Word For the Day

  Abstain from Every Form of Evil Scripture “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 NKJV). Commentary This seems like a no brainer. Who doesn’t know we are to abstain from evil? However, if it is so fundamental to the Christian life, why is this warning given so many times in Scripture. The answer is as obvious as the command: we are in a battle with evil our entire Christian life, and the enemy has an ally, our flesh. Focus for a moment on just one word in this command. Consider the word EVERY if you will. Why is this word there? You know, don’t you? It is there because we tend to pick and choose the evils we will allow in our lives. Today it might be anger, tomorrow greed, and the next day fear. This is not how a Christian is to live. It’s true that we will often fail in one way or another, but to have a mindset other than to abstain from all forms of evil is to make a pact with the devil. If we are not totally sold out for God, then we have not surrendered...

  A Key Element of Prayer Scripture Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men——extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise [his] eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 NKJV) Commentary God is not impressed with our morality. Yes we must practice holiness for without it no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14), but we don’t earn our standing by good works. If we stand...

  The Flesh Is Weak And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:40-41). I guess the truth of this title goes without question, but the extent of our weakness might be a surprise to some. Even when the spirit is willing to fight against sin, it often just gives up. That tells us victory is found only with help. God must be involved in your daily battles or you will fail. Jesus tells the disciples to pray that they would not enter into temptation. Not that they would never experience any temptations, but that they would not be overcome by them or surprised by them. Jesus was about to be taken, tortured, and killed. They were about to experience great fear. Jesus wanted them to be prepared. Watch and pray is ...

Glory to a Merciful Savior “ . . . I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1Ti 1:12-17 AV) There is a great reminder of one’s need for a merciful Savior. Paul never forgot who he was before Christ. He understood that God had paid the price for all ...

“But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that [was] in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble [has come] upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, "Please tell us! For whose cause [is] this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" So he said to them, "I [am] a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heav...

  “This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’” (John 21:19 NKJV) “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” (1 Peter 4:16 NKJV) If it be asked how creatures as feeble and ungrateful as we are, can glorify God, I answer, by conducting ourselves in such a manner as naturally tends to make him appear glorious, amiable and excellent in the view of his creatures. A son, for instance, honors his parents, when he evidently loves, reverences, confides in, and obeys them; because such conduct tends to make those who know him think favorably of his parents. A subject honors his sovereign when he cheerfully submits to his authority, and appears to be contented and happy in his government; because this tends to give others a favorable opinion of his sovereign. So men honor and glorify God, when they show by their conduct that they consider him the most perf...

  “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:3-4 NKJV) There is an all-out attack from the world against true Christians. The world in which we live is hostile to holy living, and each believer must walk carefully not to be ensnared by its sinful offerings. Adding to our struggle are sinful infiltrators, those who creep into our churches to sow seeds of ungodliness. This they do by stealth. They do not openly deny the Lord for then they would not gain entrance. Instead they deny the Lord by holding to doctrines contrary to the faith. Their primary denial comes in the form of antinomianism, which m...

  “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44) Here is one of the deepest truths of Scripture. It is not popular because man is basically prideful. We all want to feel like we are in control of our lives. However, the Scriptures are clear that salvation is ultimately in God’s hands. Unless the Father draws a person, no man will come to him. Some may come to a church, but only God’s elect will be saved. Man is corrupt through and through. “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” (Eph 4:18) This is true of all men because all are born in a state of corruption. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (Ps 51:5 NKJV)  However, you may find that your experience seems to contradict this truth. Looking back at things you may find evidence of your seeking Go...

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See [how] the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end [intended by] the Lord——that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:7-11 NKJV). The Need for Patience This theme runs through much of Scripture. As James mentioned earlier patience produces a complete Christian one who lacks nothing (James 1:4). That is the goal of our gracious and merciful Savior. He desires that we lack nothing, and that we are fit to stand before Him when we lea...

  “And you [He made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” (Eph 2:1-3 NKJV) Part of regeneration is the opening of the mind to spiritual realities. As it is written, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2Co 4:3-4 NKJV) Satan has a dark cloak over the minds of the unbelieving, and they cannot see the truth of their condition. This is the key to understanding depravity. The reason people continue to reject the Gospel in light ...

“O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift [it] up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’” (Isaiah 40:9 NKJV) C.H. Spurgeon Commentary Each believer should be thirsting for God, for the living God, and longing to climb the hill of the Lord, and see him face to face. We ought not to rest content in the mists of the valley when the summit of Tabor awaits us. My soul thirsteth to drink deep of the cup which is reserved for those who reach the mountain’s brow, and bathe their brows in heaven. How pure are the dews of the hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the fare of the dwellers aloft, whose windows look into the New Jerusalem! Many saints are content to live like men in coal mines, who see not the sun; they eat dust like the serpent when they might taste the ambrosial meat of angels; they are content to wear the miner’s garb when they might put on k...

  Ambassadors “ Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know [Him thus] no longer. Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things [are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore [you] on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2Co 5:16-21 NKJV) An ambassador is to represent the views and feelings of his countrymen or sovereign. To do so well, he must conduct himself largely in ...

A bandwagon fan is one who only supports a team when it is winning. A bandwagon Christian is one who only lives for Christ as long as it costs him little to nothing. Really, using the word Christian in this way is an oxymoron. Jesus spoke to this in the parable of the soils. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away (Matthew 13:20-21). Annanis and Saphria might be good examples of bandwagoneers. It seems they wanted to appear like other Christians who were selling off their properties and giving it to the apostles to be distributed to those who had need. Only they kept back some of the money from the sale and yet presented it as the whole amount.  But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of...

  Therapeutic Prayer Scripture “So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I [am] a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor i...

Confess Current Sin If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us (1 John 1:8-10). One mark of a believer is awareness of sin. The closer we get to Christ the more we see our sinfulness. Thankfully, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Wow, let us lock in on that for a moment. If we confess our sins, is the qualifying phrase. This requires two things: recognition and a willingness. Without exposing your heart to the Word, sin may hide in your heart. However, if you will expose your heart to God’s Word you will be able to see your sin. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than an...

   Keep Past Sins Under the Blood He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him (Psalms 103:10-13). Our enemy wants to render you ineffective. The tools he employs are lies and guilt. Paul calls them flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16b). So, he says, . . . be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11).  The enemy’s flaming arrows are all extinguished by that piece of armor called faith. Consider this. Jesus was brought a boy with an unclean spirit, which the disciples could not cast out. Before Je...

  He Is the Image of the Invisible God He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:15-18). Without God’s revelation we would be like the pagans ignorantly worshiping rocks and trees with no hope of eternal life. Give praise to God that He did not just create and let go like the Deists believe. Praise Him that God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world (Hebre...

  Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load  (Galatians 6:1-5). It is not wrong to recognize faults and want to correct them. These Scriptures clearly tell the spiritual to restore such a one. However, it qualifies the conditions under which this must happen. The corrector must be spiritual, gentle, and contemplative. He must be spiritual to have discernment; he must be gentle to gain an audience; and he must be contemplative to keep from falling into a reactionary sin. The key of course is found in the latter part of ...

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:3-8). VAIN is the man who puts his trust in men, in created things.  Do not be ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ and to seem poor in this world. Do not be self-sufficient but place your trust in God. Do what lies in your power and God will aid your good will. Put no trust in your own learning nor in the cunning of any man, but rather in the grace of God Who...

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1). The world’s philosophy is to get as many riches and as much power as possible without going to jail. OK, maybe that is on the extreme end of worldliness, but the underlying principle is worldliness. Jesus told the rich young ruler, who wanted eternal life, One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me (Mark 10:21). Unfortunately, that man went away sad. Then Jesus made this statement, How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:23)! Why is this true? It is true because, No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (Matthew 6:24). The key word in the verse above is “serve”. No man can serve two masters because he will have a divided ...

  Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had. Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed" (Genesis 32:22-28). We often cry out to God when circumstances are beyond our control. Jacob was facing a difficult, really scary meeting with Esau. Remember, Jacob tricked his father into giving him the ...

  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy (James 3:16-17). “Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work” (Matthew Henry). It is easy to confuse cleverness and intelligence with wisdom. Wisdom is not measured by what you know, but by what you do with what you know. “ . . . Knowledge makes [one] arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1b). Knowledge is a good thing. We are encouraged to add it to our faith (2 Peter 1:5). However, at the end of Peter’s chain is love. Love is the ultimate goal. Love of God and love for others, notice. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your s...