A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Redeemed!
 
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19)
 
How glibly we use the terms redeemed, redemption, and ransom. But what do they mean, and more importantly, what did Christ's act of redemption mean?
 
Three Greek words and their derivations are used in the New Testament to denote various aspects of this truth. In our text, "redeemed" comes from the Greek word lutroo, which means to set free, to buy back, or to ransom. Christ's innocent blood, sacrificed for us, bought us back. "By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12).
 
But redeemed from what or from where? From slavery to sin. Jesus taught, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34). Thankfully, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Galatians 3:13). The Greek word used here is exagorazo, meaning to buy up, to ransom from the market place (i.e., agora), which could be called "the slave market of sin." He ransomed us, He redeemed us from the horrors of slavery to sin by His death on the cross.
 
The final root word is apolutrosis, which means "to ransom in full." He has paid the full penalty! Nothing more need be paid or done! Indeed, "It is finished" (John 19:30), He said as He died. In Him, and in Him alone, "we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7).
 
Each of us needs to appropriate His plan, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Adam and the Animals
 
"And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." (Genesis 2:19)
 
This event occurred on the sixth day of creation week, between the formation of Adam’s body and that of Eve (note Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7, 22), and there is no reason not to take it literally. Nevertheless, modern theistic evolutionists, including many seminary professors, have found two imaginary problems which they argue prevent taking it literally.
 
The first quibble finds a "contradiction" with Genesis 1:21-25, which says the animals were all made before Adam--not afterward. This supposed problem vanishes when the text verse is translated as follows: "The LORD God had formed every beast of the field." This is a legitimate--in fact, preferable--translation of the Hebrew original.
 
The other alleged difficulty is the supposed inability of Adam to name all the animals in one day. But in reality, he only had to give names "to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field" (Genesis 2:20)--that is, those nearby birds, cattle, and other mammals that might be seen as potential candidates to be a "help meet" for Adam. No marine animals, reptiles, insects, or "beasts of the earth" (Genesis 1:24; i.e., living far away from Eden) were brought to him. Furthermore, he did not need to name every species, but only each relevant "kind"--possibly each "family" (i.e., dogs, horses, eagles, etc.).
 
Finally, his divinely created mental abilities were not yet limited by the disease of sin, so that he could appropriately name each kind much more rapidly than we could do. Thus, no sincere Bible student should be tempted to doubt Genesis by any such "difficulties" as these. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

God's Foundation
 
"His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah." (Psalm 87:1-3)
 
The 87th Psalm was dedicated to the praise of Jerusalem as the chosen city of God, the site of His temple where He could dwell with His people. It is on this city that He focuses His continual attention. However, none of the great fathers of the chosen people--Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua--were ever citizens of earthly Jerusalem, but they all "looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10).
 
The Lord Jesus has gone "to prepare a place" (John 14:2) for us, and God "hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:16). This is "mount Sion . . . the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (Hebrews 12:22), the "Jerusalem which is above" (Galatians 4:26).
 
The day will come when this beautiful city of God will rest on "a great and high mountain . . . descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God" (Revelation 21:10-11). There on the new earth (Revelation 21:1-2) it may indeed rest on foundations extending to the center of the earth, for it will be 1,400 miles high, wide, and long (Revelation 21:16). Inscribed on its beautiful foundations are the names of the 12 apostles, but the sure foundation must be none other than Christ Himself (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 3:11). "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his" (2 Timothy 2:19).
 
"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King" (Psalm 48:1-2). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Revival through the Word
 
"My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word." (Psalm 119:25)
 
Sometimes the battle takes its toll, we feel like the enemy is winning, and our soul "melteth for heaviness" (v. 28). Many psalms share these intense emotions and seek God's face for relief and revival. These eight verses in Psalm 119 provide a concise remedy that every Christian needs sometimes.
 
• Open confession and supplication: "I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me" (v. 26).
• Clear request for understanding: "Teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts"(vv. 26-27).
• Reaffirmation for personal witness: "So shall I talk of thy wondrous works" (v. 27).
• Bold request for spiritual strength: "Strengthen thou me according unto thy word" (v. 28).
• Request to gain victory over habitual sin: "Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously" (v. 29).
• Conscious declaration of personal commitment: "I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have laid before me" (v. 30).
• Remembering past rightous behavior: "I have stuck unto thy testimonies" (v. 31).
• Plea for God's favor and mercy: "O LORD, put me not to shame" (v. 31).
• Expectant promise for future lifestyle of holiness: "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart" (v. 32).
 
