A Daily Devotional

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The Stages Of Christian Growth

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (II Peter 3:18).

A great transformation is initiated when one accepts Christ as Savior. A newly born-again Christian receives many gifts, such as the forgiveness of sin, a hatred for sin, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—with spiritual maturity as the goal. Initially, these babes in Christ must be fed with “milk” and not with “meat” (I Corinthians 3:1,2).

The apostle John refers to three stages of Christian development: little children, young men, and fathers (I John 2:3–18). Throughout John’s epistles, the believer is instructed in how to progress to Christian maturity. A believer may be 60 years old physically, but only a babe in Christ. Conversely, a Christian can be quite young and still be mature. Early spiritual maturity comes from early Bible study and its application to Christian living. Any training, whether it be Bible school, Bible teaching, Bible reading, or Christian witnessing and service, should produce a Christ-like character.

Unfortunately, there are experiences in the Christian life which hinder growth: walking after the flesh (Romans 8:5–8); being captivated by the things in the world instead of being led by the Spirit and obeying the Bible’s injunctions (Romans 8:14–17). It pays to live for Christ and grow in spiritual life. Admittedly, there can be suffering and loss of former friends, and there must be a rejection of the world’s immoral standards (Romans 8:18,19).

Believers “groan” within themselves, waiting for the redemption of their bodies (Romans 8:23–25), but the Holy Spirit, who indwells the believer, will assist and sustain those who truly desire to grow in His grace and knowledge.

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The Face Of Jesus Christ

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6).

The light that shines in the soul of a lost sinner when he first comes to know Jesus Christ can only be compared to the light that Christ called forth on Day One of Creation Week. We met this God of glory spiritually when we first beheld in our hearts the face of Jesus Christ.

But the face of Jesus Christ was not always deemed so glorious. We read of a time when ungodly men “did spit in His face” (Matthew 26:67), then took a blindfold “to cover His face” (Mark 14:65) and finally, with a rain of terrible blows “struck Him on the face” (Luke 22:64). Once His “countenance (was) as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars” (Song of Solomon 5:15), but when they finished their assault, “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52:14).

“The face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (I Peter 3:12), however, and the time is coming very soon when all those who have turned their faces from Him will call “to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16). When finally they will have seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ in all its consuming strength, not even the world itself could stand, “from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away” (Revelation 20:11).

For those who have looked on Him in faith, however, this will not be a time of judgment, but blessing, for “they shall see His face” (Revelation 22:4). The face of Jesus Christ, fierce as devouring fire to those He must judge, is glorious in beauty and love to those who believe.

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Magnify The Lord

“Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified” (Psalm 70:4).

Here is a great verse to follow for those who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. We live in a day when people tend to be hero worshipers on a vast scale. Multitudes magnify some charismatic political leader and follow him even to the death. Others magnify great athletes, or rock singers, or movie stars, almost to the point of worship.

It is appropriate to give honor where honor is due, of course. Nevertheless, it is dangerous to overly magnify any man or woman, for it is God who has given them their abilities and opportunities. These should all be used for Him, and He should receive the praise.

God has told us clearly what and whom we should magnify. The principle is that we should only magnify what He has magnified. For one thing, “He will magnify the law, and make it honorable” (Isaiah 42:21). There may be a temptation, in this age of grace, to play down the importance and validity of God’s law, but He desires us, rather, to magnify it.

This, in fact, is true of the whole Bible: “For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2). Some liberals have accused Bible-believing Christians of putting the Bible on too high a pedestal, but this is impossible! We could never magnify God’s word as much as does God Himself. We, therefore, magnify the Lord when we magnify His word. It is noteworthy that the glorious exhortation of our text verse is repeated verbatim from Psalm 40:16, except that “Let God be magnified” is replaced by “The LORD be magnified.” Therefore, says David: “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3).

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Good Gifts For Our Children

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good gifts to them that ask Him?” (Matthew 7:11).

It is typical for parents to shower gifts on their children at Christmas time. No doubt this is usually because of love, but there often may be also a sort of guilt-feeling involved—an unconscious attempt to make up for lack of love shown on other days, or maybe even to elicit their obedience and love in response.

Whatever the reason, the Lord does not rebuke the giving of gifts to our children, especially when it is done in such a way as to be a small picture of our heavenly Father giving gifts to His children. His gifts are always good gifts—gifts that are good for us, although they may not always seem so at first.

