A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

Stained With Blood So Divine (#19940401)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, . . . one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith there came out blood and water” (John 19:33,34)

As with many of the great hymns, the verses of “The Old Rugged Cross” tell a story when considered in sequence. The first verse states the general doctrine of the cross; the second speaks of the necessity of the incarnation to accomplish the cross’ purpose; the third, quoted below, gives details of the crucifixion and what it accomplished, and the last verse rehearses the results, both now and in the future.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, A wondrous beauty I see; For t’was on that old cross Jesus suffered and died To pardon and sanctify me.

That old rugged cross was stained with blood, as obvious from our text. But this blood was special, for “ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world” (I Peter 1:18–20).

The divine Lamb of God suffered and died on the cross, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14), “that He might sanctify the people with His own blood” (Hebrews 13:12).

But the old rugged cross was not the only thing stained that day, for “the blood of Jesus Christ . . . cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7). The saints in heaven are portrayed as having “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross. JDM

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I Will Ever Be True (#19940402)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Looking unto Jesus, the author 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 concluding verse of our song, “The Old Rugged Cross,” contains a commitment to follow Christ in this life and looks forward to life with Him in eternity.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, Its shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, Where His glory forever I’ll share.

When coupled with the preceding Scriptural verse, our text mirrors these thoughts: “. . . 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” (v.1). In this life, we have both the victorious examples of many that have gone before (Hebrews 11), and Christ, Himself. Both He and they have suffered joyfully, and so can we: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, . . . But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye” (I Peter 4:12–14).

Once Christ fully “endured the cross,” He rose from the dead in victory over death to take His rightful place “at the right hand of the throne of God.” He now calls us to be “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20), “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). He’ll call us some day to Himself, where we shall “sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6), “and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:17). So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross. JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Risen With Christ (#19940403)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

The wise believer revels in the fact of Christ’s resurrection. Some things in Scripture may be easier to identify with and apply, including Christ’s substitutionary death, but it is the resurrection which gives us power to live victoriously. “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” (Romans 6:4).

We have been “crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed” (Romans 6:6). Nevertheless, we are risen with Him, as our text and elsewhere (Romans 6; Ephesians 2:1–10; etc.) clearly teaches. This resurrection is an inward one, of course, but our bodily resurrection is also guaranteed by Christ’s bodily resurrection, should we physically die. “Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus” (II Corinthians 4:14).

Power to serve Him effectively comes through His resurrection, for we have access to the “exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19,20). We have authority over all human and demonic institutions through Him who even now operates as head of the living church of His followers.

Perhaps the most precious of all benefits of the resurrection is that “we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens” who is sympathetic to “the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14–16). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

Raised Us Up Together (#19940404)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).

The Bible clearly identifies the resurrection of Christ as central to the Christian message, just as crucial as the atoning death of Christ. “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (I Corinthians 15:17). And just as surely as Christ is raised, we who have put our faith in Him shall be raised.

What kind of body will we have then? “We shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2). In His resurrection body He could appear and disappear (John 20:19), pass through closed doors (John 20:26), be felt by others (Matthew 28:9; John 20:27), eat food (Luke 24:42,43), and He eventually rose into heaven (Acts 1:9).

Paul, who has now been dead nearly 2000 years, asserted: “We look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body” (Philippians 3:20,21). How can a person, long since dead, whose spirit has been in God’s presence, receive once again a body? This, of course, is a miracle, for the physical elements which once made up Paul’s earthly body have long ago changed their form, and even while he was alive, were continually being replaced. No, God will not restore a prior body to the dead, but will present them with a new “glorious” body, fit for the eternal environment and service of heaven. Paul could only write of it by analogy, comparing the difference between the old and the new bodies to the difference between a seed and a plant, to different kinds of living things, and to different kinds of celestial bodies. “So also is the resurrection of the dead.” It is sown in corruption, dishonor, weakness, as a natural body, but it is raised in incorruption, glory, and power, as a spiritual body (I Corinthians 15:37–44). JDM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Intercessor (#19940405)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“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).

