A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

The Transfiguration
 
"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." (Matthew 17:1-2)
 
This remarkable transfiguration of Christ was shown to the three disciples so that they could actually "see |Him| coming in his kingdom" (Matthew 16:28), as He will do someday when He returns to earth "in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30). This would ever afterward be an unforgettable experience which would strengthen the disciples for their critical future ministry.
 
James would become the first martyr, but his brother, John, would survive to bear the testimony far and wide for almost seventy more years. "And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father" (John 1:14). Peter also wrote of the amazing event: "For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount" (2 Peter 1:17-18).
 
It is therefore very significant that the word "transfigured" (Greek metamorphoo) is also applied to Christian believers in 2 Corinthians 3:18: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed |read 'transfigured'| into the same image from glory to glory." That is, as we behold the glory of Christ in the mirror of the Scriptures, we ourselves are spiritually being metamorphosed into His own image. The marvelous transformation will be completed when He does come again and "change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Philippians 3:21). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Honest Apostles
 
"|We| have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 4:2)
 
One of the most futile and foolish arguments of unbelievers is to accuse the New Testament writers of trying to foist off tales of a supernatural Christ on gullible people. The Scriptures written by these men, however, contain strong condemnations of all dishonesty and deceit, and it is impossible that they could simultaneously engage in such a gigantic conspiracy. Paul's claim in our text, for example, would be the worst sort of hypocrisy in such a case. Peter said: "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word" (1 Peter 2:1-2). John warned: "All liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 21:8).
 
But the clinching proof of their honesty and sincerity was their willingness to suffer for their testimony. Paul said: "Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day" (1 Corinthians 4:11-13). All the apostles and writers of the New Testament (except John, who also suffered severe persecution throughout his long life) eventually died as martyrs for their faith, and it is incredible that they would have suffered and died for a message they knew to be a lie. We can have complete confidence that the New Testament records are honest reports of sincere and godly men. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

His Own Place
 
"And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place." (Acts 1:24-25)
 
The last three words of this passage have profound significance. Although Judas had walked with Christ and the other apostles for three years, he was out of place there all that time. It took the traumatic events of the final week of Jesus' ministry to reveal his true character.
 
At death, each of us will go to his own place, whether heaven or hell. If a person has found the company of Bible-believing, Bible-living Christians uncomfortable in this life, and feels more at home with the Bible-doubting, God-ignoring majority, then his own place will surely be with them in the future life. Such a person would be more miserable in heaven than in "his own place." The tragic words of the Bible's final chapter are these: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still" (Revelation 22:11).
 
An artificial profession of belief, like that of Judas, will not change one's basic character. Sooner or later, that person will be found altogether out of place. "The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire" (2 Peter 2:22). Yet a true change of heart, through genuine faith in Christ, will change our eternal residence, as well, for then God "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13).
 
There is, indeed, a wonderful "place" which Christ has gone to "prepare" for all those who truly desire to be with Him in His place! (John 14:2). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Love or Lust
 
"My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge." (Proverbs 5:1-2)
 
The entire fifth chapter of Proverbs concerns the use or misuse of the highest function of our physical bodies. Under the sovereign control of Almighty God, a man and woman have been granted the ability, through their union, to make an eternal human being with the ability to accept or reject God, eternal life, and forgiveness. The contrast in this chapter is between the usage of this God-given function in lust or love, adultery or fidelity.
 
Verses 3 through 6 provide insight into the character of promiscuity, which includes deception (v. 3) and sorrow (v. 4). Psychologists have long recognized that many prostitutes ply their trade out of a hatred for men, purposefully and conscientiously destroying their companions (v. 5). The solution, of course, is to stay away. Don’t play with fire! Avoid any opportunities to be enticed (v. 8). The results, of course, of yielding to temptation would be that we would lose our youthful vigor (v. 9), our wealth (v. 10 ), our health (v. 11), our self-esteem (vv. 12-13), and even our lives are in danger (v. 14).
 
On the other hand, married love is a beautiful thing (vv. 15-20), providing health, companionship, joy, and satisfaction. "Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth" (v. 18).
 
