A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Waiting for Jesus
 
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2)
 
It is fascinating to note all the occurrences of the word "salvation" in the Old Testament. Most are translations of the Hebrew yeshua, which corresponds to the name "Jesus" in English. For example, the verse above could just as well read "behold, God is my Jesus; . . . the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and song; he also is become my Jesus."
 
Hebrew parents usually gave their children names which had significance. Thus, when Gabriel instructed Joseph to name Mary’s son "Jesus," they would recognize immediately that they were, in effect, to name Him "Salvation," because "he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). We can easily imagine that Mary and Joseph spent many hours together pouring over their Bibles and reading again all the great prophecies of the coming Savior—especially those in which His very name, yeshua, had been anticipated.
 
The first of these was in the dying words of their ancestor, Jacob, after whom Joseph’s own father had been named (Matthew 1:16). In almost his last words, the dying patriarch had exclaimed: "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord" (Genesis 49:18). We can at least wonder whether they wondered if Jacob, in his prophetic vision, had actually seen Jesus, and cried out, enraptured, "I have waited for thy Jesus, O Lord!" Then, in Habakkuk 3:13, they could even have found both His name and His title ("anointed" = Messiah = Christ). Thus: "Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed |i.e., Jesus thy Christ|; thou woundest the he ad out of the house of the wicked" (i.e., Satan—note Genesis 3:15). In any case, we can be sure that Joseph and Mary "marvelled at those things which were spoken of him" (Luke 2:33). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The God of the Gourd
 
"And the LORD GOD prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd." (Jonah 4:6)
 
In the brief story of Jonah, the Lord has given us a striking insight into His providential ways with His people. He "prepared" four special instruments for revealing His will and His great concern for the people God wanted to help. Each involved a very ordinary thing, functioning in an extraordinary way (providential miracles, as it were).
 
First, "the LORD had prepared a great fish" (Jonah 1:17), both to save Jonah from drowning and to enable God to convince him of the urgent necessity of fulfilling the ministry to which He had called him. Then, after he had preached in Nineveh and God had spared the city, Jonah became angry and wanted to die, so "the LORD God prepared a gourd . . . that it might be a shadow over his head" (4:6). Jonah was thankful for this providential shade from the heat, but he was still not thankful for the sparing of Nineveh. Therefore, "God prepared a worm," and by the next day, "it smote the gourd that it withered" (4:7). Furthermore, "God prepared a vehement east wind" (4:8), and the blasting heat angered Jonah more than ever, so that he again wanted to die.
 
Finally Jonah was able to hear what God was really saying to him in all these circumstances, and he realized the tremendous scope of God’s mercy and compassion for the lost.
 
As with Jonah, God speaks to us through ordinary things in providential circumstances. Whether by a marvelous deliverance or a comforting provision, a sudden loss or a mighty storm, God leads us into His will and transforms our lives and hearts to conform to His love. "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Inoffensively Offensive
 
"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" (Matthew 18:7)
 
The word translated "offend" (in verses 6 and 8) is the Greek skandalizo, and "offense" is skandalar, from which we derive our English words "scandal" and "scandalize." The basic meaning of these words is "to cause to sin" or "to ensnare." It is bad enough to commit an act of sin, but even more scandalous in God's sight is the act of causing someone to sin. It is especially dangerous to lead children into sin. "And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea" (Mark 9:42). What a solemn judgment awaits those teachers and counselors who lead their pupils to doubt or disobey the Word of God!
 
Yet, despite these and many similar warnings against "offences," we are also told that Christ Himself is "a stumblingstone and rock of offence" (Romans 9:33). There is a very real "offence of the cross" (Galatians 5:11); the apostle Paul says: "We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock |same word as 'offence'|" (1 Corinthians 1:23).
 
