A Daily Devotional

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Unshakable Things


"And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain" (Hebrews 12:27).

In this present evil world, there are many pressures that would tend to shake our faith and tempt us to compromise. Paul would exhort persecuted believers "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled" by such things, but rather to "stand fast" in the truths God has taught them (II Thes-salonians 2:2,15).

The "hope set before us . . . we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast" (Hebrews 6:18-19). The "word" to which our text refers is from Haggai 2:6-7: "For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come," who will establish "a kingdom which cannot be moved" (Hebrews 12:28).

Note God's amazing promise: ". . . the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, . . . but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished" (Isaiah 51:6). Similarly Jesus said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). "The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (I John 2:17).

The earth may crumble, and even our bodies may return to dust, but God's Word endures, and so do His righteousness and His kingdom and His great salvation! If our hope is in Him and His Word alone, and if we are seeking to do His gracious will, then our faith and our destiny can never be shaken. "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain" (Isaiah 66:22).

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Regeneration

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6).

Perhaps the greatest purpose of Christianity is to take that which is only flesh and see it reborn as Spirit—to see spiritual life born where before there was only death. But then, even in the most mature of believers, there remain aspects of the old nature mixed in with—even at war with—the new. In frustration, Paul cried, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me” (Romans 7:21), but each Christian should, through the power of God, be winning that war.

Christ came to develop the spiritual side of man. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1,2).

Far too many Christians still have their spirits buried deeply within the flesh, having “yielded (their) members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity” (Romans 6:19). But Christ came to change all that. “God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:3,4).

Through faith, “according to His abundant mercy (He) hath begotten us again” (I Peter 1:3). To “beget” means to reproduce a like kind. Since He has “begotten us,” we should be becoming like Him, in attitudes and aims. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:23,24). This is the object of Christianity.

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Christian Metaphors

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

The Christian believer and his characteristics are described in terms of many colorful metaphors in the Bible. In the first place, Christ calls us “my sheep,” and has also said: “I am the good shepherd, . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14,15). If we are truly His sheep, then we will surely follow Him, receiving safety, peace, and nourishment.

He has also said: “Ye are the salt of the earth: . . . Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13,14). We are, therefore, expected to bring the salt of preservation and joy to a bland, tasteless, and otherwise decaying world, and the light of salvation to a dark, sinful world.

In another beautiful metaphor, the Lord Jesus has likened us to fruitful branches: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit” (John 15:5).

The apostle Paul compares us variously to soldiers, to athletes, and to farmers: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. . . . if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits” (II Timothy 2:3,5,6).

With regard to our Christian life and witness, Christ said we must be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). The apostle Paul compares us to individual members in a great body (I Corinthians 12:27). Peter says we, “as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house,” and also are like “a royal priesthood” (I Peter 2:5,9) to offer up spiritual sacrifices.

There are many other beautiful and meaningful figures of speech in the New Testament, all of which help us to appreciate the richness and fruitfulness of the Christian life.

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Mary's Alabaster Box

“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment” (John 12:3).

Mary’s anointing of Jesus yields insight into the depth of her spiritual understanding. That Mary was interested in spiritual things we know, for Jesus said as she “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word,” that “Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:39,42).

Her conduct after the death of Lazarus revealed her faith, for Martha ran to meet the Lord, “but Mary sat still in the house” (John 11:20). However, when she received the summons from Jesus, “she arose quickly, and came to Him” (v.29). Her words expressed her heart-felt belief that “if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (v.32).

After Jesus raised Lazarus, “many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him” (v.45). Something drew them to Mary for spiritual enlightenment.

By the time of the anointing mentioned in our text, Mary’s spiritual understanding and faith had matured. The ointment, worth the equivalent of a year’s wages (Matthew 20:2), had, according to the Lord, been diligently preserved by Mary “against the day of (His) burying” (John 12:7).

This brief statement makes us wonder how much Mary understood, as compared with the twelve. We know that they struggled with the idea of His death, and that none of them comprehended the resurrection until it was accomplished. Did she sense that her burial ointment would be of no use if not used that day? Who can say? The fact remains that the only burial-anointing Jesus could and did receive was prior to His death. Would that our spiritual eyes were as open as Mary’s and our actions guided by faith such as hers.

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Honor To Whom Honor

“Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (I Peter 2:17).