Remember, none of this is done in secret. "The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings" (v. 21). We should stay away from any involvement in sin, for sin entraps us (v. 22), and we keep going back. Men die for lack of instruction, or lack of obedience to the instruction they have (v. 23). This leads to great folly, and, in the end, total shame and destruction. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Father of Spirits
 
"Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12:9)
 
Human parents transmit physical characteristics to their offspring, but our spiritual attributes come from God, for He is "the Father of spirits." Paul recognized that all men are "the offspring of God" (Acts 17:29), and that each man is still "the image and glory of God" (1 Corinthians 11:7).
 
Thus our spirit/soul nature, as distinct from our body of physical/mental flesh, has come from God, who created it and united it with our body, evidently at the moment of physical conception in the womb. It is obvious that the "image of God," man's spirit/soul nature, could not be transmitted genetically via the "genetic code" and the DNA molecules, for these are simply complex chemicals programmed to transmit only the physical and mental attributes of the ancestors to the children. Nevertheless, the spirit/soul attributes of each person also seem to be associated inseparably with the body from conception onwards, continuing so until separated again at death, when the spirit goes "to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8), leaving the body behind.
 
In the meantime, however, the "image of God" in man is marred by its incorporation in man's "sinful flesh," for "the body is dead because of sin" (Romans 8:3, 10). By this union of flesh and spirit, man inherits Adam's fallen nature as well as his mortal body, and both are in need of salvation. Christ "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity" (Titus 2:14). Therefore, we, like Paul, can pray that our "whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Promised Performance
 
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)
 
Our Lord gave this powerful promise to perform the good work that He began at and with the church at Philippi (the "you" is plural in the Greek text).
 
It is an earthly, temporal promise; that is, the promise is to "perfect" the good work "until the day of Jesus Christ." The church at Philippi closed its earthly doors centuries ago. Something much more than mere continuation is pledged.
 
Surely our Lord has in mind His assurance that "the gates of hell" would not prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18), but there were some churches to whom Christ spoke who were in danger of losing their "candlestick" or church-hood (Revelation 2:4; 3:16). What, then, can we be assured of by this marvelous promise?
 
Perhaps the basic "good work" that our Lord refers to is seen in the list of commendations given to the seven churches in the letters dictated to John at the beginning of Revelation. All except Laodicea had some strengths. Even troubled Sardis had a "few names" not yet sullied and "things which remain" that were still good and worth preserving (Revelation 3:1-4). Our Lord knows all His works "from the beginning" (Acts 15:18) and sees the eternal fruit of our ministry that ripples long beyond our short earthly life (Revelation 14:13).
 
There is also the mystery of our being "builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22)--a "spiritual house" that produces "spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). All of this, perhaps, is what our Lord had in mind when He promised to perform the good work He had started in Philippi. HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

Gospel Apologetics
 
"Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." (Philippians 1:7)
 
This testimony of the apostle Paul was followed by another: "I am set for the defense of the gospel" (Philippians 1:17). In both he is stressing the vital importance of defending the gospel. In the one he states his firm determination to defend the gospel; in the other, he reminds his fellow Christians that they also are participants in its defense.
 
These facts are sufficient to show that the gospel does need defending by those who embrace it. The word "defense" is the Greek apologia, from which we derive our word "apologetics." It is a courtroom term, referring to the formal, carefully structured defense presented on behalf of a defendant by an attorney. In context, it speaks of a careful, scientific presentation of arguments defending the gospel from its enemies.
 
The saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, encompassing His great works of creation, incarnation, atoning death, victorious resurrection, and coming kingdom, was under serious attack in Paul's day, as it is today. We urgently need to be prepared to give an effective apologetic wherever and whenever needed.
 
Peter also urged the importance of such preparedness: "Be ready always to give an answer |same word, apologia| to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).
 
This is a command, not an opinion! "Be ready always to give a logical |the Greek word here for 'reason' is logos, from which we derive 'logic'| apologetic for your Christian faith." It behooves us, therefore, to study and use Christian evidences diligently in our Christian witness. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Defense of the Gospel
 
"Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." (Philippians 1:7)
 
Writing from prison in Rome some 10 years after he helped found the church in Philippi, Paul still felt such a bond with those believers that he insisted they "partake" with him in his "defence and confirmation" of the gospel ministry.
 
The key words here are "defense" (Greek apologia) and "confirmation" (Greek bebaiosis). Both words are not common in the New Testament text. Together, they describe a mission attitude that should anchor our approach to ministry.
 
Apologia, in its various forms, is most often translated "answer." Peter used this term in a passage that urged Christians to be "ready always to give an answer |as in, an answer that is logically sufficient| to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). Paul used apologia twice to the Philippian church; both times stressed the "defence of the gospel" (Philippians 1:17).
 
