A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

He Is Able
 
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly abovevall that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." (Ephesians 3:20)
 
Despite man's arrogant pride, he is utterly unable to save himself or to make himself acceptable to God. Neither is he able to keep himself saved nor, above all, is he able to defeat sin and conquer death.
 
But God is able! The word "able" (Greek dunamai) is closely related to the word for "power" (Greek dunamis), both speaking of God's spiritual dynamics. He is all powerful, His ability is without limit, and His power "works in us"!
 
Therefore, "he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him" (Hebrews 7:25). Because the gospel of Christ is the "power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16), God "is of power to stablish you according to my gospel" (Romans 16:25).
 
Even when great troubles and sorrows and temptations come, He is able. "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). He "is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24).
 
In fact, He is able to meet every need of our lives and even to use us in His service. "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8).
 
Finally, "he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). That day will surely come, but then He will give us bodies of glory, for "he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Philippians 3:21). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Did He Really Die?


"And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph." (Mark 15:44-45)
 
The absolute and total physical death of Christ is essential to the gospel. Certain liberals and detractors have for years tried to obscure or deny this vital teaching, claiming that Christ merely "swooned" on the cross and later revived in the tomb, then appeared to His followers who falsely claimed His resurrection.
 
But to the Christian, the death of Christ is not an option. The Bible teaches that sin had separated each man from God, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," being declared righteous only "through faith in his blood" (Romans 3:23, 25) which was shed on the cross. "Without shedding of blood is no remission" of sin (Hebrews 9:22). There can be no Christianity without the real death of the real, sinless Son of God.
 
It seems that the gospel writers, in recounting the events of the crucifixion, go to great lengths to make sure no one misunderstands. In Mark 15, for example, nearly 20 people are mentioned who no doubt would testify to His death. Consider the likely testimony of the Roman guards who had tortured Him to the point of death (vv. 15-23), nailed Him on the cross (v. 24), and watched Him die. The executioner (v. 25) and the centurion (vv. 39, 44-45) were trained in killing. They knew how to recognize death. The thieves (v. 27), the mocking passers-by (v. 29), the chief priests and scribes (v. 31), the grave keepers (v. 46), all would have had no doubt. Pilate was convinced (vv. 44-45), as were His many friends who watched (vv. 40-41, 47).
 
There can be no doubt Christ surely died, and He died "to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Urgency of Christ's Work

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4)
 
It is striking how often the Lord Jesus used the term "must" in connection with the different aspects of the work He came to do. Since He is our example, we also must be serious and urgent about our Father's work. Even as a boy in the temple He told His parents, "I must be about my Father's business" (Luke 2:49).
 
Then early in His ministry, as He went from place to place, He said, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent" (Luke 4:43). Toward the end of His earthly ministry, He said one day, "I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem" (Luke 13:33). He also said to His disciples that "he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day" (Matthew 16:21).
 
He had told the great teacher of Israel, Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again." To explain how this could be, He then said, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:7, 14-15). Before we could ever be born again to everlasting life, therefore, Christ must be lifted up on the cross to die for our sins.
 
Still, all "the scriptures must be fulfilled" (Mark 14:49), and accordingly, "he must rise again from the dead" (John 20:9). Yet, even this did not fully complete "the works of Him that sent me," for Christ had said that "the gospel must first be published among all nations" (Mark 13:10). Therefore, we also must work the works of Him who sent us, before our days of opportunity are gone. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

God's Glory at the Fall

"God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken." (Genesis 3:23)
 
What did God do at the Fall? The answer may surprise you.
 
First, God rested. After God completed His work of creating the universe, He ceased from creating (Genesis 2:2-3). This rest continued throughout all of history, right up to this very day (Hebrews 4:3). Thus, when mankind fell into sin, God didn't start His creation work over, as if there was a flaw in His original purposes and designs. Rather, He knew the Fall would happen and responded by continuing His cessation from creating, fully knowledgeable of what was transpiring and fully in control.
 
Second, God exercised perfect justice. The punishments at the Fall perfectly fit the crimes committed. For example, the serpent sinned by exalting himself above his created place, and God punished him by bringing him lower than all animals (Genesis 3:14). The serpent tried to destroy mankind; God ordained the serpent's destruction by the hand of his intended victim (Genesis 3:15). Eve exalted herself above her created place; God punished her by frustrating her exalted role in helping Adam rule (Genesis 3:16). Adam exalted himself above God; God desecrated his office with a curse on the earth that Adam was created to rule (Genesis 3:17-19).
 
