A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

A Fresh Start
 
"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24)
 
Everyone deserves a fresh start. As we start the New Year with resolutions and lofty ideals, it is good to remember that we can all renew our commitment. We can all purpose to gain even loftier heights in our spiritual journey toward Christ-likeness. No matter how far we have ascended, we can go farther; no matter how low we have fallen, we can begin again.
 
How can this be accomplished? As the context of our text teaches, we must go back to school--the school of Christ. "But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:20-21). "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29).
 
As our text verses explain, we must both "put off . . . the old man" and "put on the new man," clearly speaking of our manner of life, just as if we were changing clothes. If we as believers are hanging on to a few old rags, let this New Year see us obey this passage as an act of faith through the living Spirit of God: "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14).
 
This act of submission and desire will result as we are "renewed in the spirit |or attitude| of |our minds|" (Ephesians 4:23). The old man will not be removed or changed into the new but will be brought under control. The new man is a new creation of God modeled after Him "in righteousness and true holiness." "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Ephesians 2:10). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Golden Rule
 
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
 
This command of Christ is the famous so-called "Golden Rule" of conduct. As He said, it succinctly summarizes and crystallizes all the instructions given in the Old Testament Scriptures dealing with human interrelationships. In fact, somewhat similar guidelines can be found even in certain ancient extra-biblical writings.
 
It should be stressed, however, that this maxim is not meant to be a prerequisite for salvation. No mere human being ever obeys this rule perfectly, any more than one can keep perfectly the Ten Commandments.
 
It was included by Christ as a part of what is known as the "Sermon on the Mount," which the Bible clearly states was a series of instructions given only to believers--that is, to people already saved through personal faith in Christ. At the very beginning of this "sermon," it says clearly that, "seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them" (Matthew 5:1-2).
 
Thus the "Golden Rule" is only for Christian believers. It is a standard by which we should seek to order our personal lives, not to be saved, but because we are saved. "Be ye therefore perfect," said the Lord, "even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Not one of us--except Christ Himself, in His humanity--has ever perfectly kept the Golden Rule or been sinlessly perfect (note 1 John 1:8, 10). Nevertheless, our standard can be nothing less. "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect," said the apostle Paul: "but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12). And so should we. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Salvation in the Spirit
 
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
 
Nicodemus was confused that night when Jesus first spoke of the necessity of the new birth and then equated it with the symbol of baptism. Christ then indicated that the reality in both was the supernatural work of God, the Holy Spirit. "Except a man be born of water |that is, the Spirit|, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God |with 'and' understood as 'even'|".
 
The miracle of regeneration is thus a work of the Spirit, and just as "the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). It is not some soul-winning methodology, but the Holy Spirit who does the work, and He (like the invisible wind) may work in a great variety of different ways.
 
This work of the Holy Spirit in bringing salvation to the unsaved is so great and so complex that it must be described in a variety of figures to convey the whole reality. In the first place, He must bring conviction of sin and the need of salvation. "When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:8).
 
Then, as the sinner repents and believes on Christ, the Spirit baptizes him into Christ. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13). As a member of Christ's body, he is made a partaker of His resurrection life. Simultaneously, "after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13), and "the Spirit of God dwelleth in you" (1 Corinthians 3:16). All of this becomes the mighty miracle of spiritual birth. "According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Teachers and Soldiers
 
"And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." (2 Timothy 2:26)
 
We are in a great battle for the minds of young people today. The battlefield may be the classroom, or the home, or the church, or the family television, or any place else where teaching--good or bad--takes place.
 
It is significant that one of the greatest verses on teaching, and one of the greatest on soldiering, occur together. "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:2-3). Thus it seems clear that a faithful teacher is a good soldier in the battle of Jesus Christ against the devil for the minds of those we are trying to teach.
 
The battle is not to be fought with bullets, however, or even with ballots, but with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). Furthermore, our battlefield strategy is not to strike down our enemy with a sharpened tongue or to bludgeon him with a superior intellect. "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:6).  Our text for the day gives us reason to continue, for it promises that those whose minds have been ensnared by the devil may yet be recovered. The words just preceding this verse describe our tactics: "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Not even Satan can stand before the mighty sword of the Spirit, wielded by an apt soldier-teacher. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Labor--The Gift of God
 
"And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 3:13)
 
Some people may have the feeling that having to work for a living is an imposition of a corrupt society. Since they were brought into this world through no choice of their own, therefore the world owes them a living, they think. Is working a punishment because of our sins?
 