Bebaiosis and its associated terms convey the meaning of firmness, or having been established. Paul encouraged the Colossian church to be "rooted and built up in |Christ|, and stablished in the faith" (Colossians 2:7). Peter tells us to "make |our| calling and election sure |same word, bebaiosis|" (2 Peter 1:10).
 
Thus, our witness and declaration of "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16) must be "with logic" (apologia) to defend the precious Truth, and with an eye to "establish" (bebaiosis) that Truth in the mind and heart of those newly converted. The gospel tells who Christ is (the Creator, the incarnate Word, and coming King) as well as what He did on Calvary. HMM III

[Soldier4Christ]

On Being Faithful
 
"Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus 1:9)
 
It is important to note that the adjective "faithful" can be applied both to people and to things, if they are believable and trustworthy. Our text above refers to the Word of God as being faithful. Obviously, if any teacher of the Word is to hold fast the faithful Word and teach sound doctrine, he too must be faithful. Paul also teaches that church leaders should have "faithful children" (Titus 1:6) and that their wives should be "faithful in all things" (1 Timothy 3:11).
 
The Greek word translated "faithful" is closely related to the words "faith" and "believe." The same relationships are even stronger in the corresponding Hebrew words used in the Old Testament. It is vital to believe God's faithful Word for indeed "faith cometh by . . . the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
 
But genuine faith and faithfulness are not common commodities. "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6). The one man who is absolutely believable and trustworthy, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ. "If we believe not |that is, are unfaithful|, yet he abideth faithful" (2 Timothy 2:13). In the Bible's climactic book, He is even introduced as "the faithful witness" (Revelation 1:5). Among His closing words, He promises that, "These sayings are faithful and true" (Revelation 22:6).
 
We can have absolute confidence that all His promises will be fulfilled, and all His warnings must be heeded. May God help each of us also to be--like Christ and like His Word--faithful and true. Remember also that they that are truly "with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Living Word
 
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
 
This is the great verse of the Incarnation, declaring to us that the Creator of all things, the eternal Word of God (John 1:1-3) actually became a man, being "made flesh" (text). Since this verse and the following verses unequivocally refer to "Jesus Christ" (v. 17), there is no legitimate escape (though many have tried) from the great truth that the man called Jesus of Nazareth was the great God and Creator, as well as perfect man and redeeming Savior. Furthermore, He has assumed human flesh forever, while still remaining fully God. He is Immanuel, "God with us" (Matthew 1:23).
 
He is not part man and part God, or sometimes man and sometimes God, but is now the God-man, fully and eternally true God and perfect man--man as God created and intended man to be. See also Philippians 2:5-8 and 1 John 4:2-3.
 
When He first became man, He "dwelt among us" for a while. The word "dwelt," however, is actually the Greek word for "tabernacled." As in the tabernacle (or "tent") prepared by Moses (Exodus 40:33) in the wilderness, the glory of God in Christ dwelled on earth for a time in a "body" prepared by God (Hebrews 10:5). We also "beheld his glory," says His beloved disciple, John. The Greek word for "tabernacle" (skene) is a cognate word to shakan (the Hebrew word for "dwell"), both being related to what has come to be known as the shekinah glory cloud that filled the ancient tabernacle (Exodus 40:34).
 
Eventually, when the Holy City descends out of heaven to the new earth, then "the tabernacle of God" will forever be "with men," and He will "dwell with them" and "be their God" eternally (Revelation 21:3). Thus God's "Living Word" is now and always our living Lord! HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Pleasures at God's Right Hand
 
"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)
 
The 16th Psalm contains the Bible's first reference to the resurrected Christ at the "right hand" of His heavenly Father, and this is important, for there are 20 other such references that follow this one. "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool" (Psalm 110:1). This latter verse is quoted no less than five times in the New Testament (Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42-43; Acts 2:34-35; Hebrews 1:13).
 
Then there are seven references to Christ being at God's right hand in Paul's epistles (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2), and seven in other books of the New Testament (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; 16:19; Luke 22:69; Acts 7:55-56). Lastly, "|Jesus Christ| is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him" (1 Peter 3:22). It is noteworthy that the first reference speaks of Christ's great joy at God's right hand; the last, of His great power there.
 