Personal revival is as sure as the Word of God. But revival assumes our own deep desire to live in accordance with God's Word. God will "enlarge" (fill, expand) our heart when we seek His face (Psalm 81:10). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

The Comfortable Church
 
"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:17)
 
This is the heart of Christ’s rebuke of the church at Laodicea, the "lukewarm" church (v. 16) of the last days. This is an evangelical church for its candlestick is still in place (note Revelation 1:20; 2:5), but it has become a neutral church, "neither cold nor hot" (3:15). The reason for its tepid witness is because it has become "rich, and increased with goods," comfortable in a culture which tends to equate material prosperity with success and God’s favor. It may have acquired large and beautiful facilities, developed special programs of many kinds, featured a variety of musicians and other artists, and even gained a measure of political power. Yet, Christ calls i t poor and blind and naked!
 
Not all large churches become like this, of course, but it is always a real danger. The desire for large congregations can easily lead to compromising biblical standards of doctrine and practice. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion," the prophet warned (Amos 6:1).
 
Note that the Lord began His letter to the Laodicean church by identifying Himself as "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God" (Revelation 3:14). This strongly suggests that a major reason for the development of such complacency in a large church (or a small church, for that matter) is neglect of these three doctrines--the sufficiency of Christ, the inerrant authority of God’s Word, and the special creation of all things by God.
 
The letter to this church ends with the sad picture of Christ standing at its door, seeking admission (v. 20). "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (v. 22). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Many Called, Few Chosen
 
"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." (Matthew 20:16)
 
These words of Christ make it clear that being called by God and being chosen by Him are not the same. The two items are similar in the Greek, with the second somewhat like an extension of the first—that is, kletos and eklektos, or "called" and "calledout." The same truth is emphasized again in Matthew 22:14: "For many are called, but few are chosen." Note also that the word for "chosen" (eklektos) is the word from which we get the English word "elect." In fact, it is often rendered "elect" in the Bible.
 
It often seems, however, that the two words are used almost as synonyms. Both apply only to true believers. For example, those who are "called" are set out as distinct from all others. "We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and , Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).
 
Yet, as our text says, only a "few" of those that are "called" are also "chosen." All Christians are "the called" of God, but only some of these are "chosen" by Him for some special ministry. For example, Paul was called "a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles" (Acts 9:15).
 
Both the "calling" and "choosing" (or "election") are strictly works of God. In fact, He has "chosen us in him before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4).
 
And yet, we are also exhorted to "give diligence" to make both " calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10). Though the dual nuances may be impossible to comprehend with our minds, they are a blessing to the hearts of all who are the "called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). For all "they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The First Christian
 
"He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light." (John 1:8)
 
Perhaps the least understood and appreciated man in the Bible is the man who was the first Christian soul winner, missionary, martyr, disciple, and pastor, as well as the first to make disciples for Christ, to acknowledge His deity, to baptize converts to Christ, to be imprisoned for his faith, and to teach concerning Christ, as Christ later commanded in His great commission.
 
John the Baptist is often mistakenly called the last Old Testament prophet, but that was Malachi, 400 years earlier. John was actually the first Christian! He leaped in joyous recognition of Christ while still in his mother's womb (Luke 1:44); in fact, he uniquely (apart from Christ) was "filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb" (Luke 1:15).
 
He was such a godly man that he was often mistaken for Christ, and John the apostle even had to stress that John the Baptist was not really that Light, but that God had sent him to bear witness of the true Light--Jesus Christ. Christ Himself testified that no greater man than John the Baptist (not even Noah, Abraham, Job, Moses, or Daniel!) had ever been born (Matthew 11:9-11).
 
In no sense was the message of John an "Old Testament" message. He preached the deity of Christ, redemption by His sacrificial death, and salvation only through faith in Him (John 1:34, 29; 3:36). He "began" the gospel message (Mark 1:1-2) and baptized and taught disciples whom he then directed to Christ. Their baptism was "Christian baptism." In fact, John had baptized Christ Himself! Finally, when he had " ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17), he was imprisoned by Herod and executed because of his faithful witness for Christ. He had given the "knowledge of salvation unto his people" (Luke 1:77). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

His Truth
 
"And he said, 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)
 
This verse contains the heart-warming prayer of Abraham's servant when he realized God had led him to the home of Isaac's future bride. It also contains the first mention in the Bible of the word "truth." Illustrating the principle of first mention, it is significant that the truth of which it speaks is the truth of God. Scientists and educators today profess to be searching for truth, and many religions and philosophies profess to have the truth, but all true truth is of God! To look for it anywhere else is to be "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7).
 