Well, God did "curse" the ground because of sin, but in an important sense it was for man's own good. "Cursed is the ground," He told Adam, "for thy sake" (Genesis 3:17). It would require "the sweat of thy face" (v. 19) before man could eat his bread, and even then it would be "in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life" (v. 17).
 
But the work itself would not be a punishment, for even before he sinned, God had given Adam the responsibility in his Edenic garden "to dress it and to keep it" (Genesis 2:15). Furthermore, we shall have work to do in the new earth in the ages to come, for we are told that "his servants shall serve him" there (Revelation 22:3), even though there will be no remnant of sinfulness there at all.
 
Even in this life, work is a blessing when we see it as "the gift of God." If we see it only as drudgery and hardship, then it can indeed be "in sorrow." But the Lord Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
 
If having to work for a living will encourage us to come to Christ for salvation and peace of soul, then it is truly "for thy sake" that God's curse was pronounced on the ground. The key to joy in labor, instead of sorrow, is noted by the apostle Paul. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. . . . for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Wonder at the Word
 
"Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them." (Psalm 119:129)
 
Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah. His grandfather was Manassah and his father Amon, both evil kings. While it seemed Josiah would follow the same path, he didn't. "He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left" (2 Chronicles 34:2). What made such a difference?
 
As the text above testifies, Josiah found wonder in God's Word. When Josiah was a young man (age 26), a godly leader read to him the law (torah), which engaged his soul.
 
And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. (2 Chronicles 34:31)
 
Such was the case of the psalmist. The earlier portions of Psalm 119 declare the good that he had done, but now his soul was motivated. He longed (v. 131) and cried for direction and help from the Lord: "Look thou upon me, and . . . Order my steps in thy word. . . . Deliver me from the oppression of man. . . . Make thy face to shine upon thy servant" (vv. 132-135).
 
These unselfish prayers were each coupled with a promise to obey. With his heart and correct behavior involved, the psalmist wept for those who "keep not thy law" (v. 136). When the hearts of God's people break because of sin, revival comes (2 Chronicles 7:14). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

Keeping and Avoiding
 
"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called." (1 Timothy 6:20)
 
Note that there are contained here both positive and negative charges. Timothy, Paul's son in the faith, is instructed to keep certain things and avoid others. The word "keep" is a military word which might better be translated "guard." The word "avoid" implies more than merely refraining from contact. It has to do, instead, with actively and deliberately turning away from something.
 
Timothy is to guard that which has been committed into his care--by inference, something quite valuable--the complete gospel of Jesus Christ. "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost" (2 Timothy 1:13-14).
 
Paul knew, however, that in order to guard the truth, Timothy must actively avoid the false, and lists three specific potential pitfalls. The first is profane babbling, i.e., any of those conversations and arguments which are of a worldly, ungodly, unclean nature. Next, he is to avoid vain, empty, hollow arguments. Elsewhere, Paul teaches "shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness" (2 Timothy 2:16).
 
Lastly, he is to avoid the opposing arguments of false science, or knowledge. Human wisdom, found to be contrary to the wisdom of God, may be called knowledge by some, but if so, it is "falsely so called." Even "some professing |Christians| have erred concerning the faith" (1 Timothy 6:21).
 
Paul closes with the benediction "Grace be with thee." The word "thee" is in the plural form. May we all enjoy God's grace as we attempt to keep the true, avoid the false, and discern the difference. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Selah
 
"Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah." (Psalm 3:2)
 
The word "Selah" occurs 74 times in the Bible (three of which are in the prophetic psalm of Habakkuk, with the other 71 in the book of Psalms). The first of these occurrences is here in Psalm 3:2, and it also occurs at the end of verses 4 and 8, thus in effect dividing Psalm 3 into three "stanzas."
 
However, its exact meaning is uncertain. Most authorities think it is some kind of musical notation, to be applied when the psalm was being sung with accompanying musical instrumentation. It suggests a pause of some kind, perhaps to allow the instruments to play a few notes while the singers were silent before proceeding with the next portion, possibly changing to a different key.
 
