A Daily Devotional

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Not Convenient

“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:4).

It seems surprising that “foolish talking” and “jesting” would be condemned as things that “should not be once named among you” (v.3). Yet here it is, and commentators usually assume that the foolish talking and jesting so condemned really only apply to filthy talking and filthy jesting. After all, the popularity of many Christian speakers today seems to be measured by the amount of jokes and witticisms they inject into their messages.

This is a sensitive subject, and each Christian should conscientiously decide for himself what God is saying here, through Paul. In any case, it seems significant that the only reference in the Bible to “jesting” is a warning against it. It is also significant that one can never find this element in the sermons of Christ or the letters of Paul or anywhere in the Bible. The Bible writers seem to have believed that sin and salvation were such sober, serious issues that there was nothing there to joke about. We read several times of Jesus weeping, but never of Him laughing. The Scriptures often refer to “rejoicing,” but never to “having fun.”

Furthermore, Jesus warned that “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36), and Paul exhorted us to “let your speech be alway with grace” (Colossians 4:6). Our text says that foolish talking and jesting are “not convenient” for a Christian. Other things “not convenient” include the list of 23 sins in Romans 1:28–31, beginning with “unrighteousness” and ending with “unmerciful.”

Whether or not we can justify certain “convenient” times for jesting, there is one thing we can know is always convenient—that is, “giving of thanks.”

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Doubting Faith Is Not Unbelief

“And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:22–24).

We see here a desperate father bringing his demon possessed son to Jesus Christ, exhibiting what might be called doubting faith. This man was not really sure that Jesus could heal his son, nor was he sure that he had the faith that Jesus demanded of him. How desperate and lost he must have felt—so much was at stake.

Note these Scriptural appraisals of faith. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6–8). “Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

This man was literally tossed to and fro between faith and doubt. His soul was in anguish, and through his desperate tears he cried out to Jesus: “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” The honest confession of the struggle within him was exactly what Jesus responded to, by either accepting the man’s desire for faith or by granting him sufficient faith. This is evident because Jesus did heal the boy.

What a joyous hope to know that we can come to Jesus and tell him of the struggles within our own souls. As we open our hearts in prayer and give Him access to all of our weaknesses, confessing our doubting faith, Jesus can respond as if to pure faith.

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Our Cross: Death Of Pride



“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Some in evangelical circles today would say that one’s “cross” is some particular suffering such as a chronic illness or the death of a loved one. However, the Bible speaks about a daily cross that is universal to all believers. Where Christ speaks about the “cross,” the context always includes the believer’s daily dying to one’s self. “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:39).

It is significant that one of the major factors in this denial of one’s self is a willingness to put aside the pride that loves the praise of men more than the praise of God. The first discourse on the “cross” in Matthew 10 includes, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: . . . And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” (10:37,38). “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

John’s Gospel is the only one that does not specifically mention taking up our cross daily; however, he does mention those whose pride was so great they were not willing to do so. “Because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42,43).

Let us determine that we will shoulder the cross of the death of pride daily, and like Moses, esteem “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (Hebrews 11:26).

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The Captain Of Our Salvation



“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:9,10).

Christ is referred to in this passage as the captain of our salvation. The word translated captain implies one who is first in line, the beginning, or the originator. So Christ is discovered to be the first in line of an endless procession of the saints of all ages resurrected from the grave and marching to the ultimate realization of their salvation. He is truly “the first born among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (I Corinthians 15:20).

The word finds usage only three other times in the New Testament, each within a resurrection and glorification context. Peter, addressing the people of Israel, said that they had “killed the Prince [originator] of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses” (Acts 3:15). And later, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince [leader] and a Savior” (Acts 5:30,31). As a result, we should be “looking unto Jesus the author [same word] and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

The only way we could ever share in His glory is for Him to suffer and die. “Both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2:11).

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Let Us Rise Up And Build

“And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work” (Nehemiah 2:18).

It has been said that when the people of God say, “Let us arise and build,” Satan says, “Let us arise and oppose.” The work of the Lord never advances without Satanic opposition.

