A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Our Weapons
 
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh." (2 Corinthians 10:3)
 
This verse introduces a famous apologetic charge to the saints. The key to the whole passage is the qualifier "we do not war after the flesh."
 
We must conduct war with non-flesh weapons, since "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). Fleshly wisdom (2 Corinthians 1:12) often is nothing more than a "snare of the devil" (2 Timothy 2:26) and may well spoil us if we are not very careful (Colossians 2:.
 
The objective, of course, is to bring every intellectual argument captive to the truth of Scripture. This is done by the pulling down of strongholds and "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:5). This warfare, if not done according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 1:17), is "mighty through God" (2 Corinthians 10:4).
 
Nowhere in these verses is there permission or an implied need to learn the thoughts of the enemy before we can bring them into captivity. Biblical data insists that the flesh has "no good thing" (Romans 7:18) and cannot understand the things of God. The weapons we have are not fleshly (i.e., natural thinking, natural emotion, human reasoning, etc.). Our weapons (Ephesians 6) are the "sword of the Spirit" (offensive) and the "shield of faith" (defensive), and we’re protected by the full armor of God—praying always. It is not possible to learn all the subtle arguments of the enemy. What is possible, however, is a knowledge of the truth through our having the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) that will make us sufficient for "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

Fear of the Lord
 
"Then had the churches rest . . . and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied." (Acts 9:31)
 
There is something of a paradox in this requirement to "fear the Lord." On the one hand, we "have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear" but have received "the Spirit of adoption" (Romans 8:15). On the other hand, we are told to "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).
 
Our text insists that we are to be "walking in the fear of the Lord." Obviously, the context illustrates a lifestyle of godly behavior that is produced by our attitude towards God’s sovereign majesty and unique holiness as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. We should "worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth" (Psalm 96:9).
 
It is clear that the "beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7), the "beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10), and the "instruction of wisdom" (Proverbs 15:33) is founded in the fear of the Lord. It is also clear that the fear of the Lord is that which mimics God’s hatred of "evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth" (Proverbs 8:13).
 
But the one who fears the Lord also knows "strong confidence" (Proverbs 14:26) and has an unwavering satisfaction in his or her life (Proverbs 19:23). Indeed, such godly fear promises to prolong our days (Proverbs 10:27) and to be a "fountain of life" that keeps us from the "snares of death" (Proverbs 14:27).
 
Knowledge of God should produce a "godly fear" (Hebrews 12:28) as we serve in the Kingdom--fear of His power and holiness and omniscience--yet also provide a steadfast rest in the knowledge that we are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), gifted not with timidity, but with a spirit of "power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

Guard Your Heart
 
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
 
The Hebrew word nasar, here translated "keep," carries the strong idea of protection or guarding. It is used 10 times in Psalm 119 to stress the necessity of "keeping" (guarding, protecting) the various kinds of instructions in God’s Word: "testimonies, statutes, laws, precepts, and commandments." Everything written down by God is worth guarding.
 
In our text, the importance of guarding our hearts is emphasized since it is the source for the "issues of life." Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh" (Luke 6:45). Our "heart" is indeed the key to much in our life.
 
It is no wonder that the first commandment of all is to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" (Mark 12:30).
 
Here are a few important principles that we must guard if our hearts are to produce the good "issues of life."
 
If we seek God with all our hearts, we will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 29:13).
 
We must believe with our hearts if we are to be saved (Romans 10:9; Hebrews 11:6).
 
If we hold on to iniquity in our hearts, God will not hear our prayers (Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:1-2).
 
If our hearts do not condemn us, then we will have confidence with God (1 John 3:21).
 
"He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart" (Psalm 15:2) will live forever with the Lord of heaven and earth. HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

All the People
 
"And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD commanded to Israel." (Nehemiah 8:1)
 
That was an amazing congregation there in the street of Jerusalem that came together that day just to hear Ezra read the Bible and explain its teachings. Nehemiah's previous chapter had just enumerated over 42,000 people who had returned from Babylon to rebuild the city.
 
Even if "all the people" is not meant to be understood literally, but representatively, this was still a very large assemblage. It even included all but the smallest children (Nehemiah 8:2), and they all stood up (!) throughout the reading and exposition (Nehemiah 8:5-7), from morning to noon (Nehemiah 8:3).
 