Similarly, the first mention of "truth" in the New Testament is Matthew 14:33: "Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." Truth is found in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).
 
The Holy Scriptures are made up of truth. "Sanctify them through thy truth," prayed the Lord Jesus, "thy word is truth" (John 17:17). "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth" (Psalm 119:142).
 
On the other hand, everything that is false (that is, contrary to the tri-une God and/or His inerrant Word) must have its ultimate source in the enemy of truth, Satan, "which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9), "for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44).
 
The Lord's "mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations" (Psalm 100:5), but "all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Be Patient
 
"Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." (James 5:8)
 
Many of us have been looking for the return of the Lord Jesus for a long time. This writer has kept a simple little plaque on his office wall for over 50 years. It reads: "Perhaps today," and serves as a daily reminder that today might indeed be the day when He comes again. We do long for His appearing, and as things seem to grow worse in the world year by year, it is easy to become impatient--or perhaps even despondent--when He doesn't come.
 
Yet day by day "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh!" as our text teaches. "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Hebrews 10:36-37).
 
Even the first-century Christians had to learn patience as they also anxiously were awaiting Christ's return to deliver them out of their tribulations--tribulations which were so great they seemed to fit "end-time prophecies."
 
"Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13) is His admonition to all who await His second coming. "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing" (Luke 12:43). But rather than hoping the Lord will come quickly to free us from our tribulations, we should "count it all joy when fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of faith worketh patience" (James 1:2-3). We need patience, and "tribulation worketh patience" (Romans 5:3). For God will render "to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:7). We should "be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12). "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord" (James 5:7). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Discerner
 
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
 
The Word of God (both the written Word and the living Word, Jesus Christ) is "living and energizing" and is the double-edged sword of the Spirit, piercing into the deepest recesses of body, soul, and spirit, where it "discerns" even the very thoughts and intents of our hearts.
 
This discernment, however, is more than just understanding or insight. The Greek word for "discerner" is kritikos and is used only this one time in the Bible. Our word "critic" is derived from it, and this is an important dimension of its meaning. Its discernment is a critical, judging discernment--one which convicts and corrects, as well as one which understands.
 
It is paradoxical that men today presume to become critics of the Bible, when it should really be the other way around. There are textual critics who sort through the various ancient manuscripts of the Bible, trying to arrive at the original text; there are the "higher critics" who critique vocabularies and concepts, trying to show that the traditional authors did not actually write the books attributed to them; and then there are many other purely destructive critics who criticize the Bible's miracles, morals, and everything else, hoping thereby to justify their rebellion against the Word.
 
But the Bible still stands! It stands in judgment on our lives and our subconscious motives. It will have the final word when "the books opened . . . and the dead judged out of those things which were written in the books" (Revelation 20:12). It is far better to heed the constructive criticism of the Word now, than to hear its condemnation later. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Fellowship of the Mystery
 
"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 3:9)
 
In the third chapter of Ephesians, the apostle Paul is outlining the tremendous message he had been called by God to preach. By special "revelation," God had "made known" to him the essentials of what had previously been a great "mystery" (vv. 3-4). Since all--both Jew and Gentile--had the same Creator, and since that Creator had now become the Redeemer, therefore all were to be "partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (v. 6).
 
Thus there was established a wonderful fellowship among all those whom He has created and redeemed. This great mystery, long hidden from the Gentiles and from the Jews (accustomed to viewing themselves as the chosen nation), must now give way to "the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vv. 10-11).
 
That great purpose, now revealed, had from the beginning of the world been "hid in God." He had first "created all things by Jesus Christ" (see our text for the day) and "now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). He has forever reconciled both Jew and Gentile to the Father and to each other "in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (v. 16).
 