One additional activity there is mentioned: "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:34). In fact, His continual intercessory ministry on our behalf is His main activity in God's immediate presence during this present age (note Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2; etc.).
 
Soon He will become God's strong right hand of power, manifested until all His enemies become His footstool, and we, His people, are taken up to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Then we shall enjoy with Him the pleasures and fullness of joy at God's right hand forevermore. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Flesh and Bones
 
"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." (Luke 24:39)
 
One of the speculations of modern liberals who deny the resurrection is that the disciples saw some kind of apparition, or even were having hallucinations, when they "thought" they saw Jesus alive after His death. But a supposed "hallucination" is never seen by an entire group of people at the same time, as Jesus was seen, again and again.
 
Jesus Himself answers those who say it was a "spiritual" resurrection. His spirit never died, so His spirit could not be resurrected. At first the disciples did, indeed, think they were seeing His "ghost," but then He showed them the scars of the spikes that had pierced His hands and feet, and He also ate part of a fish and a honeycomb before them (vv. 37, 40, 42). They could no longer doubt the reality of His bodily resurrection. It is sobering to realize that He will always bear those scars, even in His glorified body. The Scripture says that when He comes again, "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced" (Zechariah 12:10). "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him" (Revelation 1:7).
 
It is also significant that Christ did not use the more common phrase "flesh and blood" when He spoke to the disciples, but "flesh and bones." His blood had been shed on the cross as the price of our redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19).
 
In our own future resurrected bodies which shall be like His (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21), blood will no longer be needed. Blood is essential now for "the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11), but in that day "the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52) to be like Him forever. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Remember His Benefits
 
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." (Psalm 103:2)
 
The benefits of the Lord are, indeed, great and marvelous, and it would be an act of ingratitude not to remember and appreciate them. Note the following partial list in this psalm:

         
        1. Forgiveness. "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities" (v. 3). God forgives all! He "cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
        2. Healing. "Who healeth all thy diseases" (v. 3). The greatest and ultimate disease is that of aging and death, but one day, "there shall be no more death" (Revelation 21:4).
        3. Redemption. "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction" (v. 4; see also 1 Peter 1:18-19).
        4. Glorification. "Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (v. 4).
        5. Provision. "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things" (v. 5; see also James 1:17).
        6. Strength. "Thy youth is renewed like the eagle's" (v. 5).
        7. Protection. "The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed" (v. 6).

 
The greatest benefit of all, of course, is the gift of salvation, by the mercy of God. Note the testimonies of God's mercy:
 
"Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (v. 4). "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy" (v. 8). "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him" (v. 11). "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him" (v. 17).
 
Infinite as the universe, enduring as eternity--these are the dimensions of God's mercy! "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (v. 12). No wonder this great psalm both begins and ends with the inspiring exhortation: "Bless the LORD, O my soul!" HMM

[airIam2worship]

AMEN, BROTHER, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PSALMS. SO MUCH TO REALLY THANK GOD FOR NOT JUST READ THROUGH IT BUT REALLY MEDITATE ON AND REALLY GET TO KNOW OUR GREAT CREATOR AND HIS IMMENSE LOVE FOR US

[Soldier4Christ]

Love's Longing Prayer
 
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment." (Philippians 1:9)
 
Paul's longing for the Philippian church is eloquently expressed in his prayer for their maturation in the faith. It begins simply with a prayer for their growing love--love that will "abound yet more and more." This phrase is only used two other times: in 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and 10. Essentially, the prayer is that their love would never stop increasing.
 
The focus of the ever-increasing love, however, is not emotive reactions or depth of feeling. It is a nonstop, ever-growing love for "knowledge" and "judgment." And as one might expect, the Holy Spirit's choice of words is important.
 
Several Greek words could be translated "knowledge." This specific choice in Philippians 1:9 is epignosis, a term that emphasizes understanding of facts or truth and carries an intensive meaning with a fuller, clearer, more thorough knowledge than mere awareness of data. A person with epignosis knows both what and why they have certain facts.
 
"Judgment" is the translation of aisthesis, an unusual term that demands perception, understanding, and discernment of what to do with the knowledge. Both terms are intellectually based and require a growing grasp of information. But both are the product of love--not human standards of high intelligence.
 
We must be "rooted and grounded in love" (Ephesians 3:17), speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15), and always be conscious of our relationships so that we "increase" the "edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16).
 
Finally, there is this over arching statement: "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16). HMM III