A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Wall of Fire
 
"For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her." (Zechariah 2:5)
 
This beautiful promise applies explicitly to Jerusalem in the days to come when "all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26). In the meantime, believers can appropriate it now as an evidence of God's great concern for all His people.
 
The safest, most secure place in all the world for one of Christ's servants is in the will of God. All around him is an invisible, but invincible, spiritual "wall of fire," both protecting and energizing him. As the psalmist said: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7). Elisha's servant, fearful of the enemy host arrayed against them, was encouraged when his eyes were enabled to see, in answer to Elisha's prayer, that "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17).
 
The Lord is also like an impregnable wall of mountains surrounding His people: "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever" (Psalm 125:2). The earthly Jerusalem is a foreshadowing of the new Jerusalem, which will have "a wall great and high" (Revelation 21:12), within which will dwell safely forever all "the nations of them which are saved" (Revelation 21:24).
 
"In that day shall this song be sung. . . . We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks" (Isaiah 26:1). In type now, in reality in eternity, the great wall of mountains and angels and divine fire is none other than our great salvation in Christ: "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise" (Isaiah 60:18). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Sacrifice of Praise
 
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15)
 
A sacrifice is a costly thing. But the sacrifices which God desires are not merely animals on an altar, or fruits of the harvest, or gifts of money and goods. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit" (Psalm 51:17). "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings" (Hosea 6:6). "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1).
 
But how can praise and giving thanks to His name be considered a sacrifice? This is "the fruit of our lips." The ancient prophet even called it "the calves of our lips" (Hosea 14:2). To bear the fruit of praise on our lips means sowing the seeds of praise in our hearts, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34).
 
Note that the sacrifice of praise must be offered continually to qualify as a true sacrifice. "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be" (James 3:10). "Let your speech be always with grace" (Colossians 4:6).
 
Consider the example of Paul and Silas: After casting them into prison for preaching the gospel, "the magistrates rent off their clothes . . . laid many stripes on them . . . and made their feet fast in the stocks" (Acts 16:22-24). Yet, instead of cursing or complaining, "at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God" (Acts 16:25).
 
That was a genuine sacrifice! "In every thing give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). No matter how difficult the circumstances, those who know the Lord always have much for which to praise His name and so should offer such sacrifices continually. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The New Jerusalem
 
"But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy." (Isaiah 65:18)
 
Here is a remarkable act of creation! The verb "create" always has God as its subject, and it would surely require the divine Creator to "create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy!" Jerusalem throughout her history has been a city of conflict and sorrow, and her people have suffered under oppressors longer than any other nation, not only in Jerusalem (meaning, ironically, "city of peace"), but all throughout the world.
 
The ultimate fulfillment of this striking prophecy can only be when we (like John in his vision) see "the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2). In that day, "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4).
 
If there is no more sorrow, there can only be rejoicing; if there is no more death, there will be eternal rejoicing, just as our text assures us. This will be our everlasting home, so indeed "her people" will be, in their new creation, "a joy" forever.
 
Since the New Jerusalem will come down from heaven, it is now in heaven, where Christ has gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:2). Our Creator/Redeemer has created this new Jerusalem as our eternal dwelling place, as well as the new heavens and new earth.
 
Isaiah then ends his remarkable prophecy with this wonderful assurance: "As the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain" (Isaiah 66:22). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Perfect Man
 
"And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents." (Genesis 25:27)
 
Seldom have Bible translators done such an injustice to a godly man as the King James translators did to Jacob (the man whom God used to father His chosen nation Israel) when they called him a "plain" man, in contrast to his apparently more glamorous brother Esau. Later translators were little better, using such words as "simple," "mild," etc.
 
The Hebrew word is tam, and its real meaning is "perfect" or "complete." It is the word God used to describe Job when defending him against Satan--"a perfect and an upright man" (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3). It is also the word used by the bridegroom to describe the bride in the Song of Solomon, there translated "undefiled" (Song of Solomon 5:2; 6:9). Can one imagine the loving bridegroom calling his beloved "plain."
 
