A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

The Believer's Judgment
 
"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17)
 
There is a terrible day of judgment coming for those who reject Christ, but for those who do believe the gospel and trust the Lord Jesus for salvation, "there is therefore now no condemnation |i.e., judgment|" (Romans 8:1). Yet our text tells us that judgment actually begins with those who obey the gospel! This apparent contradiction vanishes when one realizes that it is merely for the purpose of preparing those who are already saved to serve Him in eternity.
 
When a believer sins, he should judge and confess that sin. "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1 Corinthians 11:31), and God will forgive (1 John 1:9). If he does not, however, the next phase of judgment is the chastening of God. "But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:32). The classic passage on the believer’s chastening (Hebrews 12:5-11) concludes with the assurance that its purpose is to yield "the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11).
 
But when such chastening fails to work, the next judgment may even be physical death. "There is sin unto death" (1 John 5:16). "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Corinthians 5:5).
 
Finally, all Christians must "appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10), where "every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). There, some "shall suffer loss." Nevertheless, each person at this judgment "shall be saved" (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). But, as our text continues, "if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:18). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Miracles of Life
 
"And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." (1 Kings 17:22)
 
This is the first of eight specific instances recorded in the Bible when a dead person was miraculously restored to life, and the departed soul (presumably detained for a while in Sheol or in Paradise, depending on whether the event took place before or after the resurrection of Christ) returned to its body. One was later accomplished through Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-36); and one at Elisha’s tomb (2 Kings 13:21); one each through Peter and Paul (Acts 9:40; 20:9-12); and three through Christ (Matthew 9:18-25; Luke 7:12-15; John 11:43-44).
 
These were all "resuscitations," of course, rather than true resurrections, and each of these people eventually died again. One other person who may have died was the prophet Jonah who, while his body was entombed in the belly of the great fish, testified later that he had actually been in Sheol (translated "hell") after his "soul" had "fainted within me." There he prayed, and God "brought up my life from corruption"(Jonah 2:2, 6-7).
 
Jonah’s experience was, of course, a type of the future death and resurrection of Christ (Matthew 12:40). But His miraculous return to life was not, like the others, a temporary matter, but was the first true resurrection. "Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20). He could assert "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore" (Revelation 1:18).
 
He was the first, but not the last! "Because I live," He said, "ye shall live also" (John 14:19). "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again . . ." (1 Thessalonians 4:14), ". . . when he shall appear, we shall be like him" (1 John 3:2). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Conformed to His Image
 
"And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:49)
 
One of the most amazing promises of the Word of God is that those who "love God" and are "the called according to his purpose" are those whom "he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:28-29).
 
Adam and Eve were created in His image physically in the beginning. "So God created man in his own image . . . male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:27). Presumably this means they were created in the physical form that God knew He would assume when, in the fullness of time, He would become man Himself, in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.
 
That image was marred when Adam (and, in Adam, all men) sinned. Nevertheless, it can be restored spiritually when we receive Christ and "have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:10).
 
But this is not all. As our text reveals, we who have been made in God's earthly image (both physically and spiritually) will also, in due time, receive His heavenly image. This will take place when Christ returns. At that time, "we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye . . . and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
 
In what way shall we be changed? The Lord Jesus Himself "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Philippians 3:21). His body, after His resurrection, was still His physical body, but it was no longer subject to pain or death and was able to pass through walls and to speed rapidly from earth to Heaven. That is "the image of the heavenly" to which we shall be conformed some day soon! For "we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Love Not the World
 
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15)
 
This is a vitally important New Testament commandment. John does not say: "Don't love the world too much," he says: "Don't love the world at all!"
 
The word for "world" here is cosmos, referring to the world as an organized system. Paul also has warned against walking "according to the course of this world" (Ephesians 2:2). Satan himself is the one who has set its course, for "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (or "the wicked one"--1 John 5:18).
 
The world, of course, does not love us! "I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19). "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). And why does the world hate Christ? "Because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil" (John 7:7). Paul's friend, Demas, was such a casualty: "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica" (2 Timothy 4:10).
 
Yet how diligently we work to acquire possessions in the world, learn to enjoy the pleasures of the world, and strive to attain high positions in the world system. "The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:16). Instead, we should "overcome the world" (5:4).
 
There is one important sense in which we should love the world: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16). When Christ prayed for us in the upper room, He said: "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world" (17:18). Christ loved the world--not its possessions or its pleasures or its positions, but its people! We too must love them and seek to bring them back to their Creator/Savior, as Jesus did. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Grow in Grace
 
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)
 
These last words of the apostle Peter urge us to grow in each of two important phases of the Christian life--grace and knowledge. Such growth up into Him in all things (Ephesians 4:15) will indeed give glory to Him, now and forever.
 
When we first become Christians, we are newborn babes (Greek brephos, 1 Peter 2:2). Our spiritual birth has been by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23) on the basis of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).
 
As the Christian life began with the Word, it can only grow on the Word. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). Here, "of the word" is the Greek logikos, elsewhere used only in Romans 12:1, where it is translated "reasonable." It is the source of our English word "logical." New Christians must feed on unadulterated, logical truth if they are to grow, and this can be found only in the Holy Scriptures.
 
There is another word used for babes: Greek nepios, "without speech." This word is used for toddlers, old enough to walk, but not yet able to speak plainly or to act unselfishly. It is used for "carnal" Christians. "I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat" (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).
 
Carnality in Christians is arrested growth at the "babes-in-Christ" stage, and is clearly abnormal. Such stumbling, quarrelsome babes need to be fed with meat, as well as milk, if they are to grow: "For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe" (Hebrews 5:13). May the Lord enable us to grow in His grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Speaking Evil of Dignities
 
"But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities." (2 Peter 2:10)
 
In context here, Peter is speaking of the false teachers who would later come into the Christian community, leading many to "follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of" (2 Peter 2:2). Among other characteristics, these teachers would "despise government" and "speak evil of dignities."
 
Again in context, it seems clear that the "government" Peter has in mind primarily is the divine government that had been established by God for the universe (the "principalities and powers in heavenly places"--Ephesians 3:10) and the "dignities" refer to the angels--even those that have rebelled and now follow Satan. Jude notes in a similar passage that even the archangel Michael spoke respectfully to Satan, the premier fallen angel (Jude 8-9).
 
Therefore it is carnally arrogant and dangerous for men to insult or to ridicule such powerful beings. They are for God to judge and deal with, in His own time and way.
 
And the same must be true of human "dignities" and "government." We must remember that "the powers that be are ordained of God" (Romans 13:1) and that "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will," and sometimes, He even "setteth up over it the basest of men" (Daniel 4:17).
 
Even if we live in a republic, therefore, and can participate in the selection of our leaders, our main responsibility is to "be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men" (Titus 3:1-2). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Completing a Good Work
 
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)
 
In his introductory comments to the Philippian church, Paul reminds them of his thankfulness for them (v. 3), his prayer for them (v. 4), and as we see in our text, his confidence in God's continuing work in their lives.
 
This "good work" is not the sort of work which men and women are able to accomplish. Paul identifies this as God's work, as yet not completed—that is, the transforming work of grace. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (2:13).
 
The work of grace takes several forms: It includes the redemption of our lost souls, having been fully accomplished by Christ on Calvary. It also includes our ultimate sanctification, transforming our character from that of a redeemed sinner to one of Christ-likeness. He is working toward this goal on a daily basis and will finish the task in His presence. But the work of grace also includes our service for Him--not our work, but His, which He does through us. He grants us, through His grace, the distinct privilege of participating in His work here on earth.
 
Paul writes that the ultimate completion of this "good work" of grace awaits "the day of Jesus Christ." In a similar prayer for the Corinthian believers, he writes of their "waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:7-8).
 
Meanwhile, we can rest in His faithfulness, fully convinced of His intention and ability to complete His work. "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands" (Psalm 138:. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Crown of Glory
 
"She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee." (Proverbs 4:9)
 
There are five specific "crowns" mentioned in the New Testament as rewards for faithful service, presumably to be rewarded by Christ at His judgment seat (1 Corinthians 3:14). These are the "incorruptible" crown (1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Corinthians 5:10); the "crown of righteousness" (2 Timothy 4:; the "crown of rejoicing" (1 Thessalonians 2:19); "the crown of life" (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10); and lastly the "crown of glory" (1 Peter 5:4).
 
Although the crown of glory is mentioned only once in the New Testament, the phrase occurs four times in the Old Testament, each providing special insight into its character and scope. The first is Proverbs 4:9: "|Wisdom| shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee."
 
The other three are, in order, as follows:
 
"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness" (Proverbs 16:31).
 
"In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people" (Isaiah 28:5).
 
"Thou |probably a reference to the new Jerusalem| shalt also be a crown of glory in the land of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God" (Isaiah 62:3).
 