Satan opposed Nehemiah externally. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem did everything they could to stop the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. They tried ridicule: “They laughed us to scorn, and despised us” (2:19); anger: “Sanballat . . . was wroth, and took great indignation” (4:1); criticism: “What do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify themselves?” (4:2); mockery: “Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall” (4:3); threat of all-out war: “And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem” (4:; compromise: “Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono” (6:2); and lying: “It is reported among the heathen, . . . that thou and the Jews think to rebel: . . . that thou mayest be their king” (6:6). Nehemiah succumbed to none of these attacks.

Satan opposed Nehemiah internally, through discouragement: “The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish” (4:10); wanting to quit: “We are not able to build the wall” (4:10); greed: “There was a great cry of the people . . . against their brethren the Jews. . . . We have mortgaged our lands . . . we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants” (5:1,3,5); and cowardice: “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple . . . for they will come to slay thee” (6:10).

In spite of it all, the work was completed (6:15) and the enemies of God were defeated (6:16). May we never give up, but continue in our work to its completion!

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Once Upon A Tree

“Out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food” (Genesis 2.9).

Time after time the authors of Scripture refer to trees. Those who trust in the Lord and delight in His word are compared to a firmly planted tree (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:. Such a tree, firmly anchored, is able to withstand the buffeting of strong winds. Being so anchored, it absorbs the life-giving water and minerals in the earth which are vital to its survival.

A tree is an amazing factory where the work never stops. The job of the roots has just been described. The leaves have the job of making food. Water and minerals pumped from the roots into the chloroplasts react with energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to produce the food needed to nourish the tree. The trunk has the purpose of supporting the crown (branches, twigs, and leaves), and it contains the transportation network between the leaves and roots.

Solomon writes of an interesting contrast in referring to trees. The planting and growing of trees can be an enjoyable hobby, but it brings no lasting satisfaction (Ecclesiastes 2:4–6,11). Conversely, those who win people over to wisdom and righteousness is said to have a tree of life as their fruit (Proverbs 11:30).

It is easy to take trees for granted, but we rely on them and their by-products each and every day. We use paper, write with pencils, eat their fruit, breathe the oxygen they release, and sleep on beds framed of wood. Their beauty leaves one in awe.

One by-product we rarely mention is a cross. How ironic it is that we find this gift from the Creator is twisted and transformed into the curse for the Redeemer as He is crucified upon a tree (Colossians 1:16,19,20).

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When Christ Ascended

“Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? . . .)” (Ephesians 4:8,9).

This verse has been controversial, but is nonetheless very important. The context is taken from Psalm 68:17–20: “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: . . . Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: . . . our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the LORD belong the issues from death.”

The psalmist is apparently describing the Lord among His heavenly hosts, riding home as a mighty king returning with the spoils of battle. Evidently this prize of battle consisted of His own people who had been held captive in an alien land, but who now in turn had been captured from the enemy by the returning King. To do this, the King (none other than the Lord Jesus Himself) “ascended up on high,” leading them to His own throne in the heavens.

But first He had to descend to the earth, and then even to “the lower parts of the earth.” This unusual phrase must refer to the great pit in the center of the earth confining the souls of the dead—the place called Hades.

One of Christ’s purposes on Earth was “to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1). That is exactly what He did when He died on the cross for the sins of these very captives, then, in the Spirit, descended into Hades to set them free.

He returned with the very “keys of Hell and of death” (Revelation 1:18), alive forevermore. The souls of those who had died in faith came with Him, finally ascending with Him into “Paradise,” in “the third heaven” (note Luke 23:43; II Corinthians 12:2,4) to wait with Him for His future return to reclaim the whole earth.

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God The Owner

“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1).

In communist countries, “the people” own the lands, while in capitalist countries, individuals may own “private property.” Both are myths unless these are viewed as a stewardship from God. We don’t really own anything, “for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (I Timothy 6:7).

In the mineral kingdom, the most important substances are the precious metals upon which monetary standards are based, yet God makes it clear that all “the silver is mine, and the gold is mine” (Haggai 2:. The greatest members of the plant kingdom are the mighty trees of the forest, and God reminds us that “the trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which He hath planted” (Psalm 104:16). All the birds and beasts are His also. “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10).

Again and again God reminds us that “all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5) and even the infinite heavens. “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is” (Deuteronomy 10:14).

God has, indeed, given man “dominion . . . over all the earth” (Genesis 1:26), and Satan has, indeed, laid false claim to “all the kingdoms of the world” (Luke 4:5,6), but the fact remains that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will” (Daniel 4:32).