Jacob, in God's evaluation, was a perfect man. This does not mean he was sinless, of course, and neither was Job. But his heart was right toward God, believing His Word, caring for his family, earnestly seeking the will of God in preparing for the future ministry which God had revealed to his mother before he was born (Genesis 25:23). His brother Esau was an irresponsible, carnal playboy, despising his birthright and caring nothing about the great plan of God.
 
How strange that so many generations of Christians have repeatedly defamed Jacob (and his descendants) and admired Esau, when God had said: "I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau" (Malachi 1:2-3). God spoke to Jacob many times after his "stealing" of the birthright and blessing which Isaac was seeking to deny him (though they had been made his by divine commandment), and it is significant that God never spoke a word of rebuke to Jacob about this--only of blessing and promise. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Veil over the Nations
 
"And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations." (Isaiah 25:7)
 
Many people feel that every nation should be encouraged simply to practice its own religion. God's Word, however, makes it plain that all nations are blinded, cut off from the truth by a deadly covering. This is true of the Jews, for "even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart" (2 Corinthians 3:15). It is also true of the Gentiles, who have "the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Ephesians 4:18).
 
The veil that keeps them in such darkness is a Satanic blindfold. "The god of this world |i.e., Satan| hath blinded the minds of them which believe not" (2 Corinthians 4:4). And how did the devil ever gain such control over human minds? "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. . . . Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator" (Romans 1:21, 25).
 
So today, men and women almost everywhere--atheists, Communists, humanists, Buddhists, Confucianists, animists, Hindus, Taoists, Shintoists, occultists, "New Agers," and even the "liberals" in the monotheistic religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity)--really all believe and practice the same religion, rejecting God as Creator and worshipping instead some man or man-exalting evolutionary philosophy.
 
Someday, God will destroy this pervasive veil over the nations. In the meantime, we must reach everyone we can with the true and everlasting gospel of Christ, for that "vail is done away in Christ" (2 Corinthians 3:14). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Man of Sorrows
 
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3)
 
The marvelous hymn of the last century "Hallelujah, What a Savior!" provides in pithy but powerful form an insight into the work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross. For the next few days, let us use its familiar verses to "think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
 
"Man of Sorrows!" What a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
 
The creation should have brought great joy to the Creator, "for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11). But ever since the beginning, the "very good" creation has defied Him, bringing great grief. In the days of Noah, "it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Genesis 6:6).
 
But even in the face of such sinful defiance, the rejected Creator, the very Son of God, came to "deliver them who . . . were all their lifetime subject to bondage . . . to make reconciliation for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:15-17).
 
Yet when He came, instead of receiving a liberator's welcome, He was again "despised and rejected," as in our text for today. He was ridiculed and slandered, hounded and hunted; His body was beaten and broken and hung on a cross. But through it all "he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows
. . . was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities . . . was oppressed, and he was afflicted" (vv. 4-7), reclaiming ruined sinners. Hallelujah, what a Savior! JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Condemned in My Place
 
"Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God." (Matthew 27:41-43)
 
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood—
Sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
 
Through the sham of a trial, they mocked Him and shamed Him. "They spit in his face, and buffeted him" (Matthew 26:67). They "platted a crown of thorns, |and| put it upon his head" along with a kingly robe and "they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews" (27:29). Then they "scourged Jesus, |and| delivered him to be crucified" (27:26). Finally, they stripped Him of His garments, hung Him naked on the cross, "and sitting down they watched him there" (27:36). "They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads" (27:39).
 
Surely such treatment would be reserved for only the worst sinners, but Pilate called Him "this just person" (v. 24), not deserving of imprisonment or execution. Yet "they all condemned him to be guilty of death" (Mark 14:64).
 
He wasn't guilty, but I am, as are all of us. "For all have sinned" and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 3:23; 6:23). He chose to stand condemned where we belong, for God "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).
 
We have thus been granted full pardon, "sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30).
 
Hallelujah, what a Savior! JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Spotless Lamb of God
 
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19)
 
Guilty, vile and helpless we,
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement, can it be?
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
 
Before God each individual stands as an absolutely guilty sinner. "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). Being more "good" than "bad" doesn't help, "for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags |literally 'used menstrual cloths'|" (Isaiah 64:6). We are altogether vile and worthless.
 
