A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Why?
 
"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" (Romans 9:20)
 
In this scientific age, it is essential for us to remember that "science" can never answer any question beginning with "why." Scientific research seeks to answer questions of "what" and "how," and sometimes "where" and "when," but it can never deal with "why" questions. Such questions require a moral or theological answer.
 
Probably the most vexing of all such questions is: "Why do the righteous suffer?" Or, put another way: "Why is there evil in a world created by a God who is good?" The question becomes especially poignant when personal calamity comes and we ask, "Why did this happen to me?"
 
Many think the Book of Job was written to answer such questions, for Job was one of the most godly men who ever lived, yet he suffered more than anyone. But God answered Job's searching questions only by pointing to the wonders of His creation. God has made us for Himself, and He is "forming" us for His own holy purpose; that is all we need to know right now. "What I do thou knowest not now," said Jesus, "but thou shalt know hereafter" (John 13:7).
 
Yet even Jesus in His human suffering cried out on the cross: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). We do know, at least in part, the answer to this question. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
 
For answers to the other "why" questions, we may well have to await God's own time. Until then, "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28), and we can say with Job: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" (Job 13:15). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Prepared for You
 
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)
 
In context, this wonderful promise may apply specifically to those living believers recognized as "sheep" by Christ when He returns to judge the nations (or "Gentiles") at the end of the age. For them He has prepared a wonderful kingdom in which they can fully serve their great King here on earth. The "goats," on the other hand, will be sent away into "everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).
 
But we remember also that the Lord Jesus Christ has also prepared a mansion in heaven for His faithful disciples. "In my Father's house are many mansions . . . I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).
 
He is, even now, preparing for us that glorious place. One day, it will be fully prepared, and we shall see it when He brings it down from heaven, as John did in his great vision. "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2).
 
It will, indeed, be a wonderful place of "many mansions," and John describes some of its beauties in the Bible's last two chapters. But that is not all. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). Therefore, we can say with Paul: "For I 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). He has indeed prepared a great eternal future for His redeemed children. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Times and Seasons
 
"And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." (Acts 1:7)
 
Just before Christ ascended into heaven, His disciples asked Him, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (v. 6). Christ refrained from answering their question as they had hoped, but in His wisdom He used the occasion to teach them that some information is for God alone, including the "times and the seasons." In our finiteness, we are unable to handle too much information, and should we know even a small part of the "knowledge |which| is too wonderful for me" (Psalm 139:6), we would use it improperly.
 
The prophet taught the same lesson many years before: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). God has graciously revealed enough that we know He has a wonderful plan, but the details are known by Him alone. They are under His "own power," or authority. Certainly He knows the future, but more than that, He controls it.
 
And why not? He created time (Genesis 1:1); surely He can exercise authority over it. Surely the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22:13) can control the destinies of individuals and nations. "Power" to work out His good pleasure rests solely with "the only wise God our Saviour . . . now and ever" (Jude 25).
 
Even though this "power" is His alone, His promise to the disciples that "ye shall receive power |a different word than that in verse 7, here meaning strength|" (Acts 1:8) has been fulfilled in the person of the Holy Spirit. We have what we need to be "witnesses" of that which we know of Him, to "the uttermost part of the earth." JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Peace Like a River
 
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
 
The beloved hymn "It Is Well with My Soul" has been a source of much comfort to many. The hymn was written in memory of the author’s four precious daughters who had just perished in a shipwreck and his wife barely rescued. Through it all, the couple maintained faith in their Sovereign God and could say through their tears:
 
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
 
Our Lord has not promised us a life of ease, free from heartache and tragedy, but He has promised to be with us. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4).
 
God’s promise of provision to Israel applies, in principle, to us. "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour" (Isaiah 43:1-3). We can be content, whatever comes, knowing He is with us.
 
The prerequisite for the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding" promised in our text is that we be anxious "for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6). "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee" (Isaiah 26:3). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Tho Satan Should Buffet
 
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
 
The second verse of "It Is Well with My Soul" puts persecution and troubles in perspective.
 
Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
 
Paul was given "a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet" him (2 Corinthians 12:7). Almost every saint of every age could echo Paul's concerns, for trials come to each child of God. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you" (1 Peter 4:12). God had a purpose in Paul's life, and He has one in ours, although Paul couldn't clearly see the purpose, and, at times, we can't either. We can, however, "glory," as Paul did; or "rejoice," as Peter advises, in response to the knowledge of God's loving oversight.
 
The persecution may never stop, and may, in fact, result in serious loss--even death. But through it all, we can have the controlling assurance that He has made our destiny certain, "for when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). "We see Jesus . . . for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. . . . |thereby| bringing many sons unto glory" (Hebrews 2:9-10). As our text reminds us, "in the world ye shall have tribulation." God may neither stop nor explain it, but He has "overcome" it, by shedding His own blood for our souls. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?& quot; (Romans 8:32). Truly, "it is well with my soul." JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Nailed to the Cross
 
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities." (Psalm 103:2-3)
 
When Christ was nailed to the cross as our atoning sacrifice, our sins--all of them--were nailed there, as well. His death paid the entire penalty, "having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:13-14). This is the theme of the thrilling third verse of "It Is Well with My Soul."
 
My sin--O the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
 
"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). On what basis? "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (v. 7). "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24).
 
The fact that our sins are gone--"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12), and we bear them no more, gives us the courage, strength, and stamina to bear up, with His help, under the trials of this age--the theme of the song’s first two verses.
 
If ever the circumstances of this present life threaten to overwhelm us, we can "consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3). The certainty of our future overrides any uncertainty in this life.
 
"It is well, it is well with my soul." JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Faith Turned to Sight
 
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love." (1 Peter 1:7-8)
 
As the resurrected Christ ascended into heaven, He promised to return and end this present age, with all its trials and troubles. "Surely I come quickly" (Revelation 22:20), He said. The saints will eternally thereafter enjoy the presence of their Lord. Since "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7) in this life, with much we don’t yet understand, the prayer of each faithful saint has mirrored John’s response to the Lord’s promise, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20). The fourth and climactic verse of "It Is Well with My Soul" focuses on this coming event.
 
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll:
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
Even so--it is well with my soul.
 
For centuries, faithful men and women have gazed upward, desiring to see "the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together" (Revelation 6:14) at His return. Many have died in faith, and they now have fuller understanding, but they await the final resurrection. As the great day draws nearer, we should be all the more expectant. This hope of the Christian provides great comfort while we wait.
 
But on that day, "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Until then, "it is well with my soul." JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Christ: Our Redeemer
 
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." (Job 19:25)
 
This famous testimony of Job has encouraged many. He knew, as we can know, the reality of his living Redeemer, and that the Redeemer would one day reign over His creation as intended.
 
A redeemer is one who buys back something which has fallen into the hands of the enemy. Originally, the creation was in the proper hands, but Adam sinned, and to a great extent the rebellious world and all its inhabitants fell into bondage at the hands of Satan. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). We became the slaves or "servants of sin" (Romans 6:20).
 
In order to be freed, a slave must be redeemed. Could we as slaves have bought ourselves back? No, we had nothing of worth. Silver and gold would not do it. In fact, nothing short of the blood of a completely innocent sacrifice would suffice to pay the "wages of sin" (Romans 6:23). Only God the Son, by laying aside aspects of His deity and taking on human flesh, could be that perfect sacrifice. "And he saw that there was no man |capable of redeeming mankind|, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation" (Isaiah 59:16). "In his love and in his pity he redeemed them" (Isaiah 63:9) by His own blood, buying us out of bondage to sin and Satan.
 
Notice also that this redemption is not just something we hope for; it is a fact! He has done it, and it will never be undone! "Thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob" (Isaiah 60:16). "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Declaring the Unknown God
 
"As I . . . beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." (Acts 17:23)
 
The people of Athens were known to be quite religious, worshipping a host of nature gods. They even had set up an altar "to the unknown god." Paul pounced on this point of contact to declare unto them the God they didn’t know.
 