When the psalm is merely being read, however, as must often be the case, this explanation would be pointless. Thus, some think it indicates a brief pause for reflection on the truth just revealed before proceeding to the next point. "Selah" might, therefore, mean something like: "Think of that!"
 
In Psalm 3, as the first instance, verse 2 notes that many (perhaps originally those involved in Absalom's rebellion against King David) are saying: "Not even God can help him now!" But then the psalmist remembers God's promises and he prays, and God answers, so now he can say: "Well, what do you think about that?" Both exclamations are implied by his "Selah."
 
Then in the third stanza, he stresses his security in his Lord. He can sleep and "not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about . . . Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people" (Psalm 3:6, 8). "So, what can you say about that, you enemies of God and His Word?" ("Selah"). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Creation in Praise of God
 
"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:12)
 
Every now and again, the biblical writers were so lifted up in spirit as they contemplated the glory of God and His great works of creation and redemption that they could sense the very creation itself singing out in happy praises. "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1) is one of the most familiar of these divinely inspired figures of speech, but there are many others. "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: . . . Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. . . . Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth" (Psalm 98:4, 7-9).
 
Often these praises are in contemplation of God's final return to complete and fulfill all His primeval purposes in creation, as in the above passage. This better time is also in view in our text, which looks forward to a time when "instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off" (Isaiah 55:13). God has triumphed over evil!
 
And this all points ahead to the eventual removal of the great curse which now dominates creation because of man's sin (Genesis 3:14-19). For the present, "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22). One day, however, the groaning creation "shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption" (Romans 8:21). Therefore, "let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; . . . Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice" (Psalm 96:11-12). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Touch Not Mine Anointed
 
"And |David| said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD." (1 Samuel 24:6)
 
These words have been widely misappropriated in later times as a warning to any who would presume to question or rebuke an erring pastor or other Christian leader. In the theocracy of Israel, there were three groups of men specially chosen by God and then anointed for their offices--prophets, priests, and kings--and God indeed "suffered no man to do them wrong" (Psalm 105:14). However, all three offices were completely fulfilled in Christ. The Levitical priesthood has been abolished, and Christ is our eternal high priest. The prophetic office ceased with the completion of the Scriptures, and Christ has inherited David's throne forever.
 
As far as New Testament anointing is concerned, this is now accomplished in every true believer. "Now he which . . . hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). No longer are we dependent on special instruction and guidance from priests and prophets, for we have the inerrant, infallible, written Word of God, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. "The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (1 John 2:27).
 
Christians can, and should, learn and grow spiritually from godly teachers of the Word and faithful pastors of the flock, but all--leaders as well as learners--must continually be subject to correction from God's Word, "neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Many Books
 
"And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." (Ecclesiastes 12:12)
 
It seems amazing, at first, that we should be reading a complaint from almost 3,000 years ago that too many books were already being published. The greatest book, of course, is the collection of 66 books known as the Bible--that is, the Book (which is the meaning of "Bible"). This Book has been "for ever . . . settled in heaven" and "endureth for ever" (Psalm 119:89, 160).
 
The first mention of "book" in the Bible is found in Genesis 5:1, "this is the book of the generations of Adam." Similarly, the first mention of "book" in the New Testament is Matthew 1:1, "the book of the generation of Jesus Christ." These "books" are now incorporated into the Book and, in a striking way, emphasize the continuity of Old and New Testaments: the one dealing with the first Adam, the other with the last Adam.
 
The final mentions of "book" also are very important, again dealing not with books that are temporal, but with books that are eternal. In the Old Testament we have the beautiful promise of Malachi 3:16: "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name."
 
The final mention of "book" in the Bible, on the other hand, is a sober warning not to tamper with the Book. "If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:19). Let us honor it, guard it, believe it, and follow it. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

A Mighty Man
 
"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor." (Judges 6:12)
 
Gideon was not a very promising leader to all outward appearances. He was of the undistinguished and divided tribe of Manasseh, and "my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house" (v. 15).
 
But that's exactly the kind of man God knows He can use, for "God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27). God, therefore, greeted him thus: "The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor" (text verse).
 
