A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Do-Gooders
 
"Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." (3 John 11)
 
The term "do-gooder" has come to be sort of a sarcastic putdown of people who are actively doing good deeds and trying to persuade others also to do good. Standards today have become so confused that actions once considered wrong are now considered quite normal, as easily seen from the plots of Hollywood movies, radio talk shows, and newspaper sports pages. Those who try to call people back to righteousness are ridiculed as officious do-gooders.
 
But it should be remembered that God Himself was doing good first. "He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14:17). Not only did the Lord do good in creating and upholding our beautiful world, but He continued to do good when He became man. As Jesus of Nazareth, He "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (Acts 10:38).
 
Therefore, if we who know Him as our Savior would be like Him in our lives, we also must do good. Human standards of goodness may change, but God's standards do not. As our text confirms, the very mark of the born-again nature is doing good, for "he that doeth good is of God," while he who follows evil "hath not seen God." Many other Scriptures remind us of the same truth: "To do good and to communicate |that is, 'share with others'| forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16). Christ even commanded us to do good to our enemies. "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you" (Luke 6:27).
 
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Much More
 
"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:9)
 
The fifth chapter of Romans is sometimes called the "much more" chapter because of five wonderful "much more" verses. The first is our text for the day, consisting itself of a commentary on the tremendous truth in the preceding verse. That is, because of the tremendous love expressed by God "in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (v. 8), we shall also be delivered completely from the just wrath of a holy God.
 
Then, there is the truth of verse 10: "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Formerly His adversaries, we are not only delivered from God's wrath on sin, but also delivered from sin's power, because Christ's life becomes our life, once we are restored to complete fellowship with Him.
 
Thirdly, we have more abundant grace. "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many" (v. 15). His grace is far greater than all our sin.
 
Next, there is verse 17. "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." Note the progression in these "much mores": saved from wrath; saved unto righteousness; a life abounding in grace; and, now, a life of victory.
 
Finally, and in summary: "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (vv. 20-21). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Many Waters
 
"The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters." (Psalm 29:3)
 
In the remarkable 29th Psalm, David evidently had been given a retrospective vision of a mighty act of God that had taken place thousands of years earlier. As the vision neared its conclusion, he wrote: "The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever" (Psalm 29:10).
 
The Flood which David saw in his vision was no ordinary flood. The Hebrew word he used to describe it was mabbul, a word never used in the Bible since the days of Noah, and used then exclusively to describe the terrible judgment of the global deluge that had destroyed the antediluvian world and all its wicked rebels against the Lord, sparing only those in Noah's Ark.
 
It had been used some 12 times in Genesis 6-11 to refer to that awful judgment, and now was used one more time in Psalm 29, presumably to assure David that God was still in control amidst all circumstances, just as He had been back in that unspeakable period when "the wickedness of man was great in the earth" and "the earth was filled with violence" (Genesis 6:5, 11).
 
At that time the "voice of the LORD" had sounded forth in mighty thunders, possibly the first time men had ever heard thunder, for then at least, as far as the record goes, "the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth" (Genesis 2:5)—until He said "I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights" (Genesis 7:4).
 
"Many waters," indeed! "The waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days" (Genesis 7:24). All the mountains of the world were under these mighty waters for five long months, while the Lord remained seated on His throne. And even today, "the Lord will bless his people with peace" (Psalm 29:11). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Youthful Warriors
 
"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)
 
Many has been the time when a Christian soldier on foreign soil has considered himself a missionary, not only to his fellow soldiers, but also to the citizens of that country which might otherwise be closed to "professional" missionaries. These young men and women have led Bible studies, dispersed Christian literature, and served the surrounding people in many ways. "Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water . . . he shall in no wise lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42).
 
Paul's admonition to young Timothy applies to anyone seeking to gain acceptance among hesitant observers, but especially to those with whom it is difficult to talk. Note the "exemplary" traits and habits necessary for such a one.
 
In word: "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6).
 
In conversation, or better, conduct: "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
 
In charity, or true agape love, God's kind of love: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
 
In spirit: "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13).
 
In faith: "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:17).
 
In purity: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands . . . and purify your hearts" (James 4:8).
 