True fellowship between any two groups can only be on this basis. That is, both the creation of all things and the blood bought redemption of all things have thereby been completed through the Lord Jesus Christ. This former mystery is now fully revealed as the essential foundation of true fellowship with God and man. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Least in the Kingdom
 
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:19)
 
The Lord Jesus was evidently speaking here not of the differences between saved and unsaved people, but rather of degrees of reward in His future kingdom. The criterion for achieving "greatness" in the future life is simply to believe, teach, and obey the complete Word of God in this life, not just the major doctrines and general principles. Those who undermine any part of God's Word, either in teaching or practice, will be relegated to "least in the kingdom of heaven." In the words of the apostle Paul, such a person "shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (1 Corinthians 3:15).
 
Thus no Scripture is unimportant, for "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable" (2 Timothy 3:16). In fact, the verse just previous to our text, providing the basis for the Lord's warning about breaking even the least commandment, is His remarkable assertion about the verbal inerrancy of Scripture: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18).
 
There are many Christians (especially among intellectuals) who say they believe the Bible, but are nevertheless quick to adapt their interpretations of Scripture to the latest speculations of scientists or to current fads of world living. This is insulting to God who surely can say what He means! "Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).
 
If we aspire to greatness in the coming kingdom, then clearly we must believe and teach "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), according to His revealed Word. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Taught by the Word
 
"Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end." (Psalm 119:33)
 
This eight-verse section (vv. 33-40) closely parallels a similar passage in Proverbs 2:1-5. Both focus on being taught, gaining understanding, and keeping "the way" of God's Word.
 
Certainly worth noting is the manner in which the psalmist asked to "go in the path of thy commandments" (v. 35). In every case, the request is for God's hand to control the process. There is no indication that the psalmist assumed the capability of finding these truths on his own.
 

"Teach me, O LORD" (v. 33).
"Give me understanding" (v. 34).
"Make me to go" (v. 35).
"Incline my heart" (v. 36).
"Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity" (v. 37).
"Stablish thy word" (v. 38).
"Turn away my reproach" (v. 39).
"Quicken me in thy righteousness" (v. 40).
 
However, having prayed for God's intervention and oversight in his life, the psalmist promised to act on the given insight and order his life around "the way" so illumined by God's instructions. He acknowledged his "delight" and his "longing" in the holy life and character revealed in the Scriptures and, like the Proverbs 2 passage, showed a willingness of the spiritual consciousness of his heart and mind to "understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:5).
 
May our prayer always be like this: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

The Bible Stands!
 
"Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." (Psalm 119:160)
 
Very few books survive very long. Only a few survive past the first printing, and science books especially get out of date in just a few years.
 
But one book is eternal! The Bible stands! Even its most ancient chapters are still accurate and up to date. Furthermore, despite all the vicious attacks of both ancient pagans and modern humanists, it will continue to endure. Jesus said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). Even after everything else dies and all the bombastic tirades of skeptics and secularists are long forgotten, the Word endures. "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever" (Isaiah 40:8).
 
Note the oft-repeated testimony to this same effect in Psalm 119. In addition to the comprehensive promise of today's text, this great "psalm of the word" also contains these affirmations: "For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. . . . Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. . . . The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: . . . Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever" (Psalm 119:89, 111, 144, 152). Founded forever, inherited forever, settled forever, lasting forever! God is eternal, and His Word was true from the beginning.
 
Men may, in these last days, arrogantly think they can "take away from the words of the book of this prophecy" (Revelation 22:19), but such presumption will only "take away part out of the book of life," and the Bible will still stand. "The word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (1 Peter 1:25). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Obedience and Righteousness
 
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19)
 
Certainly the focal point of all history and the climax of Christ's earthly ministry was His sacrificial death on the cross. Christ knew from ages past what was in store for Him, and yet He was "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8).
 
However, as we see in our text, Christ's obedience included more than His death, for He was perfectly obedient throughout His entire life. Indeed, it is a good thing, for any act of disobedience would have invalidated His sacrificial death. Animal sacrifices in the Old Testament (which prefigured the final sacrifice of Christ) had to be "without blemish" (Leviticus 22:19). But even a perfect animal was not enough (Hebrews 10:4) to satisfy God's justice and take away sins. "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things. . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
 
Christ's obedience, therefore, consisted not only of His obedience in death, but in His entire earthly life--from His incarnation, "I come . . . to do thy will, O God" (Hebrews 10:7)--to His childhood, " ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49)--to His healing and teaching ministry among the people, "I must work the works of him that sent me" (John 9:4)--to His preparation for death, "nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).
 
Now, in His obedience, Christ calls us to a life of similar obedience. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:8-9). JDM