
February 11, 2007

"Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out" (Deuteronomy 28:6).

Just before entering the Promised Land, God gave the children of Israel two choices: they could either be greatly blessed (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) or be greatly cursed (28:15-68). The blessings would come only if they obeyed (28:12); the cursings would come if they disobeyed (28:15).

One of God's promised blessings of obedience rested upon one's private homelife, "when thou comest in, and . . . when thou goest out" (28:6). God, who created Adam and Eve, the first family, and united them in one flesh, established the home and loves to bless that home where God is the Lord. David said, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way.
. . . I will walk within my house with a perfect heart" (Psalm 101:2).

God also desires to give enablement to do His will. When God appeared to Solomon and said, "Ask what I shall give thee" (I Kings 3:5), the young king responded, "And now, O Lord my God . . . I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in" (v.7); that is, "I don't know how to begin or finish." He therefore asked for wisdom and received it. God's promise to present day believers is the same, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5).

Then there is the promise of preservation throughout one's lifetime of service. "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore" (Psalm 121:. "He shall preserve thy soul" (Psalm 121:7). Soul preservation not only extends through our earthly life but "even forever more." "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow."

[Soldier4Christ]

Pray without Ceasing

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

It is obvious that Paul's command to "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17) is to be understood metaphorically (after all, we do have to sleep and work, as well as pray), but it is also to be taken seriously.

Even during waking hours, of course, the attitude of unceasing general prayer is not meant to supersede special periods of concentrated prayer. Jesus spoke thus of the importance of intense private prayer: "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret" (Matthew 6:6). Christ Himself has set an example: "In the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" (Mark 1:35).

There is also an important role for group prayer meetings. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" (James 5:16). "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 18:19).

The words of our text, however, conclude the great passage on the armor of the Christian as he or she engages in daily combat with the wicked one. They imply not a continual verbalized prayer but a continual attitude of prayer and watchfulness, whereby it becomes easy and natural to breathe a short (but sincere) prayer "in the Spirit" whenever a need appears (e.g., a special need for strength or guidance in a situation, or intercession for someone else). Thus, whether at work or at rest, we can -- as Paul exhorts -- "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2).

[Soldier4Christ]

Waxing Old, like a Garment

"Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end" (Psalm 102:25-27).

This remarkable passage, quoted also in Hebrews 1:10-12, anticipates the famous second law of thermodynamics, or law of entropy, indicating that everything in the physical universe is growing old and wearing out. God created everything in the beginning, winding it up like a great clock, so to speak. Because of sin and the curse, however, it has been running down and "perishing" ever since. Jesus also said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away" (literally, "are passing away") (Matthew 24:35).

This universal scientific law is also anticipated in Isaiah 51:6: ". . . the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner." That is, the law of decay and death applies both to the earth and its inhabitants. The concept of universal evolution is clearly refuted both by Scripture and true science.

Note that our text also anticipates that, although the earth is growing old and seems about to die, it will suddenly be changed, like a garment. The old garment will be discarded and a new garment put on. Peter puts it this way: "The heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (II Peter 3:12-13).

Now, although the universe is perishing and will one day be suddenly renewed, its Creator never changes. His years will never end, and His Word and His righteousness will never pass away.

[Soldier4Christ]

True Love

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned" (Song of Solomon 8:7).

The Song of Solomon, as part of God's inspired Word, is much more than an ancient erotic poem, as some have interpreted it. Solomon was given great wisdom by God, so that he "spake three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five" (I Kings 4:32). Of these latter, he apparently considered this to be his masterpiece, his "song of songs" (Song 1:1). It can best be understood as a pure love song describing the courtship and marriage of Solomon and his first bride, long before he later married "many strange |that is, `foreign'| women" (I Kings 11:1), who "turned away his heart after other gods" (I Kings 11:4).

Another interpretation, favored by many Bible scholars over the centuries, is that the story is an allegory whose theme is the love of Christ and His heavenly bride, the true church.

That is, it really does seem to describe the love of young Solomon and his first bride. Such love had and still has God's blessing, for the union of man and woman in permanent, loving marriage, has always been God's plan, ever since Adam and Eve (note Christ's confirmation of this in Matthew 19:3-9). It is "the works of the flesh," including "adultery, fornication, . . ." which God condemns.

But the song can also bring great blessing to the reader as he sees therein the eternal love of the Lord Jesus and His heavenly Bride. Our text verse, read in this light, is a glorious truth. Not even the waters of a great flood could quench such love, nor all the possessions of a wealthy king ever purchase it. It is true eternal love, bought by the blood of the Bridegroom and received with undying faith by His beloved Bride.

[Soldier4Christ]

Delight in the Will of God

"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:.

This remarkable testimony of David is actually also a Messianic prophecy, fulfilled completely only in Christ. Only as Messiah could He truly say: "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me;" and, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me;" "The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me" (John 4:34; 6:38; 10:25). "Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith . . . Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will,
O God" (Hebrews 10:5,7).