Furthermore, we are powerless to change our situation. Our sins demand the death penalty, "and without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). Either the guilty party must die to pay sin's penalty, or a guiltless party must substitute and pay the penalty instead. And so, "when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. . . . God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).
 
This transaction removes our sin from us. We now stand before a Holy God just as if we had never sinned, and just as if we had always done right, "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).
 
"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:11). Hallelujah, what a Savior! JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

It Is Finished!
 
"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)
 
Lifted up was He to die,
"It is finished" was His cry;
Now in heav'n exalted high:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
 
The people of Israel many times rejected God's plan and ways. Once their complaining brought deadly serpents into the camp as a judgment of God (Numbers 21:5-7). In response to Moses' intercessory prayer, God said: "Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and . . . every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live" (v. 8).
 
This episode provides a clear illustration of our sinfulness and God's remedy. As in our text, those who look upon the cross of Christ with the eyes of faith, believing that His death provides a glorious remedy for our sin-wracked souls, will not only "live," but will have "eternal life."
 
While on that "pole," Almighty God died as "the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). This infinitely difficult work had been initiated at the time when sin first entered into and thereby spoiled creation (Genesis 3). And as He completed His sacrifice, He cried out "with a loud voice" (Luke 23:46) the awesome victory cry: "It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost" (John 19:30).
 
But death does not end the story, for the grave could not hold the Creator of life. He rose in victory over death and the grave, thereby conquering sin, its power and penalty forever, for "when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). Hallelujah, what a Savior! JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

When He Comes
 
"For 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." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
 
When He comes our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing;
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
 
The sacrificed, risen, and exalted Christ will one day return in glorious victory to the earth. The King of creation will restore His creation to its original created intent, and reign over it in majesty: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15).
 
Furthermore, as we see in the text above, we shall be with Him, whether alive or dead, when He returns and reigns--a cause of much rejoicing and singing throughout eternity. "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy . . . for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10).
 
Through His mighty work of redemption, we have been ransomed out of slavery to sin. Our sins have been washed away, we have been clothed in His righteousness, and made fit to live forever with Him as His bride. "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" (Revelation 19:6-7). Hallelujah, what a Savior! JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Let Him Hear
 
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:22)
 
This is the final exhortation in Christ's letters to His seven representative churches. It is the seventh such exhortation, one addressed to each church, so must be unusually important. The emphasis, obviously, is not merely hearing with the physical ear, but hearing with an obedient heart.
 
Such hearing is necessary first of all for saving faith, for "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Jesus said: "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
 
In our day, however, probably more than in any previous age, there is a cacophony of voices of all kinds that are seeking listeners. In fact, Jesus Himself cautioned: "Take heed what ye hear" (Mark 4:24). There are multitudes of false teachers today--evolutionary humanists, religious liberals, "New Age" mystics, and others--all very articulate and often winsome, but speaking false doctrine. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).
 
It is important not only to hear the right words, but also to hear the right way. "Take heed therefore how ye hear," also said Jesus (Luke 8:18). Even if we hear the pure Word of God, it will accomplish nothing of value in our lives unless we hear with due reverence. "To this man will I look, even to him that . . . trembleth at my word" (Isaiah 66:2). And we must also hear with faith. "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Hebrews 4:2). He that hath an ear, therefore, let him hear with reverent faith the true Word of God. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

A Provoked Spirit
 
"They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips." (Psalm 106:32-33)
 
This terse passage summarizes the tragic events described in Numbers 20:1-13. If ever a religious leader had a right to be provoked with an ungrateful and complaining flock, Moses did. Finally, after years of privation in the wilderness, the people complained once too often, and Moses could take it no longer (or so he thought). In anger, he rebuked the rebels and smote the rock, taking credit himself for God's miraculous provision of water. As a result, God rebuked him, and he was not allowed to enter the promised land.
 
It is all too easy, in times of pressure and inconsiderate selfishness all around us, to rise up in "righteous indignation" and, like Moses, "spake unadvisedly with |our| lips." This is surely one of Satan's most common devices. Such verbal assaults may be well deserved and may seem to give personal satisfaction for a time, but they are usually counter-productive in the long run and very hurtful to one's testimony for Christ to those so assaulted (imagine Peter trying to witness to Malchus after he had sliced off Malchus' ear in anger!). Unfortunately, "the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8).
 
The Lord Jesus Himself is the ideal example in this difficult realm for "he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). He could have called ten legions of angels to destroy His tormentors, but instead He prayed: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
 
Let us not be easily provoked to so-called righteous indignation. "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Lest We Forget
 
"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons." (Deuteronomy 4:9)
 
This admonition was given by God through Moses as the children of Israel were preparing finally to enter God’s promised land.
 
God had done mighty things for them--delivering them from slavery in Egypt, parting the Red Sea for them, feeding them for forty years with water from a great rock and daily bread from heaven--and it was important for them to teach their descendants, "lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen."
 
It was especially vital not to forget the actual words of God. "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it" (Deuteronomy 4:2). The writer of Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible) stressed no less than seven times how important it was not to forget the words of God.
 
"I will not forget thy word" (v. 16).
 
"Yet do I not forget thy statutes" (v. 83).
 
"I will never forget thy precepts" (vv. 93, 141).
 
"I do not forget thy law" (vv. 109, 153).
 
"For I do not forget thy commandments" (v. 176).
 
Our nation has seen God do marvelous things. It was founded by a small band of Christians, and in a short span of history has become the greatest nation in the world. Yet we also seem about to forget, as Israel once did.
 
We would do well to rehearse again and again the poignant words of Rudyard Kipling, in words written over a hundred years ago: "Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget, lest we forget." HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Prayer Warrior
 
"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12)
 
We sometimes speak of others as "prayer warriors," though we may use the term too lightly, and few of us would claim such a title for ourselves. It is fairly easy to pray for our own needs or those of our loved ones, and we more or less naturally are able to thank the Lord for our blessings. It is much more difficult, however, to pray for the needs of those outside our own circle--that is, to be true intercessors. But those who do are the true prayer warriors.
 
Epaphras, who was "always" interceding for the Christians at Colosse, was an exemplary prayer warrior. This term is used advisedly, for he was "labouring fervently" for them. The Greek word translated thus is agonizomai, from which we get our English word "agonize." Thus, Epaphras was actually agonizing in prayer that the Colossians might grow and do the will of God in their lives.
 
What a ministry is prayer like this, and how few are those who pray in such a way! It is significant that this word occurs just six other times in the New Testament, three times translated "strive" and three times translated "fight." Jesus said: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate" (Luke 13:24).
 
The word is translated "fight" in John 18:36 when Jesus said: "If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight." Paul said, "I have fought a good fight" (2 Timothy 4:7) and urged Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12).
 
Thus the intercessions of real prayer warriors like Epaphras involved striving, fighting, agonizing in prayer! And remember that, greatest of all, the Lord Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession for |us|" (Hebrews 7:25). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Scriptures Teach Christ
 
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)
 
This challenge was posed by the Lord Jesus to the Jewish leaders when they objected to His healing a hopelessly crippled man on the Sabbath day. Rather than attempting to justify this Sabbath miracle, however, Jesus realized that their real objection was far more serious, so He proceeded to preach a long message to them (29 verses), assuring them that, not only was He doing the will of the heavenly Father, but that they had no right to judge Him. Instead, He would some day be their judge, for the Father "hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22).
 
Furthermore, this ability included the right to impart resurrection and everlasting life to all who would believe on Him as Son of God. "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself" (John 5:26).
 
The Jews, both Pharisees and Sadducees, had placed supreme emphasis on the five books of Moses as their chief source of guidance toward salvation and eternal life. These were their holy Scriptures, absolute in authority. But, as Paul much later told young Timothy: "Thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15).
 
To those who have spiritual eyes to see and hearts to believe, the Old Testament Scriptures can speak clearly about the coming Messiah and Savior, both to the Jews of Jesus' day and to open-hearted people of our day. He is both Creator and redeeming Savior, as well as Judge and coming King. To those who honestly search the Old Testament Scriptures, even the books of Moses, there is abundant evidence there of Christ. HMM