There is no contradiction, of course. The preaching of Christ and the cross is profoundly offensive to sinners, and they will often react angrily, and sometimes violently against it, thus compounding their sin. When we bear witness of Christ, our message is necessarily offensive, for it must condemn and convict before it can save. Nevertheless, it is profoundly important that, in any other respect than this, we never cause others to sin by bringing an offense. Our message may offend, but the context of life and word in which it is given should be without offense, if we would be faithful and effective in our service for Christ. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Enduring Forever
 
"O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalm 136:26)
 
This is the final verse in the unique Psalm 136 in which all 26 verses end with the thrilling testimony: "His mercy endureth for ever!" This same affirmation occurs 15 more times in the Old Testament. How important it must be for us to remember forever that God's "lovingkindness" (same word as "mercy") does endure forever!
 
But it is not only His mercy which is everlasting. He is eternally kind and loving, but He is also eternally just and righteous. "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever" (Psalm 119:160).
 
His Word of truth existed in the beginning, and will also exist through all the ages to come. "For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever" (Psalm 117:2). In this verse, the word "great" actually means "victorious." Nothing can ever defeat God's loving mercy and His truthful word, for they endure from eternity to eternity. Likewise, His "kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and |His| dominion endureth throughout all generations" (Psalm 145:13), and "the goodness of God endureth continually" (Psalm 52:1).
 
Finally, there is this all-encompassing testimony: "Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever" (Psalm 135:13). All the divine attributes and all the divine purposes are embraced in His holy name, and thus none can ever fail.
 
Now, note that in all the verses cited, the verb "endureth" was not in the original. The divinely inspired writers thus recognized that no verb was really necessary. The very concepts of the name, the truth, the righteousness, and the mercy of God must be everlasting, for He is the God of eternity! HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Be Not Ignorant
 
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." (Acts 17:30)
 
One does not need a great deal of education to be saved. Even a child can understand the gospel, believe on Christ, and receive eternal salvation. But it sometimes seems that the more learning a man acquires, the more ignorant he becomes of eternal truths. Many come to believe that any religion--or even no religion--is better than the true religion.
 
Nevertheless, Jesus said: "I am . . . the truth" (John 14:6); Peter preached that "there is none other name . . . whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12); and Paul told the skeptical philosophers in Athens that God "hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised from the dead" (Acts 17:31). The evidence that Christ defeated death is available to all who care, and is so strong that those who reject it are inexcusable. Even ignorance is no excuse!
 
Then there are also many other truths about which God warns us not to remain ignorant. For example, Paul says: "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." They are given by the Holy Spirit "to every man severally as He will" (1 Corinthians 12:1, 11). And although many people believe that God has abandoned His chosen people forever, He would remind us: "I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, . . . that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25).
 
Perhaps most important is for us to know that Christ Himself is coming again. "But I would not have you be ignorant, brethren" that "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, . . . and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them . . . and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Flee
 
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." (1 Corinthians 6:18)
 
Four times in the New Testament we are warned to "flee" sinful actions and temptations. The Greek word pheugo, from which we get our word "fugitive," means simply "to run away." Evidently there are certain things which must be avoided at all costs. Our text mentions fornication and brings to mind godly Joseph's reaction to Potiphar's wife's advances (Genesis 39:12). Even though his decision cost him dearly in the short run, it was the right thing to do, and God honored him.
 
Likewise, if we are to do the right thing, we must "flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14), such as participation in the pagan feasts of Paul's day, as well as the modern-day counterparts which might bring us under demonic influence or in contact with worship of the devil.
 
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things" (1 Timothy 6:11), says Paul, after listing "envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings" (vv. 4-5) and "love of money" (v. 10). Paul knew, however, that merely fleeing these evils was not enough. He wisely instructed Timothy to substitute positive actions in the place of the negative ones he was to avoid, and to "follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (v. 11). Elsewhere, he admonished Timothy to "flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace" (2 Timothy 2:22) with the aid and mutual encouragement of "them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." God does not expect us to live the Christian life entirely on our own.
 
We who have "fled for refuge" (Hebrews 6:18) to God have another bit of encouragement. This time, it is not the believer who must flee, but we are told that as we "resist the devil . . . he will flee" from us (James 4:7). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

How to Take Criticism
 
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." (Proverbs 9:9)
 
One of the most difficult lessons for Christians to learn is how to take criticism. The natural reaction is one either of resentment and desire to lash back, or else one of discouragement and quitting. Neither is honoring to the Lord.
 
Remembering that "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28) to the sincere Christian believer, we should first of all consider the criticism as potential "instruction" from God as well as from the critic. We should seek to test the criticism as objectively as possible, in light of our actions and the Scriptures, the most probing critic of all. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword . . . and is a discerner |literally 'criticizer'| of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
 
If it turns out that the criticism is even partly valid, then the obvious course is to take the appropriate remedial action, and to do it as prayerfully and graciously as possible.
 
On the other hand, if an honest evaluation of the criticism reveals it to be unwarranted, or perhaps even deliberately false and hurtful, then our example becomes Christ Himself. He never did or said anything to merit criticism (as we do, far too often), but He received it in great abundance.
 
What was His response? "When he was reviled, |he| reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23). We should remember that "a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1).
 
By all means, we must not become discouraged into retreating or quitting, "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Truth and Love
 
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Ephesians 4:15)
 
There are many Christians who are sticklers for what they consider sound doctrine, but who are abrasive and unloving in their attitude toward those who hold other doctrines. There are far more Christians, on the other hand, who talk much about Christian love, but who consider doctrinal integrity of secondary--or even negative--significance.
 
Both groups of professing Christians, however, are only babes in Christ, at best. As our text makes clear, the mature Christian (one who has "grown up into Christ in all things") speaks the truth in love. That is, he is not a babe, "tossed to and fro . . . with every wind of doctrine" (v. 14), but he understands, believes, and teaches the truth of God as revealed in His Word. At the same time, he does so in love, making "increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (v. 16).
 
One cannot really do the truth or teach the truth without manifesting true love, nor can one manifest true love except in a context of genuine truth. "The fruit of the Spirit is love" (Galatians 5:22), but that Spirit who produces such fruit is "the Spirit of truth" (John 15:26). Truth and love are not in conflict with one another, as many Christians seem to think (or at least practice), for they represent two different--not competing--categories. "Truth" is not even included in the nine-fold "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23), because truth is, itself, the tree on which the fruit must grow.
 
It is especially important not to be led away from sound biblical truth by popular preachers and teachers who downgrade doctrine in favor of what they may call "love." "My little children," says the apostle John, "let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Justified from All Things
 
"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:39)
 
Many Christians today tend to the doctrine of justification as something too "theological" to deal with. But it simply means "declaring to be righteous" a person who had actually been guilty of some offense. It is the prerogative of the judge trying his case to pronounce innocence or guilt as based on the evidence. In the case of sin against a divine law, "it is God that justifieth" (Romans 8:33), for He is the Judge.
 
But how can God both "be just, and the justifier" of one who is obviously guilty--as, indeed, we all are, since "all have sinned" (Romans 3:26, 23)? The answer is that we are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins." (Romans 3:24-25).
 
Christ has credited His perfect righteousness to our account and paid the death penalty for all our sins. We are told in the Scripture above cited (Romans 3:24) that we are justified by His grace. Then Romans 5:1 says we are "justified by faith" and Romans 5:9 says we are "justified by his blood." Finally, we are justified by the Holy Spirit. "Ye are washed, . . . sanctified, . . . justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).
 