His heart was attuned perfectly to the will of God because God's law was written thereon, "not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart" (II Corinthians 3:3). Even in the most trying circumstances to which any man could ever be subjected, He could pray: "Not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

By the indwelling Spirit of God, we also must seek to make the will of God our greatest delight. We are saved solely by grace, but this is not to deliver us from the burdensome constraints of God's holy law; as in the case of Christ Himself, He places His law in our hearts in order to enable us to love His law. "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them" (Hebrews 10:16).

Then we learn, like the psalmist, not to resist His will, but to love His will and to delight in His law. "O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. . . . Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. . . . I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight" (Psalm 119:97,111,174).

[Soldier4Christ]

Be Ye Separate

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (II Corinthians 6:17-18).

The doctrine of separation from "the unclean thing" is neglected today by professing Christians, but it is still here in God's Word. The context indicates that Paul is warning against Christians being "unequally yoked together with unbelievers" and urging us to "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (II Corinthians 6:14; 7:1).

Such separation does not mean having no contact at all with unbelievers, "for then must ye needs go out of the world" (I Corinthians 5:10), whereas Jesus commanded: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). He also prayed to the Father, "not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil" (John 17:15).

He does demand, however, that we are not to compromise with unbelief or with the unclean thing. We are "born again" into the family of God through simple faith in the person and saving work of Christ; but the full manifestation and fellowship of our relation with the heavenly Father as His spiritual sons and daughters is evidently, in this passage, conditioned on the vital principle of separation from all unbelief and filthiness of the flesh, with Jesus as our example (Hebrews 7:26).

We are specially warned to "turn away" from those who, "Having a form of godliness," yet attempt to accommodate the naturalistic viewpoint of modern scientism within the Scriptures, thus "denying the power thereof" (II Timothy 3:5). "Be ye separate, saith the Lord."

[Soldier4Christ]

Jostling Chariots and Judgment

"The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings" (Nahum 2:4).

This strange prophecy, found in the midst of the small book of Nahum, could almost be seen as a description of twenty-first century freeway traffic! In context, however, the entire book of Nahum deals with the coming destruction of Assyria and, especially, its great capital, Nineveh. One of the most viciously aggressive and cruel empires in all history, bitterly opposed to God and His rule as Creator in the affairs of men, the Assyrians had been allowed by God to punish the ten northern tribes of Israel, carrying them into captivity. But their own time of judgment was coming!

Under the preaching of Jonah, Nineveh had experienced a great revival, sparing the city its judgment for over a century. However, it soon became incurably apostate, worse than before, and its most vicious crimes were committed in this later period. Finally, God called Nahum the prophet to announce its coming doom. It was still another century before Nahum's prophecies were fulfilled, but they were eventually accomplished at the hands of the Chaldeans and the Medes.

There is a possibility that, as is true with many other Old Testament passages, some of Nahum's prophecies have a near and far fulfillment; the first in the ruin of Nineveh, the second in the great judgments of the last days. Some of the predictions (e.g., Nahum 1:5,8) seem more appropriate for the end-times, unless they are simply poetic exaggeration, as many think. In any case, whether the jostling chariots fought only in ancient Nineveh or also prefigure lethal attack vehicles of the last days, the burning message of Nahum is that apostasy, violence, and cruelty eventually bring terrible judgment and utter destruction.

[Soldier4Christ]

By Nature

"Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Ephesians 2:3).

Many Christians are under the mistaken notion that children are innocent, but the Scriptures teach differently: "The Lord said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imaginations of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21). David said, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5). Our text indicates that we are "by nature the children of wrath."

Why are the Scriptures so negative about our natures? Wouldn't it be nicer if the Bible painted a more positive picture? The answer is that it is far better to be realistically true than idealistically false. Have we ever taught children to be selfish and disobedient? It comes naturally -- like weeds in a garden. The real task is teaching children to be others-centered, honest, and obedient. True, they have the desirable quality of trustfulness, and the Lord would have us trust Him similarly. But this does not mean that children are innocent.

The same Lord who made our delightful children, Himself became a little child one day, so that He could go to a cross and save a fallen world. Yes, the Bible gives the bad news about our nature, but it also presents the good news about the love and mercy of our God.

Some parents may hold off telling their children about sin and their need for Jesus until they as parents think the children really need Him. The fact is, however, that children need this knowledge from the start. May each of us resolve to teach our children, the sooner the better, of God's saving mercy in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Beginning of Creation

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God" (Revelation 3:14).

This salutation in the last of the seven church epistles in Revelation contains the last of four occurrences of the distinctive phrase, "the beginning of the creation." The glorified Christ here assumes this as one of His divine names. Note that even God's work of creation, long since completed (Genesis 2:1-3), had a beginning, and that beginning was Christ. "In the beginning was the Word, . . . All things were made by Him" (John 1:1,3).