Most of all, every Christian should understand that he and all he has belongs to God, by both creation and blood-bought redemption. “Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (I Corinthians 6:19,20).

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Bible Promises

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).

The prophet Jeremiah was living during a politically difficult time in Israel’s history. Israel had suffered a drought and various invasions by surrounding nations because of her departure from God. “My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13).

Jeremiah was describing a political upheaval and the inward depression it was causing him. Israel had forsaken the Lord, departed from His word, and failed to listen to prophets who were warning her. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and other countries had arisen and were invading Israel. Her borders had shrunk and would continue to do so. Israel was devastated.

The text verse shows the godly attitude of the prophet: “Thy word was unto me the joy of my heart” and his agony at the plight of Israel: “Oh . . . that I might weep day and night for . . . my people” (Jeremiah 9:1). Compare Jesus as He mourned for Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together . . . and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37).

Might not the plight of Israel be applied to our day? Where do we find help? Troubles ought to drive us to the Book, the Bible. The apostle Peter understood the function of trials in the lives of Christians and exhorts the New Testament saints as follows: “Rejoice, though . . . ye are in heaviness through . . . temptations (trials) that . . . your faith . . . might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:6,7).

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Help Me, Oh Lord

“Help me, O LORD, my God: Oh save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it” (Psalm 109:26,27).

There is disagreement as to the proper interpretation of this psalm of David. Its center section (vv.6–20) consists of a strong denunciation and curse, while the beginning and ending sections petition God for judgment and deliverance (vv.1–5,21–31).

Most hold that David is speaking in both sections. If so, it is a bitter and vindictive spirit finding vent. “Let Satan stand at his right hand. . . . Let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few. . . . Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: . . . Let the extortioner catch all that he hath. . . . Let there be none to extend mercy unto him”(vv.6-12).

Others would claim that David is quoting the curse of his enemy directed toward him and point to the use of the singular personal pronouns “he,” “his,” and “him” used thirty times in fifteen verses. Indeed, if this is the proper interpretation, the psalm becomes the plea of a persecuted man of God who entrusts his enemies’ judgment entirely to the Lord. “But do thou for me, Oh GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. . . . I became also a reproach unto them. . . . Let them curse. . . . I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude. For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul” (Psalm 109:21,22,25,28,30,31).

Like his master who had come after him “when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (I Peter 2:23).

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The Joyful Sound

“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance” (Psalm 89: 15).

Many have been the Christians who have joined in singing “We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves; Jesus saves!” Not all have known, however, that this beautiful phrase comes from a great psalm extolling God’s marvelous works of creation and then His promises of redemption.

“The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them. The north and the south thou hast created them” (Psalm 89:11,12). Earlier verses note that “the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD” (v.5), speaking of the angels, “the sons of the mighty” (v.6), literally, “the sons of God.” It is exciting to realize that the very first “joyful sound” was heard when God “laid the foundations of the earth.” Then it was that “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:4,7).

There was also a joyful sound when Christ was born, and the angel came bringing “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born . . . a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. . . . And suddenly there was . . . the heavenly host praising God” (Luke 2:10,11,13).

Whenever a soul is saved, there is another joyful sound: “Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,” said Jesus (Luke 15:7). Finally, there will be a most wonderful sound of joy on Earth when the Lord comes again. “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). Therefore, even now, “my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in His salvation” (Psalm 35:9).

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He Knoweth

“But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

While Job, the speaker in our text verse, was an Old Testament “saint,” his experiences under trial are applicable to modern-day “saints.” The word “saint” appears some fifty times in the New Testament. However, our privileges as New Testament “saints” far exceed those of the Old Testament “saints.”

But how precious to apply Job’s words to our lives today. Job was going through severe trials, with the loss of his wealth, his children, and his health: “My complaint is bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find Him!” (Job 23:2,3). Job had a deep desire to find God as judge and confront Him, for “He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” Job 23:10). Job had some understanding of his trials as the refiner’s fire, which produces pure gold, but he had to become tender hearted and responsive to the process.