When we pray for others, we not only are helping to assure a good life for ourselves—as our text indicates—but, more importantly, we are thereby becoming more like Christ. On the cross itself, “He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Since His return to heaven, He has been continually occupied with His ministry of intercession. “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).

Not only is our resurrected, glorified Savior perpetually interceding for us in heaven, but also, the indwelling Holy Spirit is praying for us here. “For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit (Himself) maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26,27).

Now if both God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are always interceding for us before God the Father, we surely ought to be willing to spend time in prayer for others down here—not only for our loved ones, but even for those who have hurt us. Jesus said, “Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

May God help us to be faithful in this vital ministry of intercession. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

God Never Sleeps (#19940406)
by Norman P. Spotts, D.D.

“Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4).

The Christian today is on a pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem. As he travels, he can rely upon three unshakeable truths about God found in Psalm 121: God provides His constant helping power: “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (v.2). Of what possible value would looking to the hills for help be (v.1), when we can look to the Maker of the hills, God Himself? “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:. “Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel” (Jeremiah 3:23). God provides His constant keeping power: “The LORD is thy keeper” (v.5). Therefore, we are assured of tremendous stability: “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved” (v.3); of ever present watchfulness: “He that keepeth thee will not slumber” (v.3), and of powerful protection from the dangers associated with the day or night. “The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night” (vv.5,6). God never sleeps! His eye is ever upon us! God provides His constant preserving power: “The LORD shall preserve thee” (v.7); He has the power to preserve us from all harm (“evil” v.7); preserve our very life (“soul” v.7); preserve us in all of the activities of life (“thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth” v., even preserving us for eternity (“even for evermore” v..

In the Psalm, the word “help” is found twice; “keep” is found three times, and “preserve” three times. God has assured us that He will do all three, for the fulfillment of these things. May we daily trust His word. NPS

[Soldier4Christ]

The Goal Of Teaching (#19940407)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (I Timothy 1:5).

As Paul begins his instruction to his disciple Timothy, his “own son in the faith” (v.2), he warns him about false doctrine (v.3) and petty, fruitless arguments (v.4). He contrasts such false teaching with his own teaching, the goal or “end” of which is three-fold:

First, Paul would like to see his ministry produce “charity [i.e., agape love] out of a pure heart.” This is God’s kind of love which He has bestowed upon us, undeserving as we are. Once He has purified our hearts and taken up residence there through the power of His Spirit, we can love with such a love.

Second, proper teaching should lead us to “a good conscience.” Our lives must be free of unconfessed sin and uncluttered by wrongs not made right with others. The false teachings and improper attitudes and actions Paul is condemning (vv.3,4), frequently lead to strife and fabrications. The response to these must be strong, yet proper.

Third, “faith unfeigned,” a sincere faith without hypocrisy, should result. It must be our own faith and not that of others, even family members (II Timothy 1:5). We have a reasonable faith shored up by a great weight of evidence and logic, and proper teaching should strengthen and confirm it.

May God continue to “gift” the church with godly teachers like Timothy, “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12,13). JDM

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Morning Prayer (#19940408)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust; cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee” (Psalm 143:.

This is a beautiful and meaningful prayer with which to start the day, and one which God must delight to answer. It is very simple, with two requests and two declarations, yet it can reach the very heart of God.

Because we trust implicitly in His word, we hear Him speak through it, as we read it at the beginning of the day. And as we hear Him speak, we rejoice again in His lovingkindness, especially in saving our souls and guiding our ways.

Then we are emboldened once again to lift up our very souls to Him (not just our voices!) and ask Him for clear guidance in the way in which we should walk today.

The psalmist also prays, and so should we: “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness” (Psalm 143:10). God will “cause (us) to know the way wherein (we) should walk” by the Holy Spirit, if we sincerely desire to know and to follow His will, and to be led in the paths of righteousness. He will never lead us, of course, in any path contrary to His revealed word. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

But when He is given all priority in our lives, when we love and study and obey His word, and when we sincerely call on Him for daily guidance in His will, He will surely answer. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing 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” (I John 5:14,15). HMM

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Lovingkindness And Tender Mercies (#19940409)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old” (Psalm 25:6).

