A Daily Devotional

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Recycled Dust

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29,30).

All who have ever lived, and whose bodies now are in graves, will one day hear the voice of the Son of man and they “shall come forth.”

Many have visited museums and have seen mummified remains of once living bodies, and can hardly imagine such remains coming to life. Others contemplate cremation, and wonder how burned and dispersed dust particles could ever be resurrected. Jesus, however, is no ordinary person. He spoke before a tomb, and Lazarus came forth (John 11:39–43). He told Peter to let down his nets, and fish gathered into them (Luke 5:4–6). Jesus “laid the foundations of the earth; and the heavens are the works of (His) hands” (Hebrews 1:10).

He, the “shepherd” of Isaiah 40:11, is also the one in the next verse who “hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance.” “The nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance” to him.

Recycling human dust, therefore, is easily accomplished by Jesus. The greater work was hanging on a cross for sinners and making reconciliation with God possible. It somehow involved the temporary severing of Trinitarian bonds (Matthew 27:46)—something of cosmic significance, but also a mystery beyond our weak comprehension.

We do not have to fully understand it, however, to entrust our beings to the saving care of his shepherding arms (Isaiah 40:11).

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Milk Or Meat


“For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the Word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:13,14).

The Scriptures are compared in these verses to our daily food—milk and meat. Milk is the necessary food for babies (I Peter 2:2), but it becomes grotesque when a baby continues year after year as a baby, still incapable of partaking of anything but milk. This was the case with the Corinthian Christians, who were, according to Paul, “babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it” (I Corinthians 3:1,2). It was also true for these Hebrew Christians: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again . . . the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12).

Sad to say, this is still the situation with most Christian people today, even in Bible-believing churches. This is indicated not only by the many carnal divisions between them (I Corinthians 3:3), but even more by the frothy nature of the Christian materials they read, almost always centered on introspective personal relationships rather than on the person of Christ, the deeper truths of Scripture, and the great purposes of God. The time spent in personal Bible study is minimal, and even most sermons repeatedly serve up milk for Christian babes rather than strong meat for spiritually healthy Christians “of full age” whose “senses” have already been strengthened by use to recognize the true and the false, the good and the evil. How urgently we need to heed the last words of the Apostle Peter, just before his martyrdom: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

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More And More

“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” (I Thessalonians 4:1).

Exhortation to walk with God is a constant reminder of Paul to his disciples. Evidently Adam and Eve had the distinct pleasure of “walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3: with God before they rebelled. On this side of the curse our walk with God starts with newness of life, as it says in Romans 6:4: “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” That walk is sustained by the Spirit. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). It is ever alert to the pitfalls of life. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15).

Pleasing God is a blessing given us by God. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (I Thessalonians 2:4). Our focus of service is easily led to please men, whom we see; not God, whom we don’t see. The act of pleasing God has had fantastic results in the past, for recall that “by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5). Pleasing God can be as simple as doing good. “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

“But the path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).

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The Rod From Jesse’s Stem

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the Spirit of the L SIZE="-1">ORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:1,2).

This is one of the great prophecies of the Old Testament, clearly foretelling both the human and divine natures of the coming Messiah. Jesse was the father of David, whose line of kingly heirs would eventually be cut off by virtue of their sins (e.g., Jeremiah 22:28–30; 36:30). Yet God had also promised David that his seed would, indeed, establish his throne forever (II Samuel 7:16; Jeremiah 33:17).

Therefore, there must somehow arise a “rod” (literally “shoot”) out of the “stem” (literally “dead stump”) of Jesse’s family tree, emerging as a live “Branch” from the roots of this tree. This would eventually be fulfilled in Christ’s virgin birth, with the legal right to David’s throne transmitted through Joseph (see the genealogy in Matthew 1:6–16), but the natural birth from Mary, a descendant of Jesse and David via Nathan, another of David’s sons (see Luke 3:23–32) who had not been in the kingly line.

Thus Christ was fully human from conception on, but the conception itself would have to be miraculous. At the same time, He would still retain His divine nature, for the seven spirits of God (note Revelation 1:4) would be fully present in Him. These seven spirits (actually one Holy Spirit, manifest seven-fold, as the Spirit of the Lord, of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord) would be fully and constantly present in Him. Of no other man in all history could all this be said. Jesus Christ alone has fulfilled Isaiah’s ancient prophecy. “In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, . . . and His rest shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10).

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Doctrines Of Devils

“Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the later times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils” (I Timothy 4:1).

In chapter one of his first epistle to Timothy, Paul warned about false teachers and heresies in the church of his day, evidently particularly implicating the agnostics and their false skepticism and low moral standards. In our text for today, and throughout chapter four, he warns of false teachers “in the later times,” i.e., in our day and in our churches.

Paul had received an explicit (i.e., “expressly”) teaching from the Holy Spirit. There was nothing vague about it. They would, among other things, be “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats” (v.3), with other false teachings implied throughout the chapter. What does this teach us about those who today forbid their leaders, both men and women, to marry? Or those who insist upon certain dietary regimes for spiritual reasons?

These “doctrines” will cause some to “depart from the faith.” Evidently, some who consider themselves within the body of Christ, yet have incomplete discernment will fall into the trap of “seducing spirits,” espousing the “doctrines of devils.” The Greek word translated “depart” is apostesontai which means “to fall away” from an original position, in this case, “the faith.” The teachers will typically be hypocrites, “speaking lies” and acting as if their “conscience has been seared” (v.2). “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).

In this time of great apostasy, we desperately need to know the Biblical doctrine concerning devils (or Satan and his demonic henchmen), for their influence has nearly captured American education and culture. But we must be on guard against, and teach others to be on guard against “doctrines of devils.”

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Faith Is The Victory


“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God” (I John 5:4,5).

The favorite hymn from the last century, entitled “Faith is the Victory,” contains many allusions to Scriptural concepts and passages. The theme, as is repeated in the chorus, is “Faith is the victory, . . . O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.”

The primary passage used for the source of this hymn is in our text, where we see that it is the Christian—the one “born of God”—the one who “believeth that Jesus is the Son of God” who “overcomes the world.” The victory comes through faith. Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers rise, And press the battle ere the night, Shall veil the glowing skies. Against the foe in vales below Let all our strength be hurled; Faith is the victory, we know, That overcomes the world.

This first verse harks back to several battles in the Old Testament where Israel, through faith in God, conquered many foes greater in number and better equipped than they. But the symbolism goes further. The word for “world” is the Greek work kosmos, implying, in context, the world system of thought arrayed in opposition to God. “We know that we are of God, and the whole world (i.e., kosmos) lieth in wickedness” (I John 5:19).

Strangely enough, Scripture here does not say that through faith we will overcome and gain the victory. Rather, it explains that faith itself is the victory. Evidently, with victorious faith, the overcoming is automatic.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).

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Faith: Our Shining Shield

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).

The second verse of the well-known hymn, “Faith is the Victory,” reflecting the teaching of I John 5:4, depicts the soldiers of light as they march into battle. Our Commander-in-Chief has erected His identifying banner over the troops and His “banner over (us) is love” (Song of Solomon 2:4). How does love identify us? “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (I John 5:3). “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). And, as they say, “love conquers all.” His banner over us is love, Our sword the Word of God; We tread the road the saints above, With shouts of triumph trod. By faith they like a whirl-wind’s breath, Swept on o’er every field; The faith by which they conquered death, Is still our shining shield.

The saints of yesteryear (some of whom are enshrined in Hebrews 11) who in faith have battled victoriously, give us great confidence. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1,2).

Their armor, and ours, is listed in the classic passage of Ephesians 6:10–18. Our sword, identified as the “Word of God” (v.17), is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). Our faith is our shield (as in our text) which protects us from the wicked one.

But it’s not over until it’s over, and “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. . . . Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Corinthians 15:26,54). When it’s over, our faith in the work and person of our Lord Jesus Christ will have provided a glorious and everlasting victory.

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Onward To The Fray!

“And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city” (Joshua 6:20).

The third verse of the hymn, “Faith is the Victory,” portrays the attack-phase of the battle. The foe stands in dread array, also poised for the fight. The prepared troops attack without hesitation, with a well-formulated battle plan. On every hand the foe we find, Drawn up in dread array; Let tents of ease be left behind, And onward to the fray! Salvation’s helmet on each head, With truth all girt about: The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread, And echo with our shout.

This last line recalls the episode in our text. The entire nation of Israel had marched for six days around the city of Jericho. On the seventh day they marched around the city seven times, and then the priests blew their trumpets and the people shouted. What kind of battle plan was that?

But God had specifically instructed them to do it this way. They had seen Him work many stupendous miracles on their behalf and their faith was great. Their unwavering obedience resulted in a glorious victory.

Today’s warriors of faith have the same Commander-in-Chief, and access to His mighty power. Furthermore, He provides the “whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth” (v.14). Faith must be faith in the truth. Faith in a lie will not stand. “And take (literally: receive) the helmet of salvation” (v.17).

Each warrior, saved “by grace . . . through faith” (Ephesians 2:, immersed in truth and obedient to the commander, is assured of complete and overwhelming victory.

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In Jesus’ Conquering Name

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us“ (Romans 8:37).

The first verse of the well-loved hymn, “Faith is the Victory,” describes preparation for the battle between the forces of light and darkness. The second verse tells of marching into battle, and the third, of the actual attack. For the soldier of faith, empowered by love and obedience to the commandments of God, the victory is assumed. The last verse relates the rewards of victory and a commitment to wise governing, once the battle is over. To him that overcomes the foe, White raiment shall be giv’n; Before the angels he shall know, His name confessed in heav’n. Then onward from the hills of light, Our hearts with love aflame; We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night, In Jesus’ conq’ring name.

Jesus, when the Apostle John saw Him in His present glorified, victorious state, made this promise to the churches: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before my father, and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5).

Earlier, He had made a companion promise: “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In this life we will have battles to fight, but the ultimate victory has already been won.

As He left this world following His resurrection, He said: “Go ye therefore: . . . and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19,20). No wonder, then, as we see in our text, we are “more than conquerors” in every situation, as we battle in Jesus’ conquering name.

“Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (II Corinthians 2:14).

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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” (v.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 it 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).

It is significant 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” (v.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 (Revelation 3:20). “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:22).

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Thanks Be Unto God

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:57).

There are innumerable things for which we could—and should—give thanks to God. But there are three notable gifts mentioned by Paul in his letters to the Corinthians, in which He was led to use this particular exclamation: “Thanks be to God.” We shall do well to look at these three great blessings, and then—like Paul—pour out our own thanks to God for them!

The first is in our text above, giving thanks for God’s gift of victory. And what victory is that? “Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Corinthians 15:54), and death has lost its terrible sting for the believer, for Christ conquered death forever when He died for our sins and rose again.

The second is similar, yet goes beyond even the first gift: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place” (II Corinthians 2:14). Not only victory over death, but victory in life! By the indwelling presence of the Spirit of Christ, we are enabled to triumph over circumstances and “show forth the praises of Him who hath called (us) out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9).

But the greatest gift of all is Christ Himself! Therefore, we join with the Apostle Paul as he exclaims, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (II Corinthians 9:15). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The value of this gift is beyond language to describe, “unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:. The Lord Jesus Christ is both our Creator and Savior, giving us triumphant peace and joy in life, and eternal victory over death. Thanks be unto God!

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Thank God For Daily Benefits

“Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah” (Psalm 68:19).

For the Christian, Thanksgiving should be a most special day—a day of reflection concerning all of God’s past blessings, of gratitude for all of God’s present victories, and of rejoicing for all of God’s future promises. And yet every day should be Thanksgiving for the believer, because the Lord daily loads us with benefits. The benefit of salvation: “He that is our God is the God of salvation” (Psalm 68:20 and our text). The benefit of a goodly heritage: “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage” (Psalm 16:6). David expressed gratitude to God for giving him the best inheritance, so should we, by “giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12). The benefit of God’s goodness: “O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 107:1). “O taste and see that the L SIZE="-1">ORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him” (Psalm 34:. “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart” (Psalm 73:1). The benefit of an overflowing cup: “My cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5). To the Christian, no matter what the outward circumstances, his inward spiritual cup is filled to overflowing with God’s good things. “Thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures . . . for with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light” (Psalm 36:8,9). The benefit of a good year: “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness” (Psalm 65:11).

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

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Great And Precious Promises

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (II Peter 1:4).

Scripture is full of promises, more than 2,800 in the Old Testament and more than 1,000 in the New. The first of these exceeding great and precious promises was the Protevangel (“first gospel”) of Genesis 3:15. Immediately after the fall of Adam and Eve, through the temptation of Satan, that old serpent, God promised the coming Seed of the Woman, the Savior: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; (He) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.”

The first New Testament promise, significantly, is this same primeval promise, now made far more specific: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

The last promise of the Old Testament speaks of a second coming of “Elijah the prophet,” who will “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:5,6). Then, the final promise of the Bible is the wonderful assurance of Christ concerning His second coming: “Surely I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20).

Sandwiched between these great and precious promises are over 3,800 other promises. Some of these are in the form of promised warnings to the sinner, but promises, none the less. Most promises, however, are to the obedient follower of God, and we know that “He is faithful that promised” (Hebrews 10:23). “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (II Corinthians 1:20).

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Picking Up Sticks


“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day” (Numbers 15:32).

Many young children play a game called “Pick-up Sticks.” In our text, a man was found playing a game of pick-up sticks with God. He was gathering sticks on the Sabbath day, to be used as firewood. He was brought before Moses and Aaron, who prayed about the matter (vs.34,35). The Lord answered that he should be stoned, which they did (vs.35,36).

Was the Lord too hard on the man? After all, he was only gathering a few sticks! In order to answer this, we must look at two types of sin mentioned previously in the chapter.

The first is called a sin of ignorance. Please note this term where it is found in verses 24–29. Sins of ignorance were sins of omission; they were unintentional sins—sins that they did not know they were committing. When the congregation or an individual realized it, they could bring their offering, and the sin would be forgiven, or atoned for (v.28).

The second sin is called a sin of presumption (v.30). This sin can be described as a defiant, open, willful, “I don’t care what God says!” type sin. The stick gatherer committed a presumptuous sin. He knew exactly what he was doing, because he knew exactly what God had said about not doing this on the Sabbath day. He also knew the penalty was death (Exodus 35:2,3). Therefore, God would not have been true to His previous, clear Word, if He had allowed him to live.

King David, in Psalm 19, understood the difference between these two sins. He said, in verses 12 and 13, “cleanse thou me from secret faults (sins of ignorance). Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: . . . and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” That’s a good prayer for all of us. Christians who try to play pick-up sticks with God will lose!

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The Glory of the Lord


"And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord" (I Kings 8:10-11).

This remarkable glory cloud filling Solomon's Temple at its dedication had also been present when the tabernacle in the wilderness was dedicated. At that time, Moses recorded how "a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, . . . and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." Furthermore, this "cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys" (Exodus 40:34-35,38). There could be no doubt as to His presence.

It is well known that this cloud of divine glory was called the Shekinah. Although this actual word never occurs in the Bible itself, it is closely related to the Hebrew words for "dwell" (shakan) and "tabernacle" (mishkan).

The significant truth here, of course, is not the name, but the fact. The glory cloud was removed when Israel became apostate. "And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city" (Ezekiel 11:23).

When God returned to Earth in the person of His Son, "the Word was made flesh, and among us." Then, once again, those who had eyes to see "beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father" (John 1:14). By His Spirit, He now even lives in the human bodies of those who receive Him, and "Christ in you" becomes our own "hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Then, as we live in His Word, "we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (II Corinthians 3:18).