He starts by laying the foundation: This God, he claims, is the Creator. He not only "made the world and all things therein" (v. 24), but also is "Lord of heaven and earth." To cause to exist and then to rule over all of creation, one must be omnipotent. He is much too great to dwell in "temples made with hands." How ludicrous to think He might need anything, including the worship of men, "seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (v. 25).
 
This God "hath made of one blood all nations of men" and "hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" (v. 26). To know all men, their race, futures, and details of their lives, God must be omniscient, eternal, boundless. He has done this so "that they should seek the Lord" (v. 27). He is not hard to find, for He is "not far from every one of us." He is the sustainer and source of all life. "In him we live, and move, and have our being; . . . we are also his offspring" (v. 28), totally unlike gods of "gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device" (v. 29).
 
But mankind has not known this God. He has been patient, but hates sin, and "commandeth all men every where to repent" (v. 30), to gain forgiveness based on the work of "that man whom he hath ordained" (v. 31) as a final sacrifice, or as righteous judge. We can be sure of this because, when the sacrifice was slain, God "raised him from the dead" (v. 31).
 
Some mocked at the declaration of this mighty God (v. 32); some refused to act; but others believed (v. 34). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Zechariah's Strange Prophecy
 
"All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." (Matthew 21:4-5)
 
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an unbroken donkey colt on that momentous first day of the week, just a week before His resurrection, the multitudes quickly recognized that He was fulfilling an ancient prophecy and thereby specifically claiming to be their long-awaited Messiah. The prophecy was that of Zechariah 9:9, and the people in turn began to fulfill David’s even more ancient prophecy, laying palm branches in His path, and crying out: "Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD" (Psalm 118:26).
 
This is one of the few events in the life of Christ that are recorded in all four gospels, though only Matthew notes it as the fulfillment of prophecy. And what a strange prophecy it was! One would think that the anticipated King would come riding on a great white horse, ready to put down all His enemies (and indeed He shall do exactly that some day--see Revelation 19:11).
 
But here He comes riding on a colt, the foal of an ass, not high and mighty, but meek and lowly! Ah, but as Zechariah prophesied, He comes "just, and having salvation" (Zechariah 9:9). And the salvation He was bringing was not deliverance from Roman subjugation, but eternal deliverance from sin and its awful wages.
 
These same multitudes which hailed Him soon were following their high priest in clamoring for His crucifixion. Nevertheless He someday will fulfill Zechariah’s later prophecy: "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him" (Zechariah 12:10). Then, finally, indeed, "the LORD shall be king over all the earth" (Zechariah 14:9). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Perilous Times and the Word of God
 
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." (2 Timothy 3:1)
 
These sobering words introduce the last message of the apostle Paul just before his martyrdom. Instead of the world being converted to Christ and getting better and better as the gospel goes out around the world, "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13).
 
The twenty characteristics of people in the last days listed in the verses following our text constitute almost a definition of humanism--self-love, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, etc. The humanistic basis of all these peril-producing attributes of the last days is most evident in the last two: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof;" and "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:5, 7).
 
The most disturbing aspect of this situation is that these are given as characteristics of people in a professedly Christian society, having a form of piety but rejecting creation and the miraculous aspects of true biblical Christianity. Furthermore, those in such a pseudo-Christian society who determine to "live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).
 
The answer to such an environment, however, is neither conformity nor compromise. Paul's counsel is simply to "continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, . . . from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14-15).
 
Thus, the basic answer to every problem, even in the perilous times of the last days, is simply to continue believing and obeying the inspired, profitable, perfecting Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Good Fight
 
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12)
 
Scripture frequently refers to the Christian life and work in athletic or combative terms. When all things are considered, reason compels the Christian to enter into the race and fight.
 
First, our Commander is worth following. He leads us into battle and stands with us on the front lines receiving the fiercest fire: "Let us run with patience the race. . . . Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:1-2).
 
Second, we are well-armed and protected. The "whole armour of God" includes the girdle of "truth," the "breastplate of righteousness," shoes of "the preparation of the gospel of peace," "the shield of faith," "the helmet of salvation," and "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:13-17). The warrior's mouth is filled with prayers and bold speech (vv.18-20); his sword has no scabbard, and his back has no armor, for retreat is unthinkable.
 