As a matter of fact, there were other qualities in Gideon which must have commended him to God. He was already busy threshing "wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites" (v. 11). He was not sitting idly, but was already doing what he could for his people. Furthermore, even though he lived in a time of great apostasy when even his own father kept an altar for the god Baal, he still worshipped the true God and was greatly exercised that "the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites" (v. 13).  He was burdened for his people, but all he had been able to do was to try to feed them, hiding his wheat from the invaders. Before the Lord could use him further, however, he had to destroy the family idol and offer his own sacrifice to the true God , even though he knew his family and neighbors might try to kill him (vv. 25-32). God, then, did indeed "save Israel from the hand of the Midianites" through Gideon (v. 14).
 
If we would be mighty for God, like Gideon, we must begin like him: poor yet faithful, burdened for the Lord's truth, and doing what we can--putting away every idol of the mind, and acknowledging our Savior's sacrifice for us. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Righteous Word
 
"Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful." (Psalm 119:137-138)
 
The writer of the book of Hebrews called God's Word "the word of righteousness" (Hebrews 5:13). Nehemiah declared that God had "performed thy words; for thou art righteous" (Nehemiah 9:8). Those two concepts merge in the beauty of the Word. "For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth" (Psalm 33:4). The written Word is righteous; the Cause of the Word is righteous. That theme pervades this stanza of Psalm 119. Several synonyms describe this characteristic of the Scriptures.

    * The Lord is righteous and therefore His judgments are upright. "Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way" (Psalm 25:8).
    * God's Word is very pure (Psalm 119:140), like refined gold. "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times" (Psalm 12:6).
    * Because the righteous acts of the Lord have everlasting consequences, the "law is the truth" (Psalm 119:142)--"the righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting" (v. 144).

 
Since the psalmist dedicated his heart and life to the clarity of God's Word, righteous jealousy consumed him on behalf of God because the enemies of the Lord forgot His Word (v. 139). Furthermore, even though he felt "small and despised" (v. 141) and trouble and anguish surrounded him, he still delighted in understanding God's righteous commandments (v. 143).
 
May the Lord God strengthen our resolve this day to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22). HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

Full
 
"Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people." (Genesis 25:8)
 
With the words of our text, Abraham ended a life of faith having walked in such close fellowship with God that "he was called the Friend of God" (James 2:23). But when he died at 175 years old, his standing in the world from a human perspective might not seem to have warranted his nomadic life of sacrifice and faith. He had sojourned in the land given to him by covenant, but he had not taken possession of it in any real sense. Although he had gained a measure of worldly possessions (Genesis 13:2), he had evidently given up a stable and satisfying life of luxury among his people to follow God into the land of promise. Once there, his nephew, Lot, had deserted him, taking the fertile land as his own (13:10-11).  Abraham had seen war (chapter 14), famine (12:10), compromise (12:13; 20:2), fighting between his two wives, and had not had children until his old age (chapters 16 and 21), had lived in poor relationship with his neighbors (chapter 20), and had eventually lost his dear wife, Sarah (23:2).
 
But yet when Abraham died, Scripture says he died completely satisfied, the literal meaning of the word "full" in our text (the words "of years" added by the translators). He had learned to measure time by eternity; to weigh the value of earthly things by the Spirit. "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10). He had "believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3).
 
The fullness of Abraham was that of a wealth which death could not touch. The seeming fullness of those who walk by sight, and not by faith, is emptied in death. Men and women of faith carry their fullness with them. When the time comes, may we all die as Abraham died--full. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Whosoever Will
 
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)
 
One could not imagine a more clearcut invitation to receive God's free gift of eternal life than this final climactic invitation of the Bible. Anyone who is thirsting for the water of life may come and drink freely, for Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37). Whosoever will may come! "There is no respect of persons with God" (Romans 2:11, plus about seven other references), and the Scriptures abound with "whosoever" assurances.
 
"Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (John 11:26). "Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43). "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God" (1 John 4:15).
 
"Jesus Christ the righteous: . . . is the propitiation . . . for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2). Therefore, "by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life" (Romans 5:18).
 
Such promises as these (and many more in the Word of God) make it very clear that the substitutionary death of Christ is sufficient to "|take| away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), that salvation and eternal life are offered as a free gift of God's grace to anyone who will accept it, and that anyone who will may come! It is only the voluntary act of our own wills that is required, but there are many of whom Jesus must say: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). HMM