The one New Testament reference, in 1 Peter 5:4, is a wonderful promise to the faithful shepherds of each "little flock" (Luke 12:32) of believers: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
 
We do not know exactly what these crowns will be composed of, but when we see the Lord, we shall lay each of them before His throne (Revelation 4:10). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Joy in Believing
 
"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." (1 Peter 1:
 
After His resurrection, the Lord acknowledged the legitimate need for evidence of such a mighty miracle, honoring the request of Thomas to see for himself that He had, indeed, returned from the grave. Nevertheless, Thomas could and should have believed the evidence from the other disciples, when they testified of the empty tomb and the previous appearances of Christ. Consequently, the Lord Jesus gave a mild but loving rebuke to His doubting disciple. "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29).
 
It is not that the Lord wants us to be credulous, believing something with no basis except blind faith. Today we have an abundance of solid evidence, more even than the disciples themselves had, and there is no excuse not to believe. Nevertheless, we must believe; "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (Romans 8:24-25).
 
We cannot yet see Him with our eyes, as Thomas did, but we see Him with our hearts, and that is enough. As we read of Him in the Word, we see Him on the cross, taking "our sins in his own body" (1 Peter 2:24) and it breaks our hearts. Then we read of the empty tomb and the linen clothes, and are like John, who "saw, and believed" (John 20:. Then we "rejoice with joy" (literally, "exult with exceeding gladness"), which cannot be told vocally any more than He can be seen visually. One day soon we shall really see Him in His glory, and "when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Christ: Our Example
 
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." (1 Peter 2:21)
 
Some have tried to pattern their lives after that of Jesus, simply by asking in every situation, "What would Jesus do?" But in the context of our text, the primary "example" which He left us was nothing less than His own sacrificial death!
 
Note the context: "For this is thankworthy |same word as 'grace'|, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully . . . if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, yet take it patiently, this is acceptable |also the same word as 'grace'| with God" (1 Peter 2:19-20).
 
To follow Christ's example, therefore, is to be willing to endure unjustified suffering--even defamation and persecution--with grace and patience.
 
But that is not all; we must also do it in silence! "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not" (1 Peter 2:23). "As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7).
 
It is a natural reaction to want to strike back at one who has slandered or injured us, especially if such an act was an insulting response to kindness. But such a "natural" reaction was not Christ's reaction. He could have called "twelve legions of angels" (Matthew 26:53) to His defense, but He chose to suffer in silence.
 
And why would He do such a thing? First, if He had not done so, we would have been lost in our sins forever. He "bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24).
 
Second, He left us an example, that we "should follow his steps." He was not just silent in His sufferings; "He suffered for us!" If we would really be like Him, we must be willing to suffer quietly on behalf of others, even when they are the ones who deserve it. This is acceptable with God! HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

God's Mother Heart
 
"How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings." (Matthew 23:37)
 
The dominant gender used in the Scriptures to describe God is male. That certainly should not come as a surprise to anyone with a passing knowledge of God's Word. However, there are a few references (such as our text above) that imply His "mother heart" as well.
 
Even that should not be too much of a surprise. The Creator of male and female (Genesis 1:27) caused both to bear His image, and both share the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) after they have been born again. Obviously, the "Cause" of the female being--especially one specifically designed to "mother" humanity--would possess a mother's heart.
 
It is interesting to note that Wisdom is personified as female in the first four chapters of Proverbs. Wisdom has its source in the Creator, and the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are specifically said to be hidden in Christ Jesus (Colossians 2:3). These indirect hints would easily tie into Christ's statement that He yearned for Jerusalem like a hen for her chickens.
 
Then, there is the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. Some have suggested that this ideal person is none other than the representative of what Christ would be like if He were to take human form as a woman. That may or may not be, but the "virtue" of this lady is surely not normal! If nothing else, we can acknowledge that this beautiful woman "excellest them all" (Proverbs 31:29) and is a magnificent reflection of the mother and wife whose "price is far above rubies."
 
As we honor our earthly mothers this special day, may we also give thanks to the Creator who made the unique female nature that reflects the complete and pure love of God for His children (1 John 4:19). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

Great Is the Lord
 
"For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens." (1 Chronicles 16:25-26)
 
This testimony is in the heart of a great hymn of thanksgiving (1 Chronicles 16:7-36) composed by David when the Ark of the Lord was brought back to Jerusalem. It is a testimony of the unique greatness of the God of Israel, with recurring expressions of gratitude for His deliverances and blessings.
 
This God of Israel was no mere tribal-god or nature-god, such as Dagon, the fish-god of the Philistines from whose hands the Ark had been delivered. All such "gods" of the peoples of the earth--whether wooden images in a shrine, astrological emblems in the heavens, or mental constructs of evolutionary humanistic philosophers--are nothing but idols (that is, literally, "good for nothing," "vanities").
 