Presumably all they had was the Pentateuch (tradition says that Ezra, who was doing the reading, eventually compiled the rest of the books with it into the Old Testament canon), but this was enough, and "all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law" (Nehemiah 8:9). Ezra not only read the actual words, but also "gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading" (Nehemiah 8:. He further explained that, although they had been guilty in breaking God's laws, they had been redeemed and God was fulfilling all His gracious promises in restoring them to their land. Thus they had joy as well as grief over their sins.
 
So should it be today. That is, when God's Word is simply read and explained, that should be enough both to generate sadness and repentance over sin, and also true joy in salvation. Then, as it was to the returning Jewish exiles long ago, "the joy of the Lord" becomes our "strength" for true worship and obedience (Nehemiah 8:10). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Ceremony Becoming the Occasion
 
"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)
 
"Philadelphia, July 5, 1777. My dear Daughter: Yesterday being the anniversary of American Independence, was celebrated here with a festivity and ceremony becoming the occasion . . . The thought of taking any notice of this day was not conceived until the second of this month, and it was not mentioned until the third. It was too late to have a sermon, as every one wished, so this must be deferred another year" (John Adams, from Adams Family Correspondence: June 1776-March 1778, 274).
 
John Adams made two observations that should be remembered today. First, the idea of "taking any notice" of the significance of the day was "not conceived" for some time, and second, "every one wished" to hear a sermon rather than hold a celebration. We have come far!
 
But note the Creator's idea of independence. The text in Isaiah 61 is what the Lord Jesus quoted in the synagogue in Nazareth as He assumed His public ministry. "This day," Jesus declared, "is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:21). God's great liberty is of the spirit and of the mind, not merely of the land and the national population. The independence of Christ will heal the brokenhearted. It grants deliverance to the "captives" and new sight to the blind. The liberty of the King of kings and the Creator of the ends of the earth will set at liberty the bruised.
 
Be grateful and celebrate the wonderful liberty that God has granted the United States. But pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. . . . For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen" (Matthew 6:10-13). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

How to Become Great
 
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Matthew 23:12)
 
The principle expressed here by our Lord Jesus is found frequently in the Scriptures and thus must be of key importance. The greatest example of humility was set by the Lord Himself.
 
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).
 
"He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:8-9).
 
The words of our text verse above were actually spoken both to and about a group of proud scribes and Pharisees, very religious and very proud of it. But as Jesus said to them, "ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matthew 23:28).
 
Yet His closest disciples needed also a similar rebuke when they fell to arguing about which of them was the most important. "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: . . . whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:25-27).
 
Remember that even Paul could testify that he was "serving the LORD with all humility of mind" (Acts 20:19). Finally, Peter's admonition is most fitting: "Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Born Again
 
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
 
The vital doctrine of regeneration has been applicable in all ages, for man by nature is a lost sinner and must be spiritually reborn through faith in God and His promises to be saved. This truth appears in the Old Testament, for example, in David's prayer: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).
 
It is emphasized more clearly and explicitly in the New Testament. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:5-6). "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Peter 1:23).
 
Note that this spiritual birth is produced only through the eternal Word of God. "According to his abundant mercy," the Lord "hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3-4).
 
To be raised from spiritual death in sin to eternal life in Christ is a true miracle, as much so as the physical resurrection of Christ Himself, or even as the very creation of the world. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, 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).
 
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new |creation|: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

We Have the Mind of Christ
 
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
 
Although humanistic intellectuals often scoff at the Christian intellect, the fact is that it is only the born-again Christian who is able really to understand spiritual truth, for "the god of this world hath blinded the minds |or 'thoughts'| of them which believe not" (2 Corinthians 4:4).
 
By the miracle of the new birth, however, received through faith in Christ, the believer is "transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). In fact, "we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).
 
The potential of a renewed, Christ-honoring, scripturally submissive mind is tremendous. In the first place, said the Lord Jesus, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . . with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37). Secondly, one must have implicit faith in the Word of God: "Neither be ye of doubtful mind. . . . O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luke 12:29; 24:25). One should also "put on . . . humbleness of mind" (Colossians 3:12) and seek to discipline
his mind--that is "gird up the loins of your mind, be sober" (1 Peter 1:13). Along with this should be developed mature thinking--"in understanding be men" (1 Corinthians 14:20).
 