If we exhibit spiritual maturity in all these ways, we can be certain God will grant a fulfilling walk with and a fruitful ministry for Him. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Chosen Vessels
 
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." (Acts 9:15)
 
The Lord here was speaking to Ananias concerning the apostle Paul, calling him a "vessel" that was to be filled with spiritual treasures for the nations. We may not be chosen for such a great work as that of Paul, but each of us is a chosen vessel to carry the message to someone.
 
First, however, we have to be prepared as vessels by the great Potter, "that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory" (Romans 9:23). This verse speaks of God's mercy, for He must also endure "with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction" (Romans 9:22).
 
We are only earthen vessels, at least to begin with, but God does entrust a portion of His heavenly treasures to us, especially "the light of the glorious gospel of Christ" shining in our hearts. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:4, 7).
 
If we are faithful in the small things, He may one day entrust us with greater treasures. "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work" (2 Timothy 2:20-21).
 
Each one is a vessel in the master's hand. Some are vessels of wrath, suited only for destruction; some vessels in His house are of wood and dirt, vessels of dishonor. May God help us, however, to be beautiful vessels of great value, sanctified to the master's use, and to every good work. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Saving Faith
 
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" (James 2:14)
 
The well-known apparent "conflict" between James and Paul focuses especially on this verse. The apostle Paul says emphatically: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet James, also an apostle, insists: "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:20).
 
But no real conflict exists. In our text there is a definite article before the word "faith." James' question is, literally, "Can that faith save him?" This is obviously intended as a rhetorical question with a negative answer. In the context, James teaches that a "profession of faith" is not enough to produce salvation if that faith "have not works."
 
Since that kind of faith does not save, then what kind of faith does save? The answer is given by Paul in the very verses quoted above. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that |i.e., that faith which is the inference in the original| not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." In other words, true saving faith is not a man-generated faith of some kind, it is a supernatural gift of God! And that faith does save, because it is part of the new nature implanted by the Holy Spirit when a new believer is born again. Furthermore, this faith does inevitably produce good works, for the verse following says that "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
 
Faith must be faith in something and true saving faith must be centered in the saving gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in His inerrant Word. Such faith will inevitably result in a changed life and good works. That is the faith that saves. HMM

[David_james]

I knew I didn't have saving faith. I don't produce good works.

[nChrist]

I knew I didn't have saving faith. I don't produce good works.

Brother David,

You have produced good works that you might not realize. This can be something as simple as an expression of love or encouragement to others. I think that you also misunderstand some of this Biblical meaning and comparison. We are saved by Faith - not works. Our Salvation is kept by Jesus Christ - not our works. The Apostle Paul goes into great detail in numerous passages of Scripture to show the relationship between Salvation and works - then the contrast between Salvation and works.

Please see:

Romans 4:1-8 KJV  What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?  2  For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.  3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  4  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,  7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  8  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.


Brother David, Salvation is one subject and works is another. What are good works, and what does God consider to be good works? The examples for good works would be endless, but they all must be done out of hearts of love and appreciation before God will recognize them as good works. Good works earn rewards that are additional to Salvation, and they are Eternal. To give you the perfect example, what kind of good works did the thief on the cross next to Jesus have? The answer is NONE but faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ is accounted unto man as righteousness without the works of the law or good works. On the other side of the coin, this in no way discounts the importance of good works in the life of a Christian. Brother David, I think that you're being too hard on yourself, and I don't think you realize the good impact that you have on others. Think about this:

Matthew 22:36-40 KJV  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  38  This is the first and great commandment.  39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

In light of Matthew 22:36-40, of how much value would an act or expression of love be to God?

How about this:

Romans 11:6 KJV  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.


God is telling us that no amount of works can Save us or keep us Saved. Salvation is by Grace - God's Grace and Love toward us - and our Faith in Him. The Works of Jesus Christ on the Cross IS OUR SALVATION. Salvation is God throwing a life-line to us and our acceptance of that life-line. Paul and others tell us that the GIFT God gave us should result in appreciation, love, and good works in His Name. It can't be a GIFT from God if one has to work for it or work to keep it. Again, this is no way diminishes the importance of good works on the part of believers who have received God's GIFT.

Brother David, in my heart I know that you do have good works. You may not think they are enough, and I certainly don't believe that my good works are enough. BUT, what is enough, and are we talking about Salvation or good works? Jesus Christ gave the answer to the thief on the Cross next to Him:

Luke 23:39-43 KJV  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  40  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.