What a lesson for the New Testament saints! Do we not complain because of God’s dealings with us, which seem so mysterious at times? Job’s refiner’s fire is pictured in the New Testament also: “Now for a season . . . ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (trials): That the trial of your faith . . . though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” at the second coming (I Peter 1:6,7). Trials are a part of our Christian experience to refine our faith, “being much more precious than of gold that perisheth” (I Peter 1:7).

Trust Him. Our Lord is quite “able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).

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Bringing Up Children

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

This verse, together with the parallel passage in Colossians 3:21, is probably the key New Testament instruction specifically dealing with the training of children. “Nurture” is from the same Greek word that is translated “chastening” in Hebrews 12:5,7, and “instruction” in II Timothy 3:16. It has particular reference to carrying out child training with both firmness and gentleness, as needed and appropriate in each particular case.

The term “admonition” is from a Greek word meaning “putting in mind.” Thus, the “admonition of the Lord” implies teaching the ways of the Lord by using the word of the Lord. There is no substitute for implanting a knowledge of God’s word in the minds of our children. Even if they should drift away for a while in later life, the Lord can use His word in their hearts to bring them back.

Both types of training—through action and through verbal teaching—are said in this passage to be primarily the responsibility of the father. The first reference in the Bible to training children deals with Abraham’s responsibility to bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (see Genesis 18:19). Mothers, of course, also have much responsibility and ability in this ministry (see Proverbs 1:8, and the example cited by Paul himself of how Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught him—II Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Fathers, too, sometimes delegate certain teaching responsibilities to tutors (Galatians 4:1,2), but the over-all responsibilities are theirs.

And all of this training should be done in love. “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Then we trust the Lord and pray.

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Biblical Accuracy

“If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” (John 3:12).

Many who profess to be Christian intellectuals today are arguing that we should defer to the evolutionists in matters of science and history, since the real message of the Bible is spiritual. The Genesis account, for example, is not meant to give us details of the events of creation, for scientists can give us this information. It merely assures us that God is somehow behind it all. But if this were all that God meant to tell us, its very first verse is enough for that! What is the need to describe all the days and acts of creation at all if the record has no real relevance to history or science?

As the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus in our text verse, if we cannot trust God’s word when it relates “earthly things,” how can we possibly rely on its testimony of “heavenly things”? To some extent we can check for ourselves whether or not it is accurate when it records facts of history and processes of nature, but we have no means at all of determining whether it speaks the truth when it deals with heaven and hell, with salvation and eternal life, or with God’s purpose for the world in the ages to come.

The fact is that the Bible is accurate in all matters with which it deals, scientific and historical as well as spiritual and theological. It is a dangerous thing to listen to these modern “pied pipers” of evangelicalism whose self-serving compromises with evolutionary scientism have already led multitudes of young people astray in our Christian colleges and seminaries. We yet may not have all the answers to alleged problems in the Bible, but we can be absolutely sure of God’s word. When the answers are found, they will merely confirm what He has said all along. He is able and willing to speak the truth, and He means what He says!

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I Will Ever Be True

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

Grievous words are those that remind people of labor or sorrow or earthly things. The Hebrew word translated grievous in our text verse is first used in Genesis 3:16 when God told Eve “in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children. . . .” It encompasses the futility of man’s labor apart from God’s blessing, as in Psalm 127:2. “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows. . . .” To use grievous words is to deliberately “stir up” the pain in a person’s life. The tongue is a mighty tool that can be used for good or evil. James says that it is a “little member,” but “how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:5). For this reason, the psalmist asked God to “set a watch . . . before (his) mouth” and “keep the door of (his) lips” (Psalm 141:3). We are to “let no corrupt communication proceed out of (our) mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying [building], that it may minister grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).

Our text verse gives the opposite side of “grievous words,” and that is a “soft answer.” This verse presupposes that it is instructing a person who has been engaged in conversation with someone who is angry. A “soft answer” means to be weak or tender. It is “turning the other cheek,” while not feeding the anger of the person who is speaking. However, it does not mean that the person who gives a weak answer is weak in character or conviction. A tender answer is not being young and “tenderhearted” such as King Rehoboam who let his advisors lead him into idolatry (II Chronicles 13:7). It also does not mean that the person who withholds his tongue from verbal combat is ignorant. On the contrary, it is the fool who speaks everything that is on his mind (Proverbs 29:11). A tender answer requires the wisdom of God and the patience of Job!