For example: “Unto you it is given . . . to suffer for (Christ’s) sake” (Philippians 1:29). But, when this is true, “He giveth more grace” (James 4:6). He may give a difficult day, but He also gives strength for the day. He may give an untraveled way, but then gives light for the way.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Because He is the Father of lights—that is, of all energy and power—“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength” (Isaiah 40:29).

The greatest gift of our “Father which is in heaven,” our “Father of lights,” is of course the “gift of God (which) is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). And that is not all He gives! “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

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Made Of A Woman

“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law” (Galatians 4:4).

This is a key verse related to the incarnation, and therefore to the whole plan of salvation. The promise was made in the very beginning, when God promised that the seed of the woman would bring salvation from sin and Satan (Genesis 3:15). But it would be at least four thousand years before God’s “fullness of the time was come.”

But, right on God’s schedule, He came, miraculously conceived and born of “the virgin” (Isaiah 7:14). Paul, carefully choosing his words, says He was “made of a woman.” The word rendered “made” (Greek ginomai) is not the usual word for “born” (bennao). Paul did not say He was born of a woman, but made of a woman, evidently to emphasize that the human birth of Jesus was unique—different from all other human births. In fact, His human body had to be specially “prepared” by God (Hebrews 10:5) so that He could be born without either an inherent sin-nature or any inherited genetic defects from either parent. In order to “redeem them that were under the law” (Galatians 4:5), the Son must Himself be “without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:19).

Not only was He “made of a woman” so as to be without inherited sin, but He was “made under the law” so that He could be shown to live without committing sin. It is only through God’s written law that we really know what sin is. “By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). And we know that we cannot possibly “keep the whole law” (James 2:10).

But Christ did! Therefore, since He was “made under the law” and had come “to fulfill” the law (Matthew 5:17), He can indeed redeem every sinner who will come to Him in repentance and faith.

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A Right Christmas

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Christmas means many things to many people according to their backgrounds, ages, and interests. For born-again believers, it means that God loved them, regarded their lost condition, and did something about it by giving the best gift ever. Our Savior was laid in a manger for His cradle (Luke 2:7). He came to experience everything man must experience, “yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), and then die on our behalf on the cross (Hebrews 9:28). One day He will return and be crowned King of kings with every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that He is Lord (Philippians 2:9–11).

Therefore it is important for a Christian to have a right Christmas! Here are some ingredients to include in our celebration: A right Christmas includes making room for Jesus. The innkeeper reminds us of those who have no room for Him. We should be sure our hearts are not so full of other things that there is no room for Him this Christmas. A right Christmas includes worship and the grace of giving. We should take time for special worship today, and give, as God gave His Son. We should also follow the example of the wise men who “fell down, and worshiped Him, and . . . presented unto Him gifts” (Matthew 2:11). A right Christmas includes telling others. The shepherds “made known abroad” what they had seen and heard (Luke 2:17). What an opportune time we have at Christmas to tell others its real meaning!

Were the angels mistaken when they talked about peace on earth and good will to men (Luke 2:14) since we have so much hurt today? No, the peace God offers is for those who will trust His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord.

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Little Children

“And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2,3).

Many adult Christians have the mistaken notion that little children are too young to understand the gospel, and so should not be allowed to decide for Christ until they are older. The problem, however, is not the children; it is the adults who cannot understand! They must become like little children before they can really comprehend the way of salvation and be converted. Jesus said, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. . . . Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein” (Luke 18:16,17).

After all, what is there to understand? A very young child, instructed in the Scriptures from infancy as God has commanded his parents (note II Timothy 3:15, which uses the Greek word for “baby” as the state in which young Timothy began to know the Bible), can surely comprehend that the God to whom his parents pray made him, that he has sinned against God when he does wrong, that God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for his sins, and that Jesus can save him and take him to heaven. An adult may require much explanation and may imagine many difficulties, but a child will simply believe—and that’s enough!

The word for “little child” or “little children” actually means children who are not much more than toddlers. It is the same word rendered “young child” when the wise men came to find Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:8, etc.). Little children should, by all means, be taught the gospel, and should be encouraged to come to Christ before they grow too old to understand with their hearts!

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Most High—almighty—lord—god

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust” (Psalm 91:1,2).