Love In Christ,
Tom

[Soldier4Christ]

Brother David, I totally agree with what Brother Tom just said. Many times none of know the good works that are done in as well as through us. I say in because God is continually doing a good work within us that will not be complete until He comes to take us home and gives us a glorified body. I said works through us because it is the works of God through us that counts as true good works not those that we do of our own.

Brother we are told that we will be known by our fruits. I have seen good fruits flow from you. I have seen concern for others that could only be a concern that is placed there by the Spirit within you. I have also seen a concern for the health of your own soul and a conviction of whether you have done right or wrong. All those things reflect the Holy Spirit within you working on you and doing work through you.

(corrected spelling and wrong words I wrote because of being in a hurry earlier    )

[nChrist]

rother David, I totally agree with what Brother Tom just said. Many times none of know the good works that are done in as well as through us. I say in becomes God is continually doing a good work within us that will not be complete until He comes to take us home and gives us a glorified body. I said works through us because it is the works of God through us that counts as true good works not those that we do of our own.

Brother we are told that we will be known by our fruits. I have seen good fruits flow from you. I have seen concern for others that could only be a concern that is placed there by the Spirit within you. I have also seen a concern for the health of your own soul and a conviction of whether you have done right or wrong. All those things reflect the Holy Spirit within you working on you and doing work through you.

AMEN!

I give thanks that God does work in and through us because I would be a sad example without Him. I also give thanks every day that He began a good work in us and has Promised to complete it. We all feel inadequate, and we are without Him. The beauty and majesty of Salvation is what Jesus Christ did - not men. This is a reason why God's Word says that we will have nothing to brag about except Jesus Christ.

Galatians 6:14 KJV  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.


All of the Glory goes to God and none to man. The Apostle Paul said:

1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV  10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.


God gives us all good things, so AGAIN, all Glory and Praise must go to God. No man has anything to brag about except to Glory in Christ.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[Soldier4Christ]

Lively Hope
 
"LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations." (Psalm 90:1)
 
These are the tremendous opening words of the oldest psalm in the book of Psalms called, in its superscript, the "prayer of Moses the man of God." Moses must have written it shortly before his death as he looked out over the promised land and realized that he himself would never live there (Deuteronomy 34:4-5). It did not really matter though, for he had lived in many places and none of them were really his home. As a baby he had lived for a brief while in a basket on the river, then in a queen's palace, then forty years in Midian, and forty more years wandering in the wilderness.
 
Furthermore, he had been meditating on the men of God of previous generations (after all, he had compiled all their ancient records in the book of Genesis) and had found that they, too, like the apostle Paul 1,500 years later, had "no certain dwellingplace" (1 Corinthians 4:11). Adam had been expelled from his Garden; Noah lived for a year in an Ark on a worldwide sea, then the rest of his life in a devastated earth; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents in Canaan, and their descendants lived as slaves in Egypt.
 
Yet wherever they were, the Lord was with them. He had been their dwelling place, and this was Moses' first thought as he composed his great prayer. He also had written down "the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death" (Deuteronomy 33:1). Its climax was this great assurance: "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (v. 27). The "refuge" of this promise is the same Hebrew word as "dwelling place" in our text.
 
We, like they, are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13), but "underneath are the everlasting arms." Where the Lord is--there home is! HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Prayer and Supplication
 
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)
 
This famous passage has several qualifying factors in the command. The very first qualifier is that we are to be "careful for nothing." The Greek phrase, meden merimnate, could well be translated "let no man make you worried." This phrase, it should be noted, is a command, not a suggestion.
 
If we are to enjoy the peace of God promised by our Lord as a result of our requests, we must first understand that our prayers and supplications are presented before the Lord's throne without taking thought (Matthew 6:24-25) about how we might solve the problems. That great liberty to present our requests to the Lord, however, does not in any way negate our responsibility to "work out |our| own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).
 
Prayer takes many forms, from the lofty intercession for national leaders (1Timothy 2:1-2) to the unprejudiced pleading on the behalf of another (Job 42:10). The Lord Himself "made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12) "and wondered that there was no intercessor" (Isaiah 59:16). Surely we can be faithful with this great access to the sovereign power of eternity.
 