The first two occurrences of this phrase also come from the lips of Christ. "From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female" (Mark 10:6). This assertion by the Creator, Jesus Christ (quoting Genesis 1:27), makes it unambiguously certain that Adam and Eve were created at the beginning of creation, not after the earth had already existed for 4.5 billion years. God also wrote this plainly on the tables of the law (Exodus 20:8-11). Those evangelicals who accept the geological ages evidently reject this clear statement of the creation's Creator!

Then Christ also referred to the end-time in the context of the beginning-times. "In those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be" (Mark 13:19).

The phrase is also used in Peter's very important prophecy concerning the scoffers of the end-times who will argue (in willful ignorance) that "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (II Peter 3:3-4), thereby denying that there ever was a real creation or real Creator and thus rejecting Christ Himself. But He is also the "true witness" and the "Amen," and such denials will only be "unto their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16).

[Soldier4Christ]

Wars and Rumors of Wars

"And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6).

Christians are often chided because they are looking for the return of Christ rather than improving this present world. The fact is, however, that Bible-believing Christians have been largely responsible for such improvements in this world as have actually been achieved (elimination of slavery, establishment of hospitals and educational institutions, founding and development of modern science, advances in political freedoms, etc.).

On the other hand, Christ predicted that wars would continue despite His own death and resurrection. In fact, the prophet Daniel had prophesied over five centuries earlier that "unto the end of the war desolations are determined" (Daniel 9:26). For 2500 years the prophecies have been fulfilled and will continue to be fulfilled until Christ returns. In that day, God promises: "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end." However, it is not the misguided efforts of secularists and worldly minded Christians that will bring about this state of eternal peace and righteousness. "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:7).

Our text is taken from Christ's Olivet discourse, given in answer to His disciples' questions about His Second Coming (Matthew 24-25). Climaxing His message, He said: "Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30). The wicked, warring nations of the earth all will mourn (not rejoice over!) His coming. In the meantime, He urges all true Christians to "be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 24:44).

[Soldier4Christ]

Enoch: A Man of Faith

"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24).

Surely one of the most godly, as well as interesting, characters who ever lived was Enoch. He is one of only two who lived before the Flood (Noah also, Genesis 6:9) of whom it is said that he "walked with God." He is also one of only two individuals who never died (Elijah, II Kings 2:11). Little is known about him, but the Bible reveals him to be exemplary among men and special to God.

Notice that he was, first of all, a man of faith. "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death . . . he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is |i.e., that God exists|, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:5-6). Enoch had ample faith in the fact and work of God, which yielded a close walk with God. He also had faith in the caring character of God which rewards the diligent search for Him on His terms with sanctification, fellowship, and eternal life. This faith, we are told, pleased God.

We find in the little book of Jude a description of Enoch's ministry. Enoch's faith impelled him to denounce strongly the false teaching and ungodly living of his day, prophesying the coming return of, and judgment by, the Lord (vv.14-15).

Some have suggested that Enoch's ministry is not yet over. All men die, for "it is appointed unto men once to die" (Hebrews 9:27), and Enoch has not yet died. Perhaps he is one of the two tribulation "witnesses" (Revelation 11:3) whose messages are so much like those of Enoch and Elijah who will be martyred, resurrected, and taken up to heaven directly from Earth (vv.4-12).

At any rate, Enoch is certainly one of the great heroes of the faith whom we shall meet some day.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Blood of the Lamb

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12:11).

This is the last reference in the Bible to the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; here it is the overcoming blood, enabling believers to withstand the deceptions and accusations of Satan.

There are at least 43 references to the blood of Christ in the New Testament, all testifying to its great importance in the salvation and daily life of the believer. Judas the betrayer spoke of it as "innocent blood" (Matthew 27:4), and Peter called it "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:19). It is the cleansing blood in I John 1:7 and the washing blood in Revelation 1:5, stressing that it removes the guilt of our sins.

Paul calls it the purchasing blood in Acts 20:28 and the redeeming blood twice (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; see also I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9), thus declaring the shedding of His blood to be the very price of our salvation. Therefore, it is also the justifying blood (Romans 5:9) and the peacemaking blood (Colossians 1:20). Its efficacy does not end with our salvation, however, for it is also the sanctifying blood (Hebrews 13:12). There is infinite and eternal power in the blood of Christ, for it is "the blood of the everlasting covenant" (v.20).

The first reference in the New Testament to His blood stresses this aspect. Jesus said at the last supper: "This is my blood of the new testament |same as `covenant'|, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). Let no one, therefore, ever count the "blood of the covenant . . . an unholy thing" (Hebrews 10:29), for the blood of Christ is forever innocent, infinitely precious, perfectly justifying, always cleansing, and fully sanctifying.