Only God did not receive the justice due Him. Why were these three acts of cosmic dishonor to His glorious character not greeted with swift retribution?
 
It's because God also exercised mercy. In judging the serpent, God was ordaining the vehicle of the gospel--the "seed" (Genesis 3:15), which is Christ. God did not deny Himself justice; rather, He postponed His wrath (Romans 3:23-26) and poured it out on Christ for those who believe in Him. What God but ours could rule so perfectly through man's sin? NTJ

[Soldier4Christ]

Scattered Abroad

"So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city." (Genesis 11:8)
 
The verse above is a summary statement of God’s judgment at Babel, at which time God confused the languages of the people there and dispersed them throughout the earth. These original nations--all descended from Noah and his three sons--are listed in what is called the "Table of Nations" in Genesis 10. As time went on, the people proliferated into still more nations and languages and migrated still farther from Babel until finally, as the verse says, they were scattered "upon the face of all the earth."
 
Christopher Columbus was a brave explorer and skilled navigator, as well as a diligent Bible student and convinced Christian. However, he did not "discover America," as he is said to have done on October 12 in 1492. Neither did Leif Ericsson or any other adventurer whose name has been suggested for this honor.
 
The Indians discovered America! Archaeologists have found Indian artifacts at occupation sites dating well before the time of Christ at many places in America. And wherever these early tribes went, they carried with them the pantheistic religion taught to their ancestors at Babel by Nimrod there in that first great city after the Flood.
 
Many centuries later, however, there was another great scattering with a much different purpose and motivation. "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). This time, it was not a false religion that was being carried with them, but the saving gospel of Christ who had commanded His followers, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15), even "unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Forget Not His Commandments

"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments." (Proverbs 3:1)
 
It is vitally important that, even though we are saved by grace and not by the works of the law, we never forget that God's law is essentially a statement of God's holiness. We should desire to know and follow God's commandments simply because they are "holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12), not because we seek salvation through them.
 
It is noteworthy that the anonymous writer of the longest chapter in the Bible (Psalm 119), in which practically every verse refers to the Scriptures, stressed seven times that he would never forget the laws and commandments of his Lord. May the Lord teach us to share the same determination. Note:
 
"I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word" (v. 16).
 
"For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes" (v. 83).
 
"I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me" (v. 93).
 
"My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law" (v. 109).
 
"I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts" (v. 141).
 
"Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law" (v. 153).
 
"I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments" (v. 176).
 
This seventh reference is actually the closing verse of this remarkable 119th Psalm. It beautifully points up the urgency of not forgetting the commandments of God. He will seek us when we stray and bring us back home to Him, for we remember and love His law. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Get Your Mind Ready

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13)
 
We have been born again (1 Peter 1:3), Peter tells us, to an incorruptible inheritance in heaven (v. 4), which is secure (v. 5) even though the intervening time is difficult (vv. 6-7). Such a salvation as we have is both mysterious and hard to understand, pondered by both the saints of old (v. 10) and angels (v. 12). Yet we have it with more complete understanding and fulfillment than even the prophets ever dreamed possible.
 
Our rightful response to this knowledge and experience is given in today's verse. We are to "gird up the loins of |our| mind." Just as the flowing robes worn by the men of New Testament times had to be bundled up and tied at the waist to allow for rapid, unencumbered movement, so the Christian is expected to be ready to be on the move, to discipline his or her mind by the renouncing of all sinful and/or confining habits and attitudes.
 
To do so we must "be sober," be clear-headed, calm, and in control. We must "hope to the end," or more explicitly, "hope to the utmost degree" in our ultimate glorification at the return of Christ. The construction of "hope" implies a command to "fix our hope" on Him, a sure hope, not a wishful hope. This is the "grace that is brought |present tense| to the believer."
 
Furthermore, we must renounce "the former lusts in |our| ignorance" (v. 14), being "obedient children" of our Father.
 
It is not enough simply to eliminate sinful patterns from our lives. "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy" (v. 15).
 
A mind that is disciplined and purified is ready for action and victory. JDM
 

[Soldier4Christ]

Be Diligent

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge." (2 Peter 1:5)
 
The importance of diligence is urged by Peter as basic in the development of the seven other virtues listed by him--that is, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity--as vital additions to our faith. Diligence is seldom considered as a particular Christian attribute, but it is essential if we really desire to develop the other Christian virtues in our lives. They do not come by wishing or hoping. Peter also exhorts us to "give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (v. 10), and then to "be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless" (3:14).
 