It is Jehovah God who is not only in the heavens, but who made the heavens! It is their Creator who one day will "let the sea roar" and "the fields rejoice," when "the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth" (vv. 32-33).
 
As Creator and Savior, all His people are exhorted also to "shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations" (vv. 23-24). Because of His power, the world itself "shall be stable |that is, 'permanently established'|, that it be not moved" (v. 30). This "God of our salvation" (v. 35), and the wonderful heavens and earth He created, will be forever. The psalm ends with the exhortation: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. . . . Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever" (vv. 34-36).
 
Now, if Israel needed such an exhortation, our modern science-worshiping world needs it still more urgently. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Wait on the Lord
 
"Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it." (Psalm 37:34)
 
In spite of the occasional successes of the wicked, we are to "wait on the LORD." The Hebrew word used in this passage for "wait" is unusual. The term quvah describes the "binding together" of strings to make a cord. The same word was used to "collect" the water and dry land into separate areas on the third day of creation.
 
It carries the idea of anticipation toward useful results and does not mean to "hang around and wait." It does not imply useless boredom, waiting for something to happen. The essence of the term is to be alert, watching the events and activities of the Lord and reacting to His timing and direction. Indeed, the word is translated "look" as often as any other term.
 
The great promise of "eagle’s wings" recorded by Isaiah tells us that the source of our victory comes from the Lord alone: "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
 
That great promise, which is a comfort to so many, is based on the fact that the "Creator of the ends of the earth" is the One making the promise (Isaiah 40:28).
 
As Psalm 37 comes to a close, the summary contains both instructions and blessings: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But . . . the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD; he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him" (Psalm 37:37-40). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

The Point of No Return
 
"Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone." (Hosea 4:17)
 
Our God is long-suffering and full of mercy, but there is a line which must not be crossed. It is dangerous to presume that God will always continue to forgive; He can become a "consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29).
 
The leaders of Ephraim (a collective term for the ten northern tribes of Israel) had passed this point of no return. They had become completely infatuated with the pantheistic polytheism of the nations, being "joined" to their symbolic models of natural forces and all the immoral practices which accompanied such nature worship. The word for "joined" means "fascinated by." They had been brought so deeply under the occult powers behind these nature-god idols as to be irrevocably committed to them, so that it would be a waste of time and tears to try to reclaim them now.
 
The Scriptures contain many similar warnings. "My spirit shall not always strive with man" (Genesis 6:3). "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind" (Matthew 15:14). "There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it" (1 John 5:16). "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine" (Matthew 7:6). Pharaoh repeatedly "hardened his heart" against God, and finally God Himself hardened Pharaoh's heart (e.g., Exodus 8:15; 10:27). "God gave them up" (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).
 
These should be sobering words to anyone who is becoming enchanted with evolutionism, or occultism, or any form of pantheistic humanism. As long as such a person has any qualm of conscience, or even any doubts about the pseudo-scientific philosophy to which he is becoming addicted, there is hope that he might yet turn to the true God of creation. To continue in his present course, however, is presumptuous and deadly. The time will come, perhaps sooner than he thinks, when God will say: "Let him alone." HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Sun
 
"Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." (Psalm 19:5-6)
 
This well-loved psalm provides us a glimpse of God’s creative majesty: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge" (vv. 1-2).
 
Modern science has shown that the universe in which we live is really a tri-universe--a continuum of space/time/energy (or information). Thus the first two verses of this psalm, by focusing our attention on "the heavens . . . the firmament" (space), "day . . . night" (time), and "speech . . . knowledge" (information/energy), reveal a scientific truth long before its "scientific" discovery.
 
There is, of course, one created source of energy which typifies this energy. Speaking of space and time, the psalmist claims, "In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun" (v. 4), which is further described in our text verses. The sun is like a bridegroom, fully dressed in wedding garb, radiating joy as he comes forth. It is also like a champion runner, fully able to run the race and gain the victory.
 
The sun’s energy, radiating out in all directions, not only energizes the earth, but the entire solar system as well. Furthermore, it is now known that the sun traverses the galaxy in a gigantic orbit with its energy bathing each part. Truly, "there is nothing hid from the heat thereof" (text verse).
 
Only the Creator of space, time, and energy--the Creator of the sun, the solar system, the Milky Way Galaxy, and the universe--could have known these things. That Creator, through the empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit, is the author of this psalm. JDM