Let us look at the four separate names of God used here:

Most High—the first time this name (Hebrew Elyon) is used is in Genesis 14:18, where it is combined with the Hebrew word El, emphasizing God’s strength and sovereignty. In this passage, Melchizedek is identified as “the priest of the most high god. And He blessed him, and said, blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand” (Genesis 14:18–20). Deep dwelling in the “secret place” or inner sanctum of the most high will surely bring security.

Almighty—this is the majestic Hebrew word Shaddai, meaning “all powerful.” God introduces this name of Himself (again coupled with El) to elderly Abraham, while announcing his soon-coming son. “I am the almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly” (Genesis 17:1,2). This almighty God can even do the impossible. What a comfort to walk in His shadow.

LORD—We know this name as Jehovah. The active self-existent one, the holy, self-revealing redeemer. Nothing could be so foolish as to attempt to find refuge apart from Him and in opposition to Him. It is first used in Genesis 2:4 as the Creator declares His work of creation complete.

God—Elohim, a proper name for the supreme God. Beginning with its first use in Genesis 1:1 we see that God is the uni-plural Godhead, Creator, sovereign of the universe. With the psalmist, let us affirm: “In Him will I trust.”

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The Name Of David

“Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my tongue” (II Samuel 23:1,2).

The name of David is uniquely important in Scripture. Except for the name of Jesus Christ Himself (of whom David is a remarkable type), no other name (not even Abraham or Moses or Paul) occurs nearly so often in the Bible. In the New Testament—again other than Jesus Christ—David’s name is both the first mentioned (Matthew 1:1) and the last mentioned (Revelation 22:16).

As the “sweet psalmist of Israel,” David was largely responsible for this longest book in the Bible. As we see in our text, his claim to divine inspiration in the writing of his psalms is perhaps the most meaningful and clear-cut statement on this subject by any of the Biblical authors. It was both “God’s Spirit” and “me” who spoke, giving “His word” through “my tongue,” said David, in his last words, shortly before he died.

David was not a perfect man. We remember his grievous sin, not only against Uriah the Hittite, but even more against the Lord (II Samuel 12:9–14), thus giving “great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme.” He had to suffer greatly because of this, but his repentance was genuine, and he was graciously restored by God to fellowship and service. The Lord’s own testimony concerning him was this: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will” (Acts 13:22).

It is little wonder that so many loving parents over the many centuries—both Jews and Gentiles—have named their own sons “David,” for the very name means “beloved.”

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Questioning God

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” (Romans 9:20).

Whenever one begins a question with “Why?” he should realize that the answer must necessarily be theological, not scientific. Science can deal with the questions of “what” and “how,” sometimes even with “where” and “when,” but never with “why!” The “why” questions have to do with motives and purposes, even when dealing with natural phenomena (“Why does the earth rotate on its axis?” “Why do we have mosquitoes?”). Even though we can partially explain such things by secondary causes, we finally encounter a “first cause,” and then the “why?” can be answered only by God.

The wise thing to do is simply to believe that He has good reasons for everything, whether we can discern them now or not. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). God the Creator“worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11), and it is our high privilege simply to trust Him, not to question Him.

On the other hand, He often asks us: “Why?” “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Jesus asked His disciples when they thought they were in great peril (Matthew 8:26). “If I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” (John 8:46) He would say to those who question His word.

Then to those who doubt His deity, the apostle Paul speaking in His name, asks: “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” (Acts 26:. As the popular chorus goes: “God specializes in things thought impossible!” Our God is omniscient, and knows what’s best; He is omnipotent, so He can do it. He is all-loving, and will surely do what’s best for those who trust Him.

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The Christian Path

“It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect” (Psalm 18:32).

“Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3). It is God’s word that is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12) and lights the way that God has chosen for us as we “take up (our) cross daily” (Luke 9:23) and follow Him. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

We should not fear the Lord’s direction, or correction. “As a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him” (Deuteronomy 8:5,6). He promised “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go” (Psalm 32:.

He is “acquainted with all (our) ways” (Psalm 139:3) and in order for us to acquaint ourselves with His way for us, He instructs us to “trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6). Our heart attitude must be: “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies” (Psalm 27:11).

We can say with confidence “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Although the path we are on may not be well traveled, “because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14), the assurance from our Lord is that “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).