And all of this is absolutely guaranteed by Christ's victory over death. "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:25). As our text assures us, "all that believe are justified from all things" in the eyes of God. In the eyes of men, however, "by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Personal Greetings
 
"Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them." (Romans 16:14)
 
An interesting phenomenon occurs in the closing chapter of many of Paul's epistles, which may at first seem incongruous with the biblical doctrine of plenary verbal inspiration. This phenomenon is the recital of various names of individuals--people in the churches from which, or to which, he was writing. Most of them are people about whom we know nothing except their names, as listed by Paul. There are 11 people mentioned by name in Colossians 4:7-17. In Paul's final epistle to Timothy, right after he had written the great passage on the inspiration of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17), he mentioned no less than 18 names. In the last chapter of Romans is listed 35 names, five of which are included in the one short verse of our text!
 
The question is, why did the Holy Spirit inspire Paul to include so many personal names of people who were of only local interest, in epistles which God intended to be used by Christians everywhere? And, of course, these lists of names are dwarfed in comparison to the very extensive lists in the Old Testament (e.g., Numbers 7 and 26).
 
Perhaps the main reason for their permanent inscripturation in this fashion is simply to illustrate the great truth that God knows and cares about every one of His children. We do know that each of our names is written in "the book of life of the Lamb" and in God's "book of remembrance . . . for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name" (Revelation 13:8; Malachi 3:16). Perhaps, as a small token and assurance of these great lists in heaven, God has listed a few of these names in His Book here on earth. They were ordinary people just like us, and it will be our privilege, as Paul instructs in our text, to "salute Asyncritus" when we can, and all the other believers who have gone before us! HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Witness of Creation
 
"Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name." (Amos 5:8)
 
This striking exhortation is inserted in the midst of a prophetic rebuke by God of His people Israel. They were rapidly drifting into pagan idolatry, and Amos was trying to call them back.
 
His exhortation, given almost 3,800 years ago, is more needed today than it ever was before. Modern pagan scientists have developed elaborate but absurdly impossible theories about the chance origin of the universe from nothing, and the evolution of stars, planets, and people from primordial hydrogen. But the mighty cosmos and its galaxies of stars--even the very constellations, such as Orion and Pleiades (the "seven stars"), as well as the solar system--were made. All of these had to be made by an omniscient, omnipotent Creator, who had a glorious purpose for it all.
 
Similarly, the global evidences that waters once covered all the earth's mountains (i.e., marine fossils and water-laid sediments at their summits) cannot possibly be explained--as evolutionary geologists try to do--by slow processes acting over aeons of time. God the Creator had to call massive volumes of water forth from their original reservoirs and pour them out on the earth in His Flood judgment on a rebellious world.
 
All of these witness to the fact of creation and judgment, not to impotent "gods" personifying natural forces. Men urgently need to seek the true God of creation and salvation before judgment falls again, for "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

God My Personal Savior
 
"And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke 1:47)
 
One of the most wonderful titles of the Lord Jesus Christ is that of Savior. This word (Greek soter, from which is derived our theological term "soteriology," the study of salvation) occurs 24 times in the New Testament and is applied only to Christ, "for there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
 
It occurs first of all on the lips of the virgin Mary in our text above, when she realized that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Savior. It is significant that this first use of soter recognizes that our Savior can be none other than God Himself--"God my Savior"--and also that this fact should cause our spirits to rejoice, as Mary's did. He becomes our personal Savior when we believe on Him, as did Mary.
 
He is also "the Saviour of the world" (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14) and the "Saviour of all men" in the sense that His work on the cross is sufficient to save all who will receive Him.
 
There are eight other verses in the New Testament in which "Savior" is taken as synonymous with "God." The final occurrence of "Savior" is one of these, and it is in one of the greatest doxologies of the Bible. "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" (Jude 25).
 
There are many today who see the man Jesus as a great teacher and example, but who reject His deity. There are many others who believe in a cosmic deity of some kind, but are unwilling to believe that He could become uniquely incarnate in a perfect man. How urgent it is that we believe and teach that
our Creator must also become our Savior if we are ever to be saved. We must "trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). Then we can rejoice with Mary in "God my Saviour." HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Another Jesus
 
"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Corinthians 11:4)
 
The verses following our text contain an enlightening warning about false teachers. One should not carelessly follow a personable religious leader merely because he "preaches Jesus" or urges audiences to "receive the Spirit."
 