Yet how often do we fail with mere personal requests and supplications? Even the "blessing" that most of us offer at meal times is recognized in Scripture as an appropriate "prayer" and "thanksgiving" to the Supplier of all things (1 Timothy 4:4-5). How much more important, then, is our legitimate cry for help as we face the challenges of ministry and spiritual warfare? Knowing that our "warfare" is not a "carnal" one (2 Corinthians 10:4), we should be even more diligent in "praying always with all prayer and supplication" (Ephesians 6:18). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

The Omnipotent God
 
"Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee." (Job 42:1-2)
 
This was Job’s testimony at the end of his sufferings, as God revealed Himself to him, and Job acknowledged both the omnipotence and omniscience of his maker.
 
The omnipotence of God is a basic doctrine of Christianity, as well as of monotheism in general, yet multitudes of people who give mental assent to this doctrine live out their lives as though God either has died, or has become impotent, or has wandered away, leaving man alone as the captain of his fate. Therefore, it is well for us occasionally to remember again some of the great biblical affirmations of His omnipotence.
 
His very name is "God Almighty" (Genesis 35:11). "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee" (Jeremiah 32:17). Furthermore, God required neither time nor process to create, make, and complete the infinite cosmos in all its complexity: "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. . . . For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:6, 9). "He is strong in power; not one faileth" (Isaiah 40:26).
 
In light of this truth, all the schemes of man are trivial. "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance" (Isaiah 40:15). Evolutionary humanism which seeks to exalt time and chance as the cause of the universe, and man and his systems as its goal and guide, is thus the utmost foolishness!
 
Because He is omnipotent, His Word is trustworthy, and neither "height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Being in the Way
 
"Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren." (Genesis 24:27)
 
Abraham's chief steward, commissioned with the vital task of finding a suitable wife for the promised heir, made a number of important and costly decisions in preparation for his journey--on his own and under his authority as the steward.
 
How can we understand this apparent paradox? On the one hand, we are expected to "work out" our salvation, all the while knowing that "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13). We are warned that "every idle word" will be judged (Matthew 12:36), yet encouraged to "take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak" because God will give us words to say when we need them (Mark 13:11).
 
The parables of the Talents and the Pounds (Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:12-27) show our responsibility to use what God has given us for His Kingdom and glory, yet we are told that "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Psalm 37:23).
 
The answer is "being in the way." The desires of our hearts are granted when we delight in the Lord (Psalm 37:4). If we "will do his will," we will know of God's teaching (John 7:17). As we present our bodies as "living" sacrifices, we are transformed by that new mindset, and therefore can "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
 
This great truth is not a mysterious discipline. It is simply a life lived out in love for the Kingdom "by taking heed thereto according to thy word" (Psalm 119:9). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

Foundations Out of Course
 
"They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course." (Psalm 82:5)
 
Christians sometimes wish they could call down God's judgment on the wicked, especially wicked rulers. In almost every civilization throughout history, men and women have been oppressed by their own despotic rulers or invaders from outside their nation's borders. It seems that the Jewish people and Christian believers have received more than their share of persecution, and it is a comfort to realize that there is biblical precedent for the grieved saint to call out to God for action and justice. In this psalm, the writer does just that.
 
The judges of the day were evidently quite unjust. The psalmist calls on them to "defend the poor and fatherless" (vv. 3-4), but his cries were not heeded. Our text tells us that the rulers were devoid of understanding and walked in darkness: "all the foundations of the earth are out of course."
 
In our day, those who defend animal rights advocate the killing of unborn children. Many cry "Protect the guilty" while they ignore the innocent victim. Adherents to academic freedom tell us that only evolution is science, and creation must not be allowed in schools. We must be tolerant of all viewpoints, say liberal professors, except the biblical worldview. Homosexuals seek favored status, calling good evil and evil good. Certainly something is "out of course."
 
Our confidence, however, rests in God, who "standeth in the congregation of the mighty" (v. 1). He sees the injustice and will act accordingly, as He sees best. It may be sooner or later than we would like, but He will act at the proper time, in the proper way. In the meantime, it is proper for us to pray as did the psalmist, "Arise, O God, judge the earth" (v. 8). Until then, "commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:5). JDM