That potential is implicit in the great truth that in Christ "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). We therefore should seek to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
 
Certainly we should not allow our minds to dwell on the vain imaginations of those "professing themselves to be wise" (Romans 1:21-22) in the "wisdom of this world" which will soon "come to naught" (1 Corinthians 2:6). It is we, not they, to whom God has given a "sound mind"! HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

No Vision
 
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Proverbs 29:18)
 
The "vision" mentioned in this familiar verse is more than just a noble goal; it means a literal revelation from God to His people. It was first used in the sad testimony of 1 Samuel 3:1: "And the word of the LORD was precious |that is, 'rare and costly'| in those days; there was no open vision." This was just before the capture of the Ark by the Philistines and the death of the inept prophet Eli.
 
The word used for "perish" here means "exposed and helpless," and the glory soon departed from Israel once they had forsaken God's leadership (1 Samuel 4:21). Our own nation was also founded on God's written Word (the modern equivalent of the divine "vision"), but the Word has now been almost forgotten, at least in our schools and other public institutions, as well as in the daily lives of most of our people. Consequently, "the people" are indeed largely exposed and helpless before the attacks of the wicked one. The terrible warning of Psalm 9:17 hangs over our nation: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
 
There is an encouraging exhortation to the believer, however, even if he lives in an apostate nation: "He that keepeth the law, happy is he." To keep the law means not merely to obey God's commands, but more precisely, to guard His Word! Even if all around us are neglecting, or even ridiculing and seeking to destroy the Scriptures, we must defend and obey and proclaim their eternal truth and authority. Even if this should entail opposition and persecution, God assures us that here is the way of blessing and true happiness. "Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book" (Revelation 22:7). The people will perish who lose God's Word, but "happy is that people, whose God is the LORD" (Psalm 144:15). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

My King of Old
 
"The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter." (Psalm 74:16-17)
 
The 74th Psalm is a sad lamentation over the apparent triumph of the enemies of God, but its central verse is a beautiful statement of faith: "For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth" (Psalm 74:12). Then, in support of his faith, the psalmist remembers the mighty creative acts of God in ancient times, giving assurance that He could, indeed, work salvation in these present times.
 
Those who believe that man is the measure of all things, sufficient unto himself, ignore how dependent all people are on God's provisions. The very rotation of the earth, with its cycle of day and night, has set the basic rhythm of biological life, and it was God--not man--who "divided the light from the darkness" (Genesis 1:4).
 
There is even the testimony in Genesis that God "prepared the light" before He prepared the sun (Genesis 1:3, 14), thus rebuking all those who later would worship the sun as the source of the earth and life.
 
God also "set all the borders |or 'boundaries'| of the earth." This refers both to the emergence of the continental land masses after the Flood, and then also to the enforced scattering of the peoples from Babel into all the world, when He "determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." (Acts 17:26).
 
He has even made "summer and winter, and day and night |that| shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22). God did all this--not man! Evolutionary humanism is futile foolishness, and one day soon God will answer the cry of the psalmist: "Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily" (Psalm 74:22). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Delight in the Law
 
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalm 1:2)
 
Most Christians feel that God's law is harsh and burdensome, and they rejoice that God's grace has set them free from the law. The fact is, however, that the law should be a joy and delight to anyone who really loves the Lord. Even Paul, the great apostle of grace, said: "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man" (Romans 7:22). "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12). David testified that "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting |or 'restoring'| the soul" (Psalm 19:7).
 
The majestic 119th Psalm contains no less than 25 specific testimonies to the benefits of the law. For example: "Blessed |i.e., 'happy'| are |those| who walk in the law of the LORD" (v. 1). "Great peace have they which love thy law" (v. 165). "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law" (v. 18). "Thy law is my delight" (v. 77).
 
That God's law was not set aside when Christ came is evident from the first mention of the law in the New Testament: Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law. . . . Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:17-18). That the law was not for Jews only is suggested in its first mention in the Old Testament:
"One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you" (Exodus 12:49).
 
The law cannot save, of course: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). But "Christ . . . redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Galatians 3:13) when He died for our sins. His law (which now includes the entire Bible) is no more a burden but a delight--restoring the soul and bringing true success and great peace to those who love it. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Love of Jonathan and David
 
"Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul." (1 Samuel 18:3)
 
This "love" covenant between David and Jonathan was in no sense a homosexual relationship, as many have claimed in our morally degenerate modern culture, but one of true friendship and deep admiration. Both were men of great strength and courage. Jonathan knew that God had chosen David to be king instead of himself and was gladly submissive to that choice. He himself had a family (1 Samuel 20:15; 2 Samuel 9:3), and David, of course, had many wives and children.
 
In this day and age, promoting the so-called "gay" movement has become politically correct, but it can never be biblically correct, for both Old and New Testaments explicitly rebuke it. Some liberal churches and denominations have approved "same-sex marriages" and even "gay" pastors and priests, but that fact does not change God's Word.
 
David did commit the serious sins of adultery and arranged murder, for which he paid dearly before repenting and confessing them, and then being restored to God's favor. But he never disbelieved or doubted the revealed laws of God, and the same was undoubtedly true of Jonathan. David wrote, in fact, that "the law of the LORD is perfect," and that His judgments "are true and righteous altogther" (Psalm 19:7, 9).
 
He would surely never have questioned or ignored the Mosaic laws against sodomy or other such unnatural sexual behavior (note, e.g., Leviticus 20:13; Deuteronomy 23:17). Christians today have even stronger biblical grounds for repudiating such practices (Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 6:9; etc., as well as all the Old Testament prohibitions). It is still an "abomination" (Leviticus 18:22) to God, and Christians cannot approve it. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Called
 
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
 
This great promise has been an immeasurable source of strength and comfort to Christians through the ages, especially during times of trial. It is specifically directed, however, only to those who are "the called."
 
Recognition of those who are "the called" is best achieved through their synonymous description as "them that love God." There are also numerous other Scriptures that further describe them. There are two Greek words (each occurring 11 times) which specifically refer to those who are members of this select group: One of these words is kletos ("called"); the other is klesis ("calling"). Another very important term is ekklesia, meaning "called out," which occurs 115 times and is almost always translated "church." That is, a true church is composed of people who have been specially called by God out of the world system, then joined together in a local church to fulfill the purposes of their divine calling.
 
"Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called" (1 Corinthians 1:26). No I.Q. test, or physical exam, or social standing is used as a criterion; neither are any human achievements. "|God| hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2 Timothy 1:9).
 
God’s call was strictly by grace, according to His own eternal purpose! The means by which God calls is the gospel: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:14). No wonder then that we can know that all things work together for good on behalf of those whom God has called, and who therefore love God! HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Eyes of the Lord
 
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
 
Since God in His essence is Spirit (note John 4:24) and is omnipresent, one might wonder how He could have physical eyes. The fact is, however, that the Bible frequently refers to His eyes. In fact, this phrase, "the eyes of the LORD" occurs no less than 21 times in the Bible.
 
While this is hard to understand in one way, it is wonderfully clear when we remember that God is omnipotent and omniscient, as well as omnipresent. "He that formed the eye, shall he not see?" (Psalm 94:9). We may not be able to understand the actual seeing mechanism of spiritual eyes; nevertheless, "the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).
 
The prophet Zechariah reminds us not to " the day of small things," for they will be observed by "the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth" (Zechariah 4:10). The phrase is used first of all in connection with those terrible times when "the wickedness of man was great" and "the earth was filled with violence" (Genesis 6:5, 11). Yet God could still see righteous Noah there. "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:, and he and his family were saved through the awful worldwide Flood.
 
The last usage of the phrase is in Peter's epistle, quoting Psalm 34:15: "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (1 Peter 3:12). We do well to remember always that one of the great names of God is "Thou God seest me" (Genesis 16:13), and then conduct ourselves accordingly, aware that our God is indeed watching us with deep love and concern. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Make Your Calling Sure
 
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." (2 Peter 1:10)
 
Although the calling of God is solely by His grace, apart from works (2 Timothy 1:9), and although "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:29), it is quite possible for a person to believe mistakenly that he has been called, and so Peter urges each professing Christian to make sure of his calling.
 
In the first place, one who is truly called will love God (Romans 8:28), and such love should not be superficial, but with the whole heart and soul and mind (Matthew 22:37). One who is called should "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:1-2). If our lives fail such tests, we should at least "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Corinthians 13:5).
 
God's call is not only unto salvation, of course, but to a particular service for His glory. Some like Paul were "called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1). Many in Paul's day were actually called to be slaves: "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayst be made free, use it rather. For he that is called to the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. . . . Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God" (1 Corinthians 7:20-22, 24).
 
Even the apostle Paul, however, could still say (and so should we), "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). We need, first of all, to make our "calling and election sure." HMM