A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Specific Creation
 
"All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds." (1 Corinthians 15:39)
 
The doctrine of special creation means that creation took place by supernatural processes, and that each created entity was specifically planned and formed by God. This doctrine is clearly taught in the Genesis record, where the phrase "after his kind" is used no less than ten times in the very first chapter.
 
One such remarkable reference is found here in 1 Corinthians 15:37-44. The distinctiveness of several major realms of creation is set forth as follows:
 
Botanical: "God giveth . . . to every seed his own body" (v. 38).
 
Zoological: "All flesh is not the same flesh" (our text).
 
Physical: "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another" (v. 40). Thus, although all celestial bodies may be made of the same basic chemical elements, planet earth is unique in its complexity and purpose.
 
Astral: "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory" (v. 41). Even among the celestial bodies, each star is unique.
 
Spiritual: "There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body" (v. 44). The Scriptures indicate that although they are genuinely physical bodies, they will one day be supernatural bodies, not controlled by the present force systems of nature.
 
God has a noble purpose for each created system, and He has specially designed each for that purpose. Although He has made ample provision for "horizontal" changes within the system, never can one evolve "vertically" into a more complex system.

[Soldier4Christ]

When He Shall Appear
 
"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." (1 John 2:28)
 
There are many glorious promises associated with the great promise that Christ Himself shall once again appear in person here on planet earth. For example, Paul says: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4).
 
Similarly, the apostle Peter promises: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4). The writer of Hebrews first reminds us of His former appearance on earth: "But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:26). Then the promise is: "Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (v. 28).
 
Perhaps the most wonderful promise associated with His second appearing is given through the apostle John: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:2-3).
 
Therefore, when He shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory; we shall receive an unfading crown of glory; we shall be like Him, and without sin unto salvation. These promises even now constitute an incentive for each believer to purify himself even as He is pure.
 
But there is also the sobering warning in our text associated with the soon-coming time when He shall appear. We should abide in Him (that is, continue in Him, hour after hour), careful that whatever we do, wherever we go, we are in no danger of being ashamed before Him when He shall appear!

[Soldier4Christ]

Resolutions
 
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:
 
The tradition of making resolutions for a new year dates back to ancient Babylon. It was connected then with the New Moon, which signaled the end of the winter season. Roman emperors managed to manipulate the calendar enough to get the event out of sync with the moon, finally declaring in 153 B.C. January 1 as the New Year. And the early Greeks used a baby to symbolize the rebirth of their wine-god Dionysus as far back as 600 B.C.
 
These celebrations were the pagan ceremonies of pantheistic or polytheistic systems of worship, and the early Church fiercely fought these sensual revelries. However, by the Middle Ages, many of the pagan festivals and gods had been "Christianized" by various missionary efforts. Thus, by the twelfth century, most of Europe had integrated many of the pagan celebrations into Christian "holy days." That battle between the "traditions" and the effort of Christians to focus their families and churches on worship of our Lord continues today. Commercial entities praise "Santa Claus" over the birth of Jesus Christ. And the "Easter Bunny" vies for attention over the Lord’s resurrection.
 
Today, as we face the tradition of "resolutions," we must remember three important restrictions from Scripture. First, whatever we promise must be genuine, truthful, and from our hearts (James 5:12). Second, God takes these "vows" seriously (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). And finally, God’s requirements for our lives are both simple and profound: Do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God (our text). Maybe the best resolution we could make is one like King David’s plea: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).

[Soldier4Christ]

The Heavens Are the Lord's
 
"Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 31:37)
 
There are some things God has reserved for Himself, at least in this present age. One of these is the domain of the stars. Cosmogonic speculations and wistful searches for extraterrestrial life are basically nothing but expressions of man’s rebellion against his Creator, seeking to explain the origin and meaning of the universe without God.
 
God placed man in dominion over this earth (Genesis 1:26-29), telling him to "subdue it," so science and technology are well within the divine mandate when applied to systems on the earth, or related to it, including even the use of stars for chronology and navigation (Genesis 1:14-19). But we have no jurisdiction over the heavens. "The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men" (Psalm 115:16). "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:3-4). "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, . . . hath made of one blood all the nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" (Acts 17:24-26).
 
The study of astronomy is appropriate, of course, if dedicated to revealing the majesty of God’s creative handiwork, for: "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). But any hope of travel to distant stars, or of finding extraterrestrial life, or of devising a naturalistic evolutionary cosmogony, is blasphemously arrogant, as well as utterly foolish.

[Soldier4Christ]

Redeeming the Time
 
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16)
 
This incisive expression--"redeeming the time"--occurs also in Colossians 4:5: "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." The Greek word for "redeem" means to "buy back," to "ransom," or even to "rescue." That is, time is a very valuable asset, in danger of being lost forever unless it is rescued, or redeemed.
 
As a matter of fact, time is just about the most valuable asset we have. If we squander our money or lose our health, there is always the possibility of earning more money or being restored to health, but wasted time is gone forever. In our text, those who are wise redeem the time, whereas those who are fools waste or misuse it. The word in the original for "circumspectly" is translated "diligently" in Matthew 2:7. The text thus indicates that those who redeem the time are walking diligently; the parallel passage in Colossians 4:5 says they are walking in wisdom. The time God gives us, therefore, should be used both carefully and diligently.
 
The marvelous passage in the 139th Psalm which describes the growth of the human embryo concludes with a remarkable declaration: "In thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:16). The words "my members" are not in the original, and "in continuance" is actually the Hebrew word for "days." Thus, the verse is really telling us that all of our days were written in God’s book even before we were conceived. Each day of our lives is vitally important in the plan of God.
 
"So," as Moses prayed to the Lord, "teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).

[Soldier4Christ]

Waxing Old
 
"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." (Isaiah 51:6)
 
This verse is typical of many Scriptures which contrast this present decaying, dying order of things (characterizing a world under God's curse) with the things which are not dying and which will survive into the new order when the curse is removed (Revelation 22:3). Even the present "heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away," Jesus said (Matthew 24:35). God, the Creator, who imposed the curse because of man's sin, is not Himself subject to it. "They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: . . . 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 102:26-27).
 
As the text for the day assures us, God's salvation and righteousness shall never be changed, even when earth and heaven flee away. The same contrasts exist in the biological realm. "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever" (Isaiah 40:.
 
Human nature exhibits a similar phenomenon. "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; . . . they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:30-31).
 
This principle, in fact, applies to the entire creation. "Because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption |literally 'decay'| into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Romans 8:21).

[Soldier4Christ]

Confession and Forgiveness
 
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)
 
Every person, even the most godly Christian believer, at least occasionally commits acts of sin--sins of omission, if not sins of commission. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:.
 
When a Christian does sin, the remedy is available. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). This forgiveness is based on the fact that "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
 
The problem is that the very compulsion that caused the believer to commit the sin in the first place will often lead him to try to justify the sin. If that is not possible, he will try to hide it, or even to deny it.
 
The antidote for this situation, of course, is to confess and forsake his sin(s). This confession, however, cannot be simply a generalized confession ("please forgive all my sins"), but a specific "naming" of the particular sins, acknowledging that it was, indeed, a sin in the sight of God, deserving of divine punishment and repudiation by a Holy God. Similarly, the term "forsaketh" does not mean simply to quit engaging in the particular sin, but to quit even thinking about it--no longer either desiring the sin or being depressed under the guilt of it. If possible and applicable, this would also entail making restitution to anyone who had been injured by that sin; otherwise, the confession need be made only to God.
 
And God will forgive and cleanse. Then, "forgetting those things which are behind," we can "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven" (Psalm 32:1).

[Soldier4Christ]

Judging Others
 
"Judge not, that ye be not judged." (Matthew 7:1)
 
This is a very familiar maxim, often cited by unbelievers and carnal Christians as a rebuke to Christians whom they regard as intolerant. These words of the Lord Jesus Christ do, indeed, warn us against a self-righteous attitude, condemning others who disagree with us on the basis of superficial criteria.
 
On the other hand, this caution by no means relieves us of the responsibility of evaluating the beliefs and practices of others in the light of Scripture. In the very same sermon, in fact, Jesus said just a few moments later: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine"; and, "beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing" (Matthew 7:6-15). Obedience to such commandments obviously requires one to make a judgment as to whether certain unbelievers should be regarded as "dogs" or "swine," to whom it would be counterproductive to try to speak of spiritual matters; or whether certain professing Christian leaders are actually false prophets who should be repudiated. Jesus also said: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).
 
Since the Scriptures themselves are to be used in the final judgment (John 12:48; Revelation 20:12; etc.), it is obvious that we should use them right now to discern truth and error, right and wrong. "For the word of God . . . is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
 
There is another basis of judgment that the Lord Jesus has authorized us to use. "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. . . . Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:18-20). Thus, the test of Scripture plus fruit produced, can serve as the basis of a valid judgment. Until adequate data for making such a test are available, judge not!

[Soldier4Christ]

Christ Will Come Again
 
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2-3)
 
The world has not seen the last of Jesus Christ! He was in the world once, but the world would not have Him, even though He had created it (John 1:10). While He was on earth, He made it clear that He would be returning some day to judge the world.
 
But here in the upper room, just before His arrest and crucifixion, He told His disciples, for the very first time, that He would be coming for them personally, not to judge them with the world, but to "receive you unto myself." In the first epistle written by the apostle Paul, this wonderful promise was repeated and amplified: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven. . . . and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
 
When He comes again, we shall be where He is, forever! In the meantime, the "dead in Christ" are already with Him. At that time, "we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. . . . For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
 
During this present time, He is preparing a place for us in the New Jerusalem which, like Christ Himself, will be "coming down from God out of heaven" (Revelation 21:2). All of this is exactly what we might expect from such a gracious and loving Savior, and He assures us that "if it were not so, I would have told you."

[Soldier4Christ]

The Everlasting Mercy of God
 
"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalm 136:1)
 
God’s mercy is a monumental theme in Scripture. The English word appears some 341 times in the Bible. The four Hebrew and three Greek words appear a total of 454 times and are also translated by "kindness," "lovingkindness," "goodness," "favor," "compassion," and "pity." Of the 66 books of the Bible, only 16 do not use one of the words for mercy. Even though "mercy" is an important concept, it is somewhat difficult to prescribe a definition for it, especially since "grace" is occasionally coupled with it.
 
In the first reference where "mercy" is used, Lot has just been expelled from Sodom by the angels of judgment. In spite of the command by the angels that Lot and his daughters "escape to the mountain," Lot begs; "Oh, not so, my LORD: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life, . . . this city is near . . . Oh, let me escape thither" (Genesis 19:17-20). And later, the New Testament saints are told to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). In these and other such passages, the two terms appear to address similar subjects.
 
However similar they may appear to be, these words are not synonyms. "Grace" is most often associated with the sovereign dispensation of totally undeserved favor, and it is specifically connected to salvation. "Mercy" is more often connected to the withholding of judgment: "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment" (James 2:13).
 
Set aside some time today to read and meditate on this Psalm. You will find the day less wearisome if you do.

[Soldier4Christ]

Sitting at the Right Hand of God
 
"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110:1)
 
The 110th Psalm is one of the most significant of the so-called Messianic Psalms, prophesying of Christ a thousand years before He came. Its very first verse should completely settle the question as to whether or not the Old Testament teaches that there is only one person in the Godhead, since it recounts an actual conversation between at least two Persons of the Godhead. This first verse is quoted, in whole or in part, at least five times in the New Testament and was even used by Christ Himself (Matthew 22:41-46) to prove His own deity.
 
Two of the Hebrew names for God are used in this verse: "Jehovah said unto Adonai. . . ." The name Jehovah is used again in Psalm 110:2-4, and Adonai in verse 5. God, in the person of Adonai, has gone to earth on a divine mission to save His people, but has been repudiated by His enemies on earth. Accordingly, God, in the person of Jehovah, invites Him back to heaven for a time, where He will be at His right hand until it is time for Him to return to earth to rule, striking through all opposing "kings in the day of his wrath" (v. 5).
 
In this coming "day of thy power" (v. 3), "thy people shall be willing." The word here is actually the word for "free will offerings." They will be as priests offering their own lives to Him as freewill offerings when they finally recognize Him as their Messiah/King and eternal High Priest (v. 4).
 
Now, although this prophecy applies specifically to the Second Coming and the future conversion of Israel, there is a beautiful secondary application used in Scripture for His people right now. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). "Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1).

[Soldier4Christ]

Two Imperatives
 
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:7)
 
The term "born again" has come into such common use in recent years, even in political campaigns, that its tremendous meaning has been all but lost. But Jesus--who ought to know, being none other than God incarnate--said "Ye must be born again!" Furthermore, He said it to Nicodemus, one of the most religiously knowledgeable people of that day.
 