"Jesus" is quite popular among worldly people today, but not the true Jesus. The popular Jesus may be the baby Jesus in the manger at Christmastime, or the buddy Jesus of Nashville "gospel" music, or the success-counseling Jesus of the positive thinkers. He may be the romantic Jesus of the Christian crooners, the rhythmic Jesus of Christian rock, or the reforming Jesus of the liberals, but none of these are the Jesus preached by the apostle Paul, and therefore not the real Jesus who saves men and women from their sins.
 
Jesus in reality is the Lord Jesus Christ, the offended Creator of the universe (Colossians 1:16), who had to die as man on the cross to redeem us through His shed blood (Colossians 1:14, 20), and who then rose from the dead to be set "far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named" (Ephesians 1:21). Finally, it is this Jesus "who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom" (2 Timothy 4:1).
 
The Lord Jesus, as He really is, is not the popular Jesus of T-shirts and bumper stickers, politicians and entertainers. He was "despised and rejected of men" (Isaiah 53:3) so they "crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:8).
 
He is the mighty God, the perfect man, the only Savior, the eternal King, and Lord of lords. God-called teachers will not preach an imaginary Jesus who appeals to the flesh, but rather the true Christ of creation and salvation. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Holidays
 
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." (Colossians 2:16)
 
This is the only verse in the New Testament that has any reference to holidays (at one time considered "holy days"). However, the Greek word so translated does occur there quite often, being rendered elsewhere always by its correct meaning of "feasts."
 
Such "holy days" in the Old Testament economy normally required "no servile work" to be done on those days and were usually associated with a special "feast" of some deep spiritual significance. They certainly were not holidays in the modern sense, devoted mostly to pleasure.
 
In fact, it is perhaps significant that neither holidays nor vacations are mentioned in the Bible at all. The weekly Sabbath "rest" day is, of course, frequently emphasized. One day in seven has always been observed as a day to rest from labor and to remember our Creator. However, the other six days were to be spent working. Many can still remember when the norm was a six-day work week.
 
Not so now. Many complain about even a five-day week, and "T.G.I.F." is a common feeling as the "weekend" approaches. "Labor" Day is now a day mainly for fun, but it might be a good day for Christians to thank God for the privilege of work and doing that work "heartily, as to the Lord" (Colossians 3:23). Our work, whatever it may be, can become a real testimony for (or, sadly, against) the Lord whom we profess to serve.
 
In the ages to come, there will still be work to do for the Lord. In that day, it is promised that "his servants shall serve him" (Revelation 22:3). Therefore, we should be "abounding in the work of the Lord" right now. It will not be "in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Duty of Rejoicing
 
"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." (Psalm 5:11)
 
It may seem strange to think of rejoicing as a Christian duty, but the Scriptures do contain many commands to rejoice, and many of these are given in circumstances of grief or danger, as is the case of our beautiful text verse.
 
"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4), Paul wrote from a Roman dungeon. In the upper room the night before He was to die on a cross, the Lord Jesus said to His disciples: "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:11). And then He said: "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (John 16:2). But then He said again: "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).
 
If David could rejoice while fleeing from murderous enemies, if Paul could rejoice while chained unjustly in a Roman prison, if the disciples could experience fullness of joy while facing martyrdom, and if the Lord Himself "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2), then our Christian duty of rejoicing in all circumstances may not be such an unseemly command after all.
 
We can rejoice, as our text reminds us, "because thou defendest them." Furthermore, He Himself provides the joy, for "the fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy" (Galatians 5:22). It is not that the Christian will never know sorrow, for Christ Himself was "a man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3). But He also was a man of joy and, in Him, we can be like Him--"as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10). HMM