Essentially the same Greek word is also translated "study" and "labor" and "endeavor." Paul commands, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). He beseeches us always to be "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). We are even told to "labour therefore to enter into that rest" (Hebrews 4:11).
 
There are many other such exhortations in which Christian diligence is urged or shown in reference to other Christian virtues. There is one key verse, however, in which diligence itself is commanded as a Christian duty: "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11). Here the word "business" is the same as "diligence." That is, each Christian is commanded to "be diligent in diligence!"
 
Christian salvation is received solely by grace through faith. The Christian life, however, demands diligence. Can we not, as today's verse commands, give all diligence in our service to the Lord who gave His life for us? HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Mt. Ararat and the Resurrection

"And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat." (Genesis 8:4)
 
The story of Noah's preservation through the awful Flood has been recognized by all Bible students as a beautiful picture of the resurrection. It is, of course, a true story which actually happened the way the Bible describes, but is also a beautiful analogy.
 
The Flood was sent as a judgment upon the sinful world of Noah's day (Genesis 6:5-7, 11-13, 17). The "wages of sin" (Romans 6:23) has always been death. But God provided a way of salvation (i.e., the Ark which Noah built) to those eight souls who believed, Noah and his family (Genesis 6:8-9, 14-16, 18-22).
 
Although the analogy is not perfect, it does beautifully illustrate the fact that the punishment for sin is still death, and that God has provided a perfect way of salvation to those who believe in His Son Jesus Christ and in His death on the cross.
 
In that light, it is interesting to note the date in today's verse, which has great significance. The calendar was changed by God at the time of the Passover, another beautiful prefigure of Christ's work. The seventh month became the first month (Exodus 12:2), and the Passover was to be observed on the fourteenth day of that month (v. 6) each year following. "Christ our passover" (1 Corinthians 5:7) was sacrificed for us on that day (John 19:14) and rose again the third day, the seventeenth day of the first (formerly the seventh) month.
 
This was the anniversary of the landing of Noah's Ark on the mountains of Ararat, providing its inhabitants new life following judgment of the world and its destruction because of sin. What a blessed picture of our new resurrection life based on Christ's death for our sins. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Faint Not

"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:3)
 
The Christian life and ministry can grow wearisome and hard at times, but with Christ Himself as our example, the Lord admonishes us not to faint, but always to press on.
 
If our prayers seem to go unanswered, He reminds us that "men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). When we grow tired and are tempted to quit, the Scriptures assure us that "in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).
 
When God has entrusted us with a certain ministry, we need to learn to say, as with Paul, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not" (2 Corinthians 4:1). As we see God's mercy-drops of blessing begin to fall, we then can say, as he did, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16). We can even encourage others to faint not, as He did: "Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory" (Ephesians 3:13).
 
The same Greek word is translated "weary" in 2 Thessalonians 3:13: "Be not weary in well doing." Finally, even when God has to rebuke us, we must learn to take it patiently. "Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him" (Hebrews 12:5).
 
But with all these strong exhortations to faint not, we also need to know just how we can obtain the needed strength to keep on keeping on. The answer is in God's great counsel to Isaiah: "They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Blessed Is He

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity." (Psalm 32:1-2)
 
What true believer is there who is not eternally thankful for the truths found in today's verse? Sins of omission, sins of commission, sins of deliberate action, sins of the heart, youthful sins, covert sins, "big" sins, "little" sins, etc. What a thrill to know that the penalty for our sins has been paid in full, if we but accept His free gift. What rejoicing and freedom forgiveness brings.
 
Note that there are three different expressions for wrongdoing in today's verse--transgression, sin, and iniquity. The differences in these words are not insignificant, but precise differentiation is beyond the scope of this discussion. Suffice it to say that they can be understood to mean the whole gamut of sinful activity.
 
Likewise there are three separate aspects of God's forgiving grace mentioned, "forgiven . . . covered . . . not imputed." In every way possible our sin is removed from us, and no more payment is necessary.
 
However, God's forgiveness must be conditioned on the individual's action. A lack of action results in the bearing of the sin, the guilt, and the consequences, again specified in a threefold manner. "My bones waxed old . . . my roaring . . . thy hand was heavy upon me" (vv. 3-4).
 
In keeping with the pattern of the psalm, three such actions are mentioned. "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD (v. 5). The result? "And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."
 
Because of all this, we should have a threefold response: "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart" (v. 11). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Without Natural Affection

"Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful." (Romans 1:31)
 
This phrase "without natural affection" is the translation of one Greek word, astergeo. It was a characteristic of many pagans of the ancient world. Significantly, it is also prophesied to be a characteristic of the humanistic pagans of the end-times. "In the last days . . . men shall be . . . without natural affection" (2 Timothy 3:1-3). These are the only two occurrences of this word in the New Testament.
 