He did not say to Nicodemus that "they must be born again," meaning the unbelieving multitudes who were not as instructed in the things of God as they should be. Nor did he say that "we must be born again," meaning all of us mortals including Himself. Rather, Jesus said, "Ye must be born again!"
 
Even a man like Nicodemus must be born spiritually--born again (literally, "born from above")--if he were ever to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). In answer to his question as to how this could be, Jesus said he must be born of the Spirit, supernaturally. But Nicodemus--as well as each of us--was born a sinner and was still a sinner, even failing to recognize Christ as Son of man and Son of God. How could he be born again? The answer is in a second imperative: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). If "ye must be born again," then "even so must the Son of man be lifted up." Christ must die for our sins before it can ever be possible that a lost sinner can be born again. Since Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross to die for us, our burden of sin has also been lifted up and placed on Him. If we would enter God's kingdom, we must be born again through faith in Him! There is no other way!

[Soldier4Christ]

The Glory of the Lord
 
"So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." (2 Chronicles 5:14)
 
With the coming of the Shekinah glory cloud into the great house, God showed His acceptance of Solomon's beautiful temple as His symbolic earthly dwelling place. This had happened once before in the wilderness. "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34).
 
But as the glory once departed when the Ark of the Covenant was taken from the tabernacle by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:22), so it later also departed when Solomon's temple was plundered by the Babylonians and the people carried into exile (2 Chronicles 36:17-20; Ezekiel 10:18, 11:23).
 
It returned for a time, however, when "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt |literally, 'tabernacled'| among us, (and we beheld his glory . . .)" at least in a spiritual sense (John 1:14). On one occasion Christ's glory shone through even in a physical sense: "And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and . . . they saw his glory" (Luke 9:29-32) there on the Mount of the Transfiguration.
 
There is also a great day coming when the ascended Lord will return with His heavenly temple, "coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30), even as "the glory of the Lord shone round about them" (Luke 2:9) at His first coming. His glory will be present forever when the heavenly tabernacle, the New Jerusalem, comes to earth (Revelation 21:3-10), "having the glory of God" (v. 11).
 
In this present age, the body of each believer "is the temple of the Holy Ghost," and he must "therefore glorify God in |his| body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). "For God . . . hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

[Soldier4Christ]

How to Take a Stand for God
 
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." (Daniel 1:
 
There inevitably come those times in the life of a Christian when he, for conscience sake in the light of the Word of God, must take a stand against some worldly practice. Daniel has given us a striking example of how to do this, not only courageously, but graciously, and effectively.
 
As one of "the princes" of Israel, "of the king's seed" (Daniel 1:3), he realized that he had the responsibility of maintaining a godly standard as a testimony for the true God, when he was asked "to stand in the king's palace" (Daniel 1:4) after he and his friends had been carried into captivity. Daniel knew that the king's wine would surely be harmful, were he to partake of it. Also, the king's meat would certainly include pork and would be cooked with blood, which would be unlawful for him, as a good Jew, to eat (Leviticus 11:7-8, 17:10-14). He determined in his heart to take a stand against it.
 
Note, however, his stand was not belligerent or self-righteous, but courteous and reasonable. "He requested. . . . Prove thy servants, I beseech thee" (Daniel 1:8-12). The Babylonians thought they were doing him and his friends a great favor, and Daniel appreciated this. He suggested a scientific test: Let them try a vegetarian diet and water for just ten days to see if this wouldn't produce better results than the gourmet fare of the palace.
 
God honored Daniel's graciousness, as well as his courageous faithfulness, and so will He do for us as well. Both are essential ingredients of a fruitful Christian testimony in a non-Christian world. We must "be ready always to give an answer," but this should be done, not in arrogance, but "with meekness" (1 Peter 3:15).

[Soldier4Christ]

The Good Pleasure of God
 
"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power." (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
 
God's good pleasure withholds judgment! "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works" (Psalm 145:8-9).
 
God's good pleasure is to do good to His people! "The LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:3-4).
 
God's good pleasure forgives us! "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:18-19).
 
God's good pleasure is to bring about His will! "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. . . . So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:9-11). "The Lord . . . is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). When we live in God's good pleasure, we are able to "delight" in Him.