The goal of our fight urges us on. We strive to undermine the kingdom of darkness and to fill it with light. Each must battle on to exalt our Leader and to champion His Word. "Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3).
 
To the victor belongs the spoils. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne" (Revelation 3:21). We no longer will be soldiers, but kings; we will trade our battle armor for robes, washed and made "white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14). Our helmet will be replaced by an "incorruptible" crown (1 Corinthians 9:25)--"a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give |us| at that day" (2 Timothy 4:8). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Suffer Little Children
 
"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:16)
 
A widely-read book several decades ago based its title, Suffer Little Children, on this plea of Christ, but used the words instead to refer to the terrible harm being suffered by America’s little children in its public schools and humanistic social institutions. Not only were they being indoctrinated with evolutionary just-so-stories, but also with socialistic understanding of the world and its nations and people.
 
And if things were bad thirty and forty years ago, they are much worse today with the modern promotion of deviant lifestyles and wide use of behavior-modifying "medicines" to control behavior. There are certainly many good Christian teachers and schools, but the over-all trend is so bad that many Bible-believing churches and organizations are diligently promoting Christian schools and home schools as a needed means of escape from the deadly influence of public schools on the children.
 
Worst of all is the deliberate banning of prayer, God, the Bible, and Christ from the schools in a misused devotion to the myth of church/state separation. Instead of "suffering the little children" to come to Christ like He said, most of them do all they can to prevent it.
 
Those who promote this situation are in grave danger themselves. Jesus warned: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6).
 
There is a better way, of course. A good school, acting en loco parentis, should seek heartily to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Going and Returning
 
"I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes." (Genesis 46:4)
 
Imagine the turmoil that Jacob must have felt when he heard the news that Joseph was alive and wanted him to move to Egypt. His son, whom he had thought dead for many years, was not only alive but governor of Egypt! As difficult as this was for him to believe, Jacob no doubt had myriad other emotions crowding in on him. God had directed him to Canaan, as with his fathers, Abraham and Isaac. This was the land of promise, and yet circumstances seemed to indicate that God was leading him away. In the past, God had always spoken to him directly before each important move, and Jacob must have had that in mind as they traveled.
 
The company stopped at Beersheba, the southern boundary of the promised land. Here Jacob had lived with his parents (Genesis 28:10). Here God had repeated His covenant to Isaac (Genesis 26:24), and here Jacob decided to build an altar to ask God for clear leading before leaving the land (Genesis 46:1), and God graciously answered: "I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation" (Genesis 46:3). Furthermore, God assured Jacob, in our text, that when His purposes in Egypt were accomplished, He would "bring thee up again" into the land of promise. Many details were as yet unknown to Jacob, but he glad ly obeyed.
 
This pattern is applicable to us. As we endeavor to follow God's leading, we should proceed as best we can discern the situation (assuming there is no scriptural teaching to the contrary), all the while praying for wisdom and clarification. He may shut the door and redirect, or He may confirm our decision. We can proceed in the confidence that He will go with us, and when the time is right, He will lead us on. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Praise from the Creation
 
"Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein." (Psalm 69:34)
 
We may not yet understand the full purpose of God in creation, but at least one aspect of that purpose is that all things created should somehow praise their Creator. This theme occurs often in Scripture, especially in the psalms. For example, in addition to the exhortation in our text:
 
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Psalm 19:1).
 
"Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD: for he cometh" (Psalm 96:11-13).
 
"All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee" (Psalm 145:10).
 
"Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. . . . Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl" (Psalm 148:3-4,7-10).
 
The Lord Jesus said that if men should refuse to praise Him and "should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out" (Luke 19:40). Yet even though the whole creation--in its beauty, complexity, and providential orderliness--gives continual praise to its Creator, men perversely have "worshipped and served the creature |or more aptly stated, the creation| more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever" (Romans 1:25).
 
How poignant, therefore, is the final verse of the book of Psalms: "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord" (Psalm 150:6). HMM