The Bible commands Christians to: “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:7). Peter says to render honor to all men and, in particular, the king—who, in his day, was wicked and immoral, yet still worthy of due honor because of his office.

We have no king in our country, of course, but the principle applies to all in authority, especially to our president. It has been traditional to have a special day of honor, including a national holiday for our presidents, called Presidents’ Day, and this is probably appropriate, since all of our presidents are entitled to all due honor.

Even wicked emperors like Nero were among “the powers that be” which “are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1) and “God’s ministers” (Romans 13:6). They must give their own accounting to God, but they must be respected and obeyed by Christians, except when their decrees conflict with God’s commands (Acts 5:29). We can be thankful that all of our own presidents have at least been nominal Christians, acknowledging God’s sovereignty over our nation and its people, faithfully proclaiming an annual Day of Thanksgiving and at times calling for national prayer.

It is all too easy for us as Christians to criticize our national leaders, but “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Timothy 2:1,2). As we honor our past presidents, we must also be even more careful to pray for our present and future presidents.

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The Center Of The Earth

“Thus saith the LORD GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her” (Ezekiel 5:5).

It is doubtful that enough was known about geography in Ezekiel’s day for him to be able to know that Jerusalem was “in the midst of the nations and countries” of the world. In fact, he also said that the people of Israel in the last days “dwell in the midst of the land” (Ezekiel 38:12). The last phrase could better be rendered “the center of the earth.”

In any case, Ezekiel was right! It would have been essentially impossible to determine the center of the earth’s land masses before the advent of modern computers, but this has now been done. A computer study sponsored by I.C.R. twenty years ago determined that the sum of the distances from a point in the “Bible lands” to all other increments of land areas on Earth would be smaller than from any other point on the earth’s surface.

Not only is this region (and probably Jerusalem itself, if we had precise information on the exact shape of the continents and their continental shelves) the geographic center of the earth, but it is also the spiritual center. It was there where Christ died and rose again and it is also there where He will come again and reign over the earth (Zechariah 14:4,9).

For that matter, the New Jerusalem will, in the ages to come, be the center of the entire universe. We do not know where the center of the universe is now, for one cannot even define the center of infinite space. The best we can do is to assume that the universe is centered around the throne of its Creator, from where it was “stretched out” in the beginning (Psalm 104:2). And, of course, when the New Jerusalem comes down to the new earth, “the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it” (Revelation 21:2; 22:3), and all who know Him now will live there too.

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Kisses And Tears

“The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept” (Ruth 1:9).

Naomi, her husband, and their two sons had left Bethlehem and traveled to Moab because of a famine. There, Naomi’s husband and the two sons, who had in the meantime married Moabite women, died. When Naomi decided to return to Israel (Ruth 1:1–6), one of the two women decided to return to her own land and to her own household. The parting was occasioned with both kissing and weeping.

Kissing was a common part of taking leave in those days, as it is in many cases today. Laban had complained when Jacob and his family and flocks left secretly. “Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, . . . And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters?” (Genesis 31:27,28). Later on, however, he “kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them” (v.55).

When Paul was departing Ephesus, after his fruitful ministry there, “he kneeled down and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him” (Acts 20:36,37). The Greek word used indicates that they kissed “fervently, repeatedly.” The same word is used of the woman with the alabaster box of ointment, when, weeping and washing Jesus’ feet with her tears, kissed His feet (Luke 7:38), and of the father greeting the prodigal son upon his return home (Luke 15:20). In these cases, the word is the intensive form of the normal word for kiss. On the negative side, such fervent and repeated kissing was blasphemously used by Judas when he betrayed our Lord (Mark 14:45).

Even in our culture, these expressions of emotion, love, and concern are still appropriate, especially when the kiss is a “holy kiss” (Romans 16:16) and the tears are tears of love (II Corinthians 2:4).

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The God Of All Comfort

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (II Corinthians 1:3,4).

God is not only a God of holiness and judgment, but of love, and mercy, and comfort. In fact, as these verses say, He is the God of all comfort—every pain of life can find relief and consolation in His presence.

The Holy Spirit is often spoken of as our Comforter as well. “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth; . . . I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:16–18). The Scriptures also bring comfort that we can find in no other place. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

As our text teaches, when we are comforted by God in our trials, we are then prepared to comfort others, “them which are in any trouble.” Paul described his experience of God’s comfort in this way: “God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more” (II Corinthians 7:6,7). Notice the chain reaction: Titus was comforted by the believers at Corinth; Paul was comforted by Titus; and we are encouraged by Paul! Believers acting in right relation to each other can be a comfort to those around them who are hurting.