These beautiful words, “tender mercies” and“lovingkindness,” may sound somewhat old-fashioned in today’s sophisticated jargon, but the divine attributes they represent have been “ever of old” and will continue to characterize our tender and merciful, kind and loving God of all grace forever. Dropping them from our conversation (even in most newer translations of the Bible) is a sad loss that, to some degree, has impoverished our speech and, perhaps, our souls.

Note some of the rich Scriptural testimonies associated with them: “(The LORD) redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:4). “Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me” (Psalm 40:11). “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1). “Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good; turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies” (Psalm 69:16).

Other than Proverbs 12:10 (“the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel”), all the occurrences of these two terms, either alone or together, are applied by the translators only to the Lord, never to men (the Hebrew words are rendered by other words in the King James when applied to people). This is beautifully appropriate, for our gracious God is uniquely the God of love and mercy. In spite of the fact that none of us deserve His lovingkindness or tender mercy, “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:8,9). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The First Works (#19940410)
by Connie J. Horn

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelation 2:4,5).

Christ’s letter to the believers in the first-century Ephesian church regarding “first things” is instructive for Christians in all ages. The “first love” of the Christian is, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ. The “first and great commandment” is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37,38).

Some of the commands of Scripture actually use the word “first” in them. “If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matthew 5:23,24). “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” (I Timothy 2:1,2).

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, he commends the generosity of the churches at Philippi and Thessalonica who “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (II Corinthians 8:5), teaching that one who gives must “first (have) a willing mind” (II Corinthians 8:12).

A Christian should never have to wonder what to do first. He should give himself first to the Lord. And then, whether it be prayer or study of God’s word, or witnessing, or mending a broken relationship, the believers “first love” is certainly able and willing to bless the work of a life that is committed to Him. CJH

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Absolute Trust (#19940411)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before Him” (Job 13:15,16).

The patriarch Job was, according to God’s own testimony, the most perfect and upright man in all the earth (Job 1:, yet he was subjected to the most severe testings that anyone (except Christ Himself) ever had to endure. He lost all his great possessions and his large family in a single day, then was afflicted for months on end with a most loathsome and painful disease. He lost the respect of all who had once honored and followed him and was even accused by his closest friends of being a wicked sinner and arrogant hypocrite. Worst of all, the God whom he had loved and faithfully served all his life had apparently completely ignored his prayers for deliverance, or even for understanding of what was happening to him. Finally, a presumptuous young religionist related what he (falsely) claimed was a divine message that even God had accused Job of sin and hypocrisy.

Yet, despite all this, Job never once lost his faith! “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,” he insisted. “For I know that my redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25), and “He also shall be my salvation” (text verse).

What an example has been provided us by this ancient patriarch, whose knowledge of God’s word, God’s love, and God’s great salvation through faith in Christ, was only a small fraction of what we know now, with God’s complete revelation before us. The apostle James well reminds us of “the patience of Job,” probably the greatest example of all “the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience” (James 5:10,11). We can, like Job, know that He who created us deserves absolute trust. HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

Sorrow According To God (#19940412)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31,32).

In one of the most important passages in the New Testament regarding repentance (II Corinthians 7:9–11), Paul uses essentially the same phrase three times to express what he means by repentance: He rejoices that the Corinthian believers were made “sorry after a godly manner” (v.9), calls it a “godly sorrow” (v.10), claiming that they “sorrowed after a godly sort” (v.11). This phrase could literally be translated “sorrow according to God,” which leads to repentance. Such sorrow is contrasted to the “sorrow of the world (which) worketh death” (v.10), which is a mere regret of consequences or remorse of conscience, which does not yield repentance, but only despair and possibly suicide. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation” (v.10).

Just as godly sorrow leads to repentance, so should the blessings of God. “Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). God desires repentance on the part of the sinning one and is free to use whatever vehicle He chooses to bring it about.

True repentance involves a recognition of sin as a crime against God and a violation of His holy nature. Our recognition of this fact brings godly sorrow which leads inevitably to a change of mindset toward the sin and a confession of it as sin (I John 1:9), and this brings forgiveness from God.

Christ taught that this “sorrow according to God” brings great joy elsewhere in the universe: “Likewise, I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10). JDM

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Infallible Proofs (#19940413)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

To the first Christians, faith in the deity of Christ was not a blind leap into the dark. Only God could defeat death, and they knew—beyond all doubt—that Jesus Christ had risen bodily from the tomb. They had seen Him, touched Him, and eaten with Him, alone and in crowds, in closed rooms, and out in the open.

The term “infallible proofs” translates a Greek word used only this one time, meaning literally “many criteria of certainty,” and it is significant that the inspired Word of God applies it only to the resurrection of Christ. It is not too much to say that Christ’s resurrection is the most certain fact in all history, and many large volumes have been published setting forth the evidences thereof. No wonder the apostle Peter could say: “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (II Peter 1:16).

The apostle John testified thus: “The life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us” (I John 1:2). John not only saw Him in His resurrection body, but also in His glorified body, hearing Him say: “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:18).

It is true that we, like the first Christians, must believe on Christ to receive salvation, but this faith is not a credulous faith, a leap into the dark. It is a reasonable faith, based on many infallible proofs, and we can, therefore, trust Him with our eternal souls. HMM

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The Folly Of Humanism (#19940414)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good” (Psalm 14:1).

Despite all their pretense of scientific intellectualism, those who deny the existence of a personal Creator God are, in God’s judgment, nothing but fools. The 14th psalm, the 53rd psalm, Romans 3, etc., all describe the inner character of all such people—whether they call themselves atheists or humanists or pantheists or whatever. This repeated emphasis indicates how strongly God feels about those who dare to question His reality. It is bad enough to disobey His commandments and to spurn His love; it is utter folly to deny that He even exists!

The Bible describes the awful descent from true creationism into evolutionary pantheistic humanism. “When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. . . . Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator (Romans 1:21,22,25).

Certain atheists/humanists claim to be moral people, though their criteria of morality are often quite different from those of the Bible. No matter how admirable their humane acts of “righteousness” may seem, however, they are guilty of the sin of unbelief, the greatest sin of all. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6). With all the innumerable evidences of God’s reality as seen in the creation and throughout history, and then especially in the person and work of Jesus Christ, it is utter foolishness to plunge blindly into eternity to meet the God whom they deny. HMM

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Let Him Be The Shepherd (#19940415)
by Mary R. Thomas

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

How easy it is to recite the 23rd psalm and never really believe what it says. How comforting is the thought of “green pastures” and “still waters” (v.2), complete satisfaction in all things; but do we really experience these blessings? Can we truly say, “He restoreth my soul” (v.3)?

Many times in Scripture Christians are compared to sheep, notoriously foolish and yet willful animals, totally incapable of surviving in open pasture without constant leading and rescue by the shepherd. In other places, the immature Christian is compared to a child, again needing constant care. How like God watching over us this must be. Thankfully, “He leadeth [literally, ‘forces’ or‘drives’] me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (v.3).

As a helpless lamb or child ignoring what we have learned, we encounter various problems and dangers. As our paths necessarily take us into “the valley of the shadow of death, (we) will fear no evil” (v.4). Why? “For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff [one for gentle guidance and one for chastening] they comfort me.” Without our Father, the Shepherd, who is constantly caring for our every need, we would have no chance of survival or return from this dark valley.

We should remember that God is ruler of all things and knows our wants and desires before we even ask. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over” (v.5).

If we follow the path our great Shepherd has chosen, we can be sure He is with us, guiding us, helping us, and protecting us. Then we can say with David, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (v.6). MRT