The word stergeo ("natural affection") is one of four Greek words for "love," but it is never used at all in the New Testament. It refers to the natural love that members of the same family have for each other. It is such a common characteristic of all peoples that there was apparently no occasion to refer to it at all--except when it is not present, when people lose their instinctive love for their own parents and children, and thus are "without natural affection." One thinks of the widespread abortion of these last days, as well as the modern breakdown of the family in general.
 
Another Greek word for "love" is eros, referring to romantic love, or passion. Like stergeo, eros also is never used in the New Testament. The other two words, however, are used frequently. Phileo, referring to "brotherly love," occurs over thirty times. It indicates fondness, based on a community of interest with the person or persons so "loved."
 
The fourth "love" word, of course, is agape, which is used over 300 times. This is the type of love called out of one's heart by the preciousness of the object loved, the love that impels one to sacrifice his own interests for the benefit of the person loved. This is the love of Christ, who "loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). And this is the love generated by the Holy Spirit in the believer for "the fruit of the Spirit is love." (Galatians 5:22). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

A New Name

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Revelation 2:17)
 
This intriguing promise is one of seven promises in Christ's letters to seven representative churches--promises made "to him that overcometh." Although there are various opinions as to who constitute these overcomers, 1 John 5:4 would indicate that "whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
 
On this assumption, all who have been truly born again through faith in Christ will someday be given a new name by their Lord. No one will know what his new name will be until he receives it, and even then it may remain unknown to everyone else.
 
It would be reasonable to assume, however, that each new name will reflect the Lord's evaluation of the character and service of the one who receives it. We have the primitive examples of Abram, Sarai, and Jacob being given new names by God, perhaps to serve as types of this coming investiture. Abram became "Abraham" (meaning "Father of Multitudes"), Sarai became "Sarah" (meaning "Princess"), and Jacob became "Israel" (meaning "Prevailing Prince with God"). See Genesis 17:5, 15; 32:28.
 
Whatever each of our new names will turn out to be, our Savior will also know them, of course, and this will perhaps be how we will be addressed by Him from then on in the new earth. This should be a great incentive to godly living and faithful service here on this present earth, for we surely desire to receive a good name there from our Lord on the future earth. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Seek Ye First

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
 
Our verse for today has become a favorite memory verse for millions and has even been set to music by a number of artists. Indeed, its truth is of foundational importance. Let us look with care at what it says.
 
First, notice that the tense of the verb "seek" in Greek implies a command to establish an ongoing habit or lifestyle of "seeking" the things of the kingdom. We are commanded to put first things first on a continual basis and watch Him take care of the items of secondary interest.
 
We should strive to make His priorities our priorities--to so mold our thinking by the Word of God that we think as He does on every issue. Our lives should exhibit the purity and righteousness that He exhibited when on earth. While it is true that we will never fully achieve such perfection this side of heaven, we should be striving, i.e., "seeking" to do so, by the power of His Spirit living in us.
 
The chapter surrounding today's verse is permeated by the concept of proper priorities in relation to pride (vv. 5-8, 16-18), treasures on earth (vv. 19-21), singleness of purpose (vv. 22-23), serving two masters (v. 24), or anxious thoughts about the future (vv. 25-32, 34). Remember, "your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (v. 32).
 
If we reverse the proper order, not only will we not attain kingdom priorities and His righteousness, but we will probably miss the secondary "things" as well. The word "added," a mathematical word, implies the prior existence of something to which other things can be added.
 
Surely in our "seeking" we should also adopt the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (v. 10). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

What Paul Knew

"And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know." (1 Corinthians 8:2)
 
There are many things which none of us can know--not even the apostle Paul. Yet even with his realistic modesty, there are certain key truths which Paul could affirm with certainty, and so can we on the same grounds as he.
 
One essential thing each of us should know first of all is this: "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18). A person needs to know that he is a lost and hopeless sinner before he will ever really come to Christ for salvation.
 
Once a lost sinner does receive Christ as Savior, however, he then should be able to declare with Paul the certainty of his own salvation. "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12).
 
The Christian life, once begun, is not necessarily easy. With Paul, in fact, it involved "labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, . . . In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Corinthians 11:23, 27). Yet he could say with confidence, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
 
Because of such an assurance, he could also say, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound" (Philippians 4:11-12). Whatever life might bring, it could never shake his certainty of the life to come. "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1). HMM