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Another Gospel

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6,7).

Some have confessed difficulty with these verses, especially with the words “another gospel: Which is not another.” This problem finds resolution in an understanding of two distinct Greek words, which, unfortunately, are both here translated as “another” in this passage.

In verse 6, Paul uses the Greek word heteros, which implies something of a totally different sort altogether—something diametrically opposed to the one to which it is compared. But in verse 7, he uses the word allos, which implies a comparison of two items of the same sort. The thought might be conveyed as follows: “You are removed from the true gospel of the grace of Christ unto a totally different belief system, which is not simply a similar but legitimate expression of the true gospel. Instead, it is quite opposite the truth.” Paul goes on to teach that this “different” gospel is a perversion of the true gospel, and instead of bringing peace, it brings about a troubling of the mind.

The primary theme of the entire book of Galatians is salvation by grace through faith in Christ, as opposed to salvation by works and law. “No man is justified by the law in the sight of God: . . . The just shall live by faith” (3:11). This marvelous good news had been denied by many in the Galatian church, but Paul had received the message of grace “by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:12). Any mixture of works with grace constituted a perversion of God’s plan, and any who would teach such perversion warranted strong condemnation from Paul. “If any man preach any other (from the Greek word para, meaning contrary) gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (1:9).

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Maker And Owner


“I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me” (Jeremiah 27:5).

“The earth, the man and the beast” are the three entities which God is said to have “created” (Hebrew bara—note Genesis 1:1,21,27) in the Genesis account of creation. However, they are also said in Genesis to have been “made” (Hebrew asah—note Genesis 1:25,26; 2:4), and that is the emphasis in our text above. Of course, both aspects were accomplished in the six days of creation week, after which God “rested from all His work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:3). This statement makes it abundantly plain that the present processes of nature do not “create” (call into existence out of nothing) or “make” (build up into more complex forms) anything, as our modern theistic evolutionists and evangelical uniformitarians allege. God has rested from both of these works, except in occasional miraculous intervention in the present laws and processes of “nature.”

Now, because God did create and make all things, He also “owns” all things. “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). “Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). “The LORD hath made all things for Himself” (Proverbs 16:4).

Therefore, all that we possess—as individuals or as nations—has simply been entrusted to us as God’s stewards, and “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). Without a doubt this accounting will be of our handling of our goods, our minds, and our opportunities, among others. For “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (I Corinthians 4:2). Let us be thankful—not covetous; and industrious—not slothful; in everything He has entrusted to us.

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Preaching The Word

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4).

Every believer has been called to preach God’s Word, not just pastors of churches. When Christ gave the Great Commission to “preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), it was clear that this could be accomplished only if every Christian would actually preach the gospel!

This was practiced first by the members of the church at Jerusalem. Then, when the believers were “all scattered abroad . . . except the apostles” (Acts 8:1), these “laymen” went everywhere preaching the Word. One of the “deacons” selected to relieve the apostles of the “business” affairs of the church was Philip, and he “went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5), speaking to great crowds and winning many to Christ. Then, shortly afterward, the Lord called him down to Gaza where he met an Ethiopian eunuch, and he “preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35). This teaches plainly that one can preach to a large congregation, but he or she can also preach to one person. It is not the size of the congregation, but the theme of the message, that makes one a preacher of the Word!

Furthermore, it is not only by word of mouth that Christ is preached; Paul says that “the gospel . . . was preached to every creature (literally, ‘in every creation’) which is under heaven” (Colossians 1:23). “And how shall they hear without a preacher? . . . But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world” (Romans 10:14,18). One can preach verbally to a congregation or to an unseen audience through radio or in writing to a reader, and even a godly lifestyle can “preach” effectively (although not specifically) of the saving work of Christ. Even the heavens declare His glory, and every believer must preach the Word!

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The Basest Of Men

“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17).

If ever a man had reason to boast of his accomplishments, it was King Nebuchadnezzar, who wrote the above words. He had built the world’s most beautiful city and developed the greatest empire the world had ever seen. He had even conquered God’s chosen nation and destroyed its magnificent temple. “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” he gloated (Daniel 4:30).

But God has warned: “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12). Lucifer, the most glorious being in all creation had been lifted up with pride, and soon lost his exalted position (Ezekiel 28:17). If the highest angel and the greatest emperor could not afford to be proud, then who are we? “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (I Corinthians 4:7).

Let all kings and presidents, all celebrities and dignitaries, rich men and beautiful women take note. Even pastors and evangelists, Christian speakers and musicians, and others, are in constant danger of falling. Nebuchadnezzar had to suffer seven years of deep humiliation, but then he could say: “Now I . . . honor the King of heaven, . . . those that walk in pride He is able to abase” (Daniel 4:37). It is probably the hardest—yet the most important—of all lessons we need to learn. “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (I Peter 5:5,6).

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Adam's Failure; Christ's Strength

“By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Romans 5:18).

When Adam rebelled against God, he experienced many new things—things which have haunted mankind ever since. All of these things were experienced by Christ in an intense way as He redeemed fallen mankind and the cursed creation.

Adam had never seen or experienced death (Genesis 2:17) until he sinned (3:19,22). God had ordained nakedness (2:25), but sin distorts everything (3:7,21). Before sin, they had known only blessing (1:28), but the universal curse followed (3:14–19). They had known joy and fellowship, but now they knew sorrow (3:17), and separation (3:23). They had lived in a garden (2:, but now the plants would bring forth thorns (3:18). Prior to sin, they had been assigned work to do (2:15), but now they would sweat (3:19) as they toiled. The angel’s weapon kept them from returning to the Garden (3:24), and outside, violence reigned (4:8,23; 6:13). Child bearing now was to be accompanied by suffering (1:28; 3:16).

Likewise, Christ experienced death on the cross (John 19:30), but by His resurrection He conquered death (I Corinthians 15:54–57). In this death He experienced nakedness (John 19:23; Psalm 22:18), the full thrust of the curse (Galatians 3:13), sorrow (Isaiah 53:3), and separation from God (Matthew 27:46). Cruel thorns were placed on His head (John 19:2), and He sweat great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). The soldier’s weapon pierced Him (John 19:34), finally ending a series of violent acts (Luke 22:63; Matthew 27:26, 29,30; Isaiah 52:14, etc.). But through His suffering He overcame the curse and redeemed His fallen creation. As a result, many children have been brought forth (Hebrews 2:9,10), children reborn into a glorious state through His suffering.

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Poor and Needy

“But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God” (Psalm 40:17).

The church at Laodicea boasted that they were “rich and had need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17), but David humbly confessed that he was spiritually poor and needy. His enemies were attacking from without, “For innumerable evils have compassed me about” (Psalm 40:12). His own sin had taken hold within. “Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up” (40:12). No wonder he felt poor and needy!

In spite of these overwhelming problems, David found the answer in the following three spiritual principles: He was not forgotten by God: “Yet the LORD thinketh upon me.” “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3,4). The truth of the matter is that God is very mindful of us, and has visited us in the Person of Christ. He was mindful that help and deliverance were available from an ever-present God: “Thou art my help and deliverer.” “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). The God of creation is also the God of salvation and preservation. He urged his request: “Make no tarrying, O my God.” David put fervency into his prayer. So did Nehemiah: “Think upon me, my God, for good” (5:19). “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (still) availeth much” (James 5:16).

God will not despise the poor and needy; the broken and contrite hearted; the seeking soul. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden (over-burdened), and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

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The Blessing Of Prophecy

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 1:3).

There seems to be an increasing interest in Biblical prophecy in recent years, but the great majority of professing Christians, especially in the so-called mainline denominations, continue to reject or ignore the great portions of the Bible dealing with the prophetic future. This is most unfortunate, because there is genuine blessing in the study of these prophecies. It is significant that only the book of Revelation makes a specific promise to this effect. Not only in its opening verses, as above, but also in its final chapter, is such a blessing promised: “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth (i.e., ‘guardeth’) the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7).

Note also the exhortation in Peter’s final epistle, just before his martyrdom. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19).

For those who ignore these prophecies concerning the second coming, Christ’s rebuke to certain disciples who had failed to believe the prophecies concerning His first coming may well come to be appropriate again: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25). The book of Revelation ends with an even more serious warning: “If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy (note, not just the concepts, but the words!), God shall take away his part out of the book of life” (Revelation 22:19). It is clearly very important that Christians read, understand, believe, and obey the divinely inspired prophecies, as well as all the other revelations of the Holy Scriptures.