A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Give Thanks

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thessalonians 5:18).

In everything give thanks? What about when we lose our jobs, or when we get sued for an accident, or when we are laid up with a long illness, or when a loved one dies? It is easy enough to give mental assent to this command, as long as things are going smoothly, but it becomes one of the most challenging passages in the Bible when deep adversity surrounds us.

But it is in the Bible! Furthermore, there are many other passages to the same effect. For example: "Be filled with the Spirit; . . . Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:18,20). And how about this? "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).

How can one "glory in tribulations"? (Romans 5:3). There is only one way, of course, and that is by faith, following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).

No matter what trials we must endure, we will never have to suffer as He did when He, "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2). Likewise, we can "reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). "Our light affliction" endures only "for a moment" in light of eternity (II Corinthians 4:17).

It is only by faith that "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28). But that faith is in the infinite God who loves us with an everlasting love. Therefore, we must "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen" (II Corinthians 4:18), and continue to thank and praise God.

[Def]

Give Thanks

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thessalonians 5:18).

In everything give thanks? What about when we lose our jobs, or when we get sued for an accident, or when we are laid up with a long illness, or when a loved one dies? It is easy enough to give mental assent to this command, as long as things are going smoothly, but it becomes one of the most challenging passages in the Bible when deep adversity surrounds us.

But it is in the Bible! Furthermore, there are many other passages to the same effect. For example: "Be filled with the Spirit; . . . Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:18,20). And how about this? "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).

How can one "glory in tribulations"? (Romans 5:3). There is only one way, of course, and that is by faith, following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).

No matter what trials we must endure, we will never have to suffer as He did when He, "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2). Likewise, we can "reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). "Our light affliction" endures only "for a moment" in light of eternity (II Corinthians 4:17).

It is only by faith that "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28). But that faith is in the infinite God who loves us with an everlasting love. Therefore, we must "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen" (II Corinthians 4:18), and continue to thank and praise God.

I Fear God to much to murmur
God hate's murmuring. and i love him to much to to do something that He does not like voluntarily..Praise the Lord GLORY.
Love in Jesus Def

[Soldier4Christ]

The Presence Of The Lord

"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden" (Genesis 3:.

The presence of the Lord can be either a cause of fear or a source of blessing. Adam and Eve were greatly afraid of His presence because of their sin, and their son Cain "went out from the presence of the LORD" (Genesis 4:16) because of his sin. Yet it will also be to many a time of great joy. "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" (I Thessalonians 2:19).

The difference, of course, is the presence or absence of unforgiven sin in the presence of the Lord. Most of the sixteen occurrences of the phrase stress the judgmental aspect. Those who reject Christ's offer of forgiveness, through repentance and faith in His death for our sins, will eventually be banned forever from His presence, like Cain. "When 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: |They| shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (II Thessalonians 1:7-9).

But for those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Christ for salvation, the prospect of the coming and personal presence of the Lord Jesus is one of joyful anticipation, for "in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:11).

When He comes again, we shall be presented "faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24) and shall thenceforth "ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:17).

[Soldier4Christ]

It Is Enough

"And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die" (Genesis 45:28).

When someone exclaims, "It is enough," either a requirement has been satisfied, or a need has been fulfilled, or a limit has been reached. This phrase occurs seven times in the Old Testament (two different Hebrew words), and three times in the New (each a different Greek word).

In its first occurrence (in our text), Jacob is overcome with thankful emotion at the news that his beloved son, long given up for dead, is still alive. For a very different reason, Pharaoh later cried: "Entreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail" (Exodus 9:28).

"It is enough: stay now thine hand" (II Samuel 24:16; I Chronicles 21:15). This command of God to the death angel stopped the destruction of Israel following David’s sin of numbering his people. Later, when Elijah thought he could bear no more, "he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough" (I Kings 19:4).

On the other hand, "There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough" (Proverbs 30:15,16).

In the New Testament, Jesus said: "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord" (Matthew 10:25). As the time of His arrest was drawing near, He told His disciples: "It is enough, the hour is come" (Mark 14:41). When they produced two swords, "He said unto them, It is enough" (Luke 22:38).

There obviously are many types of circumstances which can lead one to cry: "Enough!" But "in the ages to come," there will never be an end to "the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7). We can never get enough of God!

[Soldier4Christ]

The Truth In Us

"For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever" (II John 2).

The word "truth" occurs more in the Gospel of John than in any other book of the New Testament, and it occurs in the first epistle of John more than in any other book except John's Gospel. Then it occurs more in John's two, one-chapter epistles (II and III John) than in any other New Testament book save John and I John. Surely one of the great themes in John's writings is truth!

God is, indeed, the God of truth, and His written word is "the scripture of truth" (Daniel 10:21). "For the word of the LORD is right; and all His works are done in truth" (Psalm 33:4). The Lord Jesus Christ is, in fact, the very incarnation of truth. "I am the way, the truth, and the life," He asserted (John 14:6).

Surely truth dwells forever in Christ, for He is Himself the Creator and is thereby the very definition of truth. But how can it be that truth dwells in us and shall be with us forever? This is certainly not the case with the natural man.

It can only be by the Holy Spirit, of course, and this is what Christ--who is the truth--has promised. "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:16,17).

That being so, with the Holy Spirit of truth indwelling us forever, our words, and deeds, and our very lives, should be characterized by truth and complete consistency. "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor" (Ephesians 4:25). "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (I John 1:6).

[Soldier4Christ]

Be Fruitful and Multiply

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth" (Genesis 1:28).

This "dominion mandate," as it has been called, was the very first command of God to the first man and woman. It applies to the whole earth; all its processes, and all its creatures. To subdue the earth and control it implies the development of science and technology, commerce and education--indeed every honorable human vocation. As God's first "great commission," it applies to all people and has never been withdrawn. God even expanded it to Noah after the Flood (Genesis 9:1-7), twice repeating the command to "be fruitful, and multiply."

In order to really subdue and exercise dominion over the earth, a large population would be necessary. Despite all the concern in modern times about population growth, God's command has never yet been fully accomplished. Vast areas of the earth are still barren and undeveloped.

Furthermore, the great majority of humans are oblivious to the dominion mandate and live their lives utterly without concern for the will and purpose of their Creator. Therefore, He has given another Great Commission to those who do love God, trusting Him as both Creator and Savior, and this also involves the whole world. Jesus said to His disciples: "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" (John 15:16). That is, we who are His disciples are also to be fruitful and multiply spiritually, as well as physically. Then, in the age to come, the first great mandate will also finally be fulfilled, "for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9).

[Soldier4Christ]

The Lamb's Book Of Life

"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Revelation 21:27).

God does keep books! In fact, when David was pondering the time between his own conception and birth, he said "in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance |that is, as my days continued| were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:16). It seems that God has a book for each person who is conceived, and that all these together constitute the Book of Life, one great volume containing the names and deeds of every one who was ever given biological life by his Maker.

But many, during the course of their lives, will reject (or simply ignore) God's provision that would also give them eternal life. As David prayed in another psalm: "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous" (Psalm 69:28). Note also Revelation 3:5 and 22:19. And that will be a fearful thing, for "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).

Those whose names will not be blotted out of the book, of course, are those who have been redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:19). Not one person deserves to be retained in God's book, for all have sinned, but they have "beheld," with eyes of thankful faith, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), and have therefore been redeemed by the Lamb.

Finally only these will still have their names written on the rolls of the heavenly city. God's Book of Life will have become "the Lamb's Book of Life" on which are written forever the names of all those redeemed by His blood.

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Ye Which Are Spiritual

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1).

According to the New Testament, there are two broad categories of Christian believers, carnal and spiritual--that is, those whose actions and decisions are mainly governed by the "flesh" and those who normally are governed by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Paul noted this fact when he wrote to the bickering Christians in the church at Corinth. "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ" (I Corinthians 3:1).

Even though true believers can behave carnally, the fact that they are "babes in Christ" confirms that they are "in Christ." They just need to grow up, as it were, into spiritual maturity through partaking of both the milk and the meat of the Scriptures. Note I Peter 2:2 ("desire the sincere milk of the word") and Hebrews 5:14 ("strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age") for the God-given principle of Christian growth.

But our text also has a warning for spiritual Christians! When confronted with the fact of a "fault" (that is, literally, a willful sin) in the life of a Christian brother, we must remember that our own spirituality does not guarantee that we ourselves are immune from sin. We must be careful to help rather than to condemn such a weak brother because we still can "also be tempted," even though we usually try diligently to obey God's word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

It is vital, the apostle reminds us, that "ye which are spiritual" maintain a true "spirit of meekness" in our interactions with fellow believers, as well as with the unsaved.

[Soldier4Christ]

Yet Not I

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Corinthians 15:10).

The Apostle Paul was, by any measure, one of the most dedicated and fruitful Christians who ever lived. If any man had a right to be proud of his writings, or his works, or his life in general, it was Paul. No doubt he, like others, had to wrestle with the sin of pride, reminding himself again and again that all he had done he owed simply to the grace and guidance and provision of God.

He could well have boasted, as noted in our text, that he had labored more abundantly than any of the other apostles, but then he brought himself up short with the remonstrance: "Yet not I!" All of his work and success therein he owed completely to the grace of God.

This phrase occurs just two other times. The first is when Paul is giving out his advice and wisdom concerning that most basic of all human institutions, marriage. "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband" (I Corinthians 7:10). As wise (and even divinely inspired) as his words may have been, he must remind his readers that, after all, this was Christ's command, not his!

The last occurrence is in Paul's great testimony concerning his new and changed life in Christ. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). The transformed, holy, powerful life he was living was not his own accomplishment, but due solely to the indwelling Christ. And surely, if Paul must so remind himself and his listeners, then we should never boast of our own life or works or words. Not I, but Christ--that is to be our testimony!

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Love, Faith, Joy

"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.

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The Opened Prison

"The Spirit of the LORD 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).

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Asking in Jesus' Name

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13).

In the Gospel of John there are at least six promises that, if we pray in Jesus' name, God in Christ will answer our prayer. The first is in our text, which promises that God the Father may be glorified in God the Son. Note also the equivalent promises in John 14:14; 15:16; 16:23,24,26.

Such promises seem almost too comprehensive and unconditional to be understood literally. The key, however, is the significance of the phrase, "in my name." This obviously means more than simply beginning or ending our prayer with this or some similar phrase.

In the first place, we must recognize that it is only through Jesus Christ our mediator that we dare enter the presence of the omnipotent God at all. "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6), He said. That being true, it also implies that our prayer must be in agreement with what Christ Himself would pray. No Christian should ask for something he knows to be against God's will. "If we ask any thing according to His will . . . we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him" (I John 5:14,15).

When we come to the Father in Christ's name, we are in a very real sense representing Him. Therefore, we must come with clean hands and motives worthy of the One in whose name we profess to come. Unconfessed, unrepented sin would surely misrepresent Him, and we could hardly speak in His name in such a case. Finally, acknowledging His power and promise, we must come believing, not doubting His word, if we come in His name.

Then, not only is the Father glorified, as says our text, but we shall rejoice. "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you. . . . ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:23,24).

[Soldier4Christ]

Working Out Our Salvation

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).

We are not told here to work for our salvation, but to work it out--that is, to demonstrate its reality in our daily lives. Our salvation must be received entirely by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8,9), or else it is not true salvation. Works can no more keep our salvation than they can earn it for us in the first place. It is not faith plus works, but grace through faith.

Nevertheless, a Christian believer, if his salvation has been real, can testify that "I will show thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18). Good works--consisting of a righteous and gracious life-style, considerate of others and obedient to Christ's commands--are the visible evidences of salvation. We have been "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

The context of our text, in fact, assures us, on the basis of Christ's sacrificial death, glorious resurrection, and exaltation (Philippians 2:8-11) that "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (v.13). God is thereby enabling us to "work out" our salvation in visible practice, through the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.

Thus, it is beautifully appropriate that the life of a genuinely born-again Christian, possessing true salvation, should be "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, . . . as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life . . ." (vv.15,16). We do need to "examine |ourselves|, whether |we| be in the faith" (II Corinthians 13:5), and we are admonished that "we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments" (I John 2:3).

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True Learning

"And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them" (Deuteronomy 5:1).

In a day when more people are going to school than ever before in history, it is important to learn the best subjects. "Learn not the way of the heathen" is God's command (Jeremiah 10:2).

Most important of all is to learn the word of God, as our text states; and then to obey it, once we have learned it. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4). Obedience to what we learn in Scripture, of course, means learning many other things from the Scriptures.

"Learn to do well" is one example (Isaiah 1:17), and "learn to maintain good works" (Titus 3:14) is another. These do not come naturally, so they must be learned!

Perhaps even more difficult, but still vitally important, is the lesson Paul had to learn. "I have learned," he said, "in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11). Even Christ, the incarnate Creator, had lessons that could only be learned by becoming man. "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:. And we, in turn must learn from Him. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me," He said (that is, "learn from me"), "and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29).

The very first mention of learning in the Bible, however, is vitally important. "I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children" (Deuteronomy 4:10).

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Coming Like The Flood

"So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19).

The great enemy of our souls, "the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:. Yet he can also be "transformed into an angel of light" and so can "his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness" (II Corinthians 11:14,15). He and his ministers are perhaps most dangerous when most deceptive, quoting Scripture and spiritual sentiments in a superficial show of piety, yet distorting the "Scriptures, unto their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16), and we must use the sword of the Spirit against them.

Then there are those times when, angered that their deceptions (sometimes even their own self-deceptions) are not persuading the true people of God to compromise their stand for God's truth and His great salvation, they resort to great pressure and overt opposition--even persecution--seeking to silence their testimony. The enemy comes in like a great flood, and the waves seem about to engulf us, and we cry with the psalmist: "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul" (Psalm 124:2-4).

But God is on our side, as long as we are on His side and hold fast to His clearly revealed word. Before the demonic flood can overwhelm us, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up His standard (or, more literally, "put him to flight"), and God will prevail once again, for "the foundation of God standeth sure" (II Timothy 2:19), and "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4).