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Willful Sins

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26,27).

This is one of the most controversial passages of Scripture because of its apparent conflict with passages which teach salvation by grace, entirely apart from the law or any form of works (e.g., Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5) and absolute security in salvation to those who belong to Christ (e.g., John 10:28,29; Romans 8:35–39).

Actually, many passages warn against deliberate acts of sin by Christians. “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar” (I John 2:4). “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him” (Titus 1:16).

Clearly, there are dozens of “proof texts” on both sides of this question, and it cannot be settled by citing a cliche or two in a brief study like this. There can be no real contradiction in God’s word, however, so the Lord must have had a good reason for inspiring this apparent paradox in His book. On the one hand, it is vital for every true believer in Christ to know that He is saved and has eternal life. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (I John 5:13). On the other hand, it is deadly dangerous for a person merely to think he or she is saved when there is no evidence of a changed life. Such Scriptures as our text give sober warning that professing Christians have no basis for any assurance of salvation if they do not obey His words. “Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (I John 2:3). Therefore, “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (II Corinthians 13:5).

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A Fresh Start

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22–24).

Everyone deserves a fresh start. As we start the New Year with resolutions and lofty ideals, it is good to remember that we can all renew our commitment. We can all purpose to gain even loftier heights in our spiritual journey toward Christ-likeness. No matter how far we have ascended, we can go farther; no matter how low we have fallen, we can begin again.

How can this be accomplished? As the context of our text teaches, we must go back to school—the school of Christ. “But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:20,21). “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

As our text verses explain, we must both “put off . . . the old man” and “put on the new man,” clearly speaking of our manner of life, just as if we were changing clothes. If we as believers are hanging on to a few old rags, let this New Year see us obey this passage as an act of faith through the living Spirit of God: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).

This act of submission and desire will result as we are “renewed in the spirit [or attitude] of (our) minds” (Ephesians 4:23). The old man will not be removed or changed into the new but will be brought under control. The new man is a new creation of God modeled after Him “in righteousness and true holiness.” “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

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Friends Of Mammon

“And I say to you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations” (Luke 16:9).

This seems a strange exhortation from the Lord Jesus Christ. “Mammon” is the name of the god of money, so why would Christ want us to make friends of “mammon?” “Ye cannot serve God and mammon,” He said (Luke 16:13).

This conclusion follows the equally surprising parable of the unjust steward, who received a grudging commendation from the master he had cheated, because of his shrewd manipulations to provide for his own future (Luke 16:1–8). The point is that if worldly men can improve their worldly future by wise use of such money as they control, should not Christians—in honorable ways, of course—invest their money in such ways as to improve their own eternal future?

This is a natural extension of Christ’s earlier instruction concerning our money: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, . . . For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19–21).

To make eternal friends (by means) of mammon is thus the best way to lay up treasure in heaven. That is, if we use our money in such a way that it will result in people being won to Christ, then they will be our treasure in heaven! It will be they who will await our coming to join them in heaven, and when we do, it is these friends who will gladly “receive (us) into everlasting habitations!” Finally, by way of warning, Jesus said: “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luke 16:11). What better resolution for the New Year could we make than to use our money in ways that may lead to friends in heaven?

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If Any Lack Wisdom

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:5,6).

Although some commentaries suggest that this promise relates only to wisdom in understanding why we may be going through trials, the promise itself makes no such stipulation and seems to be quite general. That is, if anyone does lack wisdom, let him ask of God. This is a wonderful promise—that God is willing to give us wisdom to evaluate information and to discern His will and direction, if we but ask for it in faith, nothing wavering.

That the Lord would grant us wisdom in any situation is consistent with I John 5:14,15: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

These two verses in I John assure us that if we ask anything according to His will, He will answer. When we pray that the Lord will change people or situations, although that which is requested may please the Lord, He does not force rebellious or unwilling individuals to respond to Him. We should ask, nonetheless, since the Lord has many ways of changing situations and attitudes.

When we request wisdom, however, we can be certain we will receive it, and that we will have the capacity to deal with problems with others, or with ourselves, in a way that is pleasing to Him. The promise of James 1:5 is a very precious one. When we consider our wisdom as compared with the Lord’s, there is really no situation in which we do not lack wisdom. Therefore, in every situation, we need to ask for it “in faith, nothing wavering.”