Archives for April 2017

Good morning,

We all celebrated the Resurrection yesterday.  That event oprened the way for us to be saved.

Today’s devotion takes us back to a time before we were believers. It shows us what we have been saved from. If this is not true of you, Jesus Christ is the answer.

Look to the rock from whence you were hewn, and to the pit from whence you were dug!

(Edward Payson, 1783-1827)

“Look to the rock from whence you were hewn, and to the pit from whence you were dug!” Isaiah 51:1

It is profitable for the children of God often to . . .
reflect on what they formerly were,
meditate on their once wretched and helpless condition,
look to the rock whence they were hewn, and to the pit whence they were dug.

Look back, then, Christians, to the time when you were . . .
the enemies of God,
the despisers of His Son,
the willing slaves of the father of lies,
and children of disobedience!

Look back to the time when . . .
your hearts were as hard as the nether millstone;
your understandings were darkened;
you were alienated from the life of God;
your wills were stubborn, perverse and rebellious;
your affections were madly bent on the pleasures of sin;
every imagination of the thoughts of your heart were only evil, and continually evil!

Look back with shame and self-abhorrence to the time when you . . .
lived without God in the world,
drank in iniquity like water,
served various lusts and vanities,
fulfilled the sinful desires of the flesh and mind,
cast God’s holy law behind your backs,
stifled the remonstrances of conscience,
quenched the influences of the Spirit,
neglected the Holy Scriptures, and
mocked God with pretended worship, while your hearts were far from Him.

A rebel against God,
a resister of the Spirit,
a slave of Satan,
a child of wrath,
an heir of Hell–
such, O Christian, was once your character!
Nothing was then before you, but a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation!

Admire the God of free grace–who save you from such a dreadful plight!

   ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Jesus was crucified to pay the sin debt for mankind. Sometimes we forget that mankind is us. God gives us a great picture of His forgiveness in the thief on the cross. He deserved death, but acknowledged his sin, asked Jesus to remember him, and Jesus did.

Isn’t that what Jesus did for us? What a gracious and loving Savior.

When that monster of a man hung!

(James Smith, “The Believer’s Companion in Seasons of Affliction and Trouble” 1842)

“O Lord, there is none like You!” 1 Chronicles 17:20

Truly, our God is without a parallel!

He could dash His enemies to Hell with one word, and drive them to despair. But instead of this, He constantly provides for them–and many of them are fed by Him with the richest blessings of His providence. He . . .
spreads their tables,
supplies their needs, and
pours His favors upon them abundantly–though they . . .
blaspheme His name,
despise the mention of His grace, and
bid Him to depart from them, in disdain!

He preserves them from a variety of dangers, which would otherwise hurry them out of time into eternity.

He bears with them from day to day, and does not allow their wickedness to arouse His ire, to their immediate destruction. Who, besides Jehovah, would thus feed, preserve, warn, and bear with such obstinate, careless, provoking wretches? Surely none!

“What base rebellious wretches they;
And God as strangely kind!”

When, in His own time, any of His enemies are brought to discover their wickedness, feel their danger, desire to escape their deserved doom, and apply to Him–He freely pardons them, and forgets all their past unkindness!

When that monster of a man hung by the side of Jesus on the cross, mocking His dying agonies, reviling His dear name, and endeavoring to add to His tremendous sorrows–Jesus was as silent as one who heard not, as patient as one who felt not, and as kind as one who had been treated with all possible respect! For, no sooner does the bold blasphemer cry, “Lord remember me!” than Jesus answers, “Today you shall be with Me in paradise!”

And can you, O my Savior, freely and fully pardon such a wretch as that? Can you take him in Your arms, to paradise? Can you forget his scarlet crimes, the insults he offered, and the daring wickedness manifested by him but a few minutes before? “O Lord, there is none like You!”

The vile thief enters Heaven, to . . .
the astonishment of angels,
the confusion of devils,
the wonder of glorified saints, and
the honor of the dear, dear Redeemer!

Jesus not only fully pardons the penitent–but He cordially accepts him! He receives him as one of the dear objects of His love, and says to each and every one such, “I have blotted out your sins as a cloud, and your iniquities as a thick cloud!”

He kindly visits them, as though they had never acted unkindly toward Him; and constantly blesses them with spiritual, holy, and eternal blessings. He . . .
clothes them with the garments of His righteousness,
beautifies them with the graces of His Spirit,
  comforts them with the promises of His love,
acknowledges them at His throne of grace,
defends them against their cruel and malicious foes,
tenderly expostulates with them when they wander from Him,
  mercifully warns them of their dangers and foes,
  kindly exhorts them to cleave close to Himself,
  wisely corrects them when they wickedly stray, and
will crown them with glory at the end of their race!

And what returns does He frequently get for His kindness and love? Alas! alas! Too often, ingratitude, rebellion, hardness of heart, alienation of affection, forgetfulness of His mercies, and following after other lovers rather than Himself!

“O Lord, there is none like You!” 1 Chronicles 17:20

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We all have unsaved friends. Invite them to church this weekend. Resurrection Sunday would be a great time for them to hear about the lifechanging power of Jesus.

God can take the most sin-soiled soul!

(J.R. Miller)

Queen Victoria stopped one day at a paper-mill near Windsor Castle, and was shown through it by the foreman. He did not know who she was, as she was alone and was plainly dressed. The queen was intensely interested in every process of the paper-maker’s art. She was conducted at last to a place where a number of rag-pickers were emptying out the dirty rags which they had gathered from the gutters and alleys of the great city. There was a large pile of these filthy, blackened rags, which looked as if they never could be made clean. The queen asked the foreman what he would do with these. To her amazement, he told her that he would make them into the finest, whitest paper.

When the queen had gone, the foreman learned who she was. Some days after, there was received at the palace–a package of the purest, most delicate paper, having the queen’s likeness stamped upon it, with a note from the foreman of the mill, telling her that this paper was made from the very rags she had seen on her visit!

In the same way, the Holy Spirit takes human lives, ruined and blackened by sin–makes them whiter than snow, and stamps upon them the holy image of Jesus!

No life is hopeless in its ruin–which the transforming grace of God renews.

God can take the most sin-soiled soul–and give to it radiant beauty!

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were! But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today think about the crucifixion. Think about the relationship God the Father and God the Son had. Read John 17 to understand this relationship. Then read Matthew 27.

Jesus was crucified for me and you. It was our sin that required a blood sacrifice. Only Jesus blood could take care of my sin debt.

His own Father!

(David Harsha, “The Crucifixion”)

“My God, my God–why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46

He drinks the bitter cup of God’s wrath due to sin.

The powers of darkness fiercely assail Him.

He enjoys no sensible communion with Heaven. It is the gloomiest period in His whole life.

But at length His agony is so piercing that He is constrained to utter the most touching words of grief, “My God, my God–why have You forsaken Me?”

His Father–His own Father, in whose bosom He had lain from eternity! His Father, by whom He was always beloved–has withdrawn the light of His countenance from Him! And from His cross arises a most piercing and agonizing cry, “My God, my God–why have You forsaken Me?”

Oh, how mysterious, how solemn, how affecting is this cry! It is the most doleful that ever came from the lips of Christ during His sorrowful sojourn from the manger to the cross.

Ah! Why does He hang on yonder cross, uttering these doleful words ‘with strong crying and tears’?

It was not the nails which pierced His hands and feet, nor the agony of a crucifixion, which caused this mournful cry. He was now offering Himself a sacrifice for sins. As our Surety, He suffered all that divine justice required to bring the sinner back to God and to glory.

Here is the great mystery of Godliness: the Father bruises the Son, and puts Him to grief for our sakes! All those cries, and tears, and groans of Him whom the Father appointed to accomplish our salvation–were for us.

On His shoulders was laid the enormous load of our guilt.

Oh, what can we render to our Divine Savior, for His amazing and unparalleled love to us?   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Short, concise, but oh so powerful. Tonight Passover begins. The death angel passed over the homes where the blood was applied. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were required on a continual basis. They did not take away sin. Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross at Calvary, was the once for all atonement for sin forever.

This week is a time to reflect on what we believe. Does the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ impact your life daily? It should. If it does not, your Christian life is probably weak and less than victorious.

Read the passages in Scripture that pertain to the false accusations, illegal trial, His beatings, torture, and murder, and then remember He did that for you. Also remember, it was our sin that put Jesus on the cross.

Look! Gaze! See! Behold!

(Charles Spurgeon)

The doctrine of the death of Christ for our sins, should inspire us with greater love for the Lord Jesus.

Can you look at His dear wounds–and not be wounded with love for Him?
Are not His wounds as mouths which plead with you to yield Him all your heart?

Can you gaze upon His face bedewed with bloody sweat–and then go away and be ensnared with the world’s painted beauties?

Oh, for the vision of the Crucified!

When shall we see the face that was so marred for us?

When shall we behold the hands and feet which bear the nail-marks still–and look into the wounded side bejeweled with the spear-wound?

Oh, when shall we leave all our sins and griefs–forever to behold Him?

Our hope, our solace, our glory, our victory–are all found in the blood of the Lamb, to whom be glory for ever and ever! Amen.

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

What kind of Savior do we have? That may sound like a silly question, but the answer reveals our relationship to Christ. If Christ is a living, real, and meaningful part of our lives, then we see Christ as a living Savior. If on the other hand Christ is a person who died on a cross two thousand years ago for man’s sin and that is all, we do not know the Living Christ.

Read this devotional with this in mind.

Nothing less than a LIVING Christ will do for us!

(J.R. Miller, “Miller’s Year Book–a Year’s Daily Readings”)

“He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:4

If your faith stops at the cross–it misses the blessing of the fullest revealing of Christ!

You need a Savior who not merely two thousand years ago went to death to redeem you–but one who also is alive to walk by your side in loving companionship!

You need a Savior . . .

who can hear your prayers,

to whose feet you can creep in penitence when you have sinned,

to whom you can call for help when the battle is going against you.

You need a Savior who is interested in all the affairs of your common life, and who can assist you in every time of need.

You need a Christ who can be a real friend—loving you, keeping close beside you, able to sympathize with your weaknesses.

You need a Savior who will come into your life, and will save you, not by one great act of centuries past–but by a life warm and throbbing with love today, and living again in you.

A DYING Christ alone, will not satisfy our heart. We must have the living One for our friend! Nothing less than a LIVING Christ will do for us! And that is the Christ the gospel brings to us: one who was dead–and is now alive for ever and ever!

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God!” cried the psalmist, and cries every redeemed soul. It is only as we realize the truth of a living Christ–that our hearts are satisfied. We crave love . . .

a bosom to lean upon,

a hand to touch ours,

a heart whose beatings we can feel,

a personal friendship that will come into our life with . . .

its sympathy,

its inspiration,

its companionship,

its shelter,

its life, and

its comfort.

All this, the living Christ is to us!

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” Revelation 1:18

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The author of this devotional is John Newton. Prior to his conversion, he was a very wicked man who traded in slaves. He was wonderfully saved, became a preacher, and wrote his own testimony in the song Amazing Grace.

Allow this devotional to speak and encourage your hearts.

I am a perverse and unruly patient!

(Letters of John Newton)

I am bound to speak well of my Physician–He treats me with great tenderness, and bids me in due time to expect a perfect cure. I know too much of Him (though I know but little) to doubt either His skill or His promise.

It is true, I have suffered sad relapses since I have been under His care. Yet I confess that the fault has not been His–but my own! I am a perverse and unruly patient! I have too often neglected His prescriptions, and broken the regimen He appoints me to observe. This perverseness, joined to the exceeding obstinacy of my disorders, would have caused me to be turned out as an incurable long ago–had I been under any other hand but His! Indeed–there is none like Him! When I have brought myself very low–He has still helped me. Blessed be His name–I am yet kept alive only by means of His perfect care.

Though His medicines are all beneficial–they are not all pleasant. Now and then He gives me a pleasant cordial; but I have many severe disorders, in which there is a needs-be for my frequently taking His bitter and unpalatable medicines!

We sometimes see published in the newspapers, acknowledgments of cures received. Methinks, if I were to publish my own case, that it would run something like this:
“I, John Newton, have long labored under a multitude of grievous disorders:
    a fever of ungoverned passions,
    a cancer of pride,
    a frenzy of wild imaginations,
    a severe lethargy, and
    a deadly stroke!

In this deplorable situation, I suffered many things from many physicians, spent every penny I had–yet only grew worse and worse!

In this condition, Jesus, the Physician of souls, found me when I sought Him not. He undertook my recovery freely, without money and without price–these are His terms with all His patients! My fever is now abated, my senses are restored, my faculties are enlivened! In a word, I am a new man! And from His ability, His promise, and the experience of what He has already done–I have the fullest assurance that He will infallibly and perfectly heal me–and that I shall live forever as a monument of His power and grace!“

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Colossians 3:1-4 says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Please read this devotional with this in mind.

This is too much!

(Edward Payson, 1783-1827)

Only to be permitted to contemplate such a being as Jehovah . . .
to ponder goodness, holiness, justice, mercy, patience and sovereignty–personified and condensed;
to ponder them united with eternity, infinite power, unerring wisdom, omnipresence, and all sufficiency;
  to ponder all these natural and moral perfections indissolubly united and blended in sweet harmony–in one pure, spiritual being, and that being placed on the throne of the universe
—to ponder this would be happiness enough to fill the mind of any creature in existence!

But in addition to this,
to have this ineffable Being for my God, my portion, my all;
to be permitted to say, “This God is my God forever and ever!”
to have His resplendent countenance smile upon me;
  to be encircled in His everlasting arms of power and faithfulness and love;
to hear His voice saying to me, “I am yours–and you are Mine! Nothing shall ever pluck you from My hands, or separate you from My love–but you shall be with Me where I am, behold My glory, and live to reign with Me forever and ever!”

This is too much! It is honor, it is glory–it is happiness too overwhelming, too transporting for mortal minds to conceive, or for mortal frames to support!

In Heaven, the saints will be entirely lost and swallowed up in God, and their minds will be so completely absorbed in the contemplation of His ineffable, infinite, uncreated glories!

Oh, then, what must it be, to escape forever from error and ignorance and darkness and sin–into the region of bright, unclouded, eternal day!

What must it be, to behold your God and Redeemer face to face!

What must it be, to continually to contemplate, with immortal strength–glories so dazzlingly bright, that one moment’s view of them would now, like a stream of lightning, turn your frail bodies into dust!

What must it be to see the eternal volume of the divine counsels, the mighty map of the divine mind, unfolded to your eager, piercing gaze!

What must it be to explore the heights and depths, the lengths and breadths of the Redeemer’s love–and still to see new wonders, glories, and beauties pouring upon your minds in constant, endless succession, calling forth new songs of praise–songs in which you will unite with the innumerable choirs of angels, with the countless myriads of the redeemed, all shouting with a voice like the voice of many waters, “Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns!”

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The best friend we could ever have is Jesus. Today we will read why. We can comfort ourselves in the fact that we have a friend who loves us, cares about us, has compassion on us, and will never forsake us.

This should encourage us and challenge us to walk closer to Him.

How is your Beloved better than others?

(Edward Payson, 1783-1827)

“How is your Beloved better than others?” Song of Songs 5:9

Does not our Friend as far excel all other friends . . .

as Heaven exceeds earth,

as eternity exceeds time,

as the Creator surpasses His creatures?

See all the fullness of the Godhead–dwelling in One who is as meek and mild as a child.

See His countenance beaming with ineffable glories–full of mingled majesty, condescension and love.

Hear the soul-reviving invitations and gracious words which proceed from His lips.

See that hand in which dwells everlasting strength–swaying the scepter of universal empire over all creatures and all worlds.

See His arms expanded to receive and embrace returning sinners.

While His heart, a bottomless, shoreless ocean of benevolence–overflows with tenderness, compassion, and love.

Such, O sinner, is our Beloved–and such is our Friend.

Will you not then embrace Him as your Friend? If you can be persuaded to do this–you will find that half, nay, that the thousandth part has not been told to you!

All the excellency, glory and beauty which is found in men or angels, flows from Christ–as a drop of water from the ocean, or a ray of light from the sun.

If, then, you supremely love the creature–can you wonder that Christians should love the Creator! Can you wonder that those who behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, should be sweetly drawn to Him by the cords of love, and lose their fondness for created glories? All that you love and admire and wish for in creatures, and indeed infinitely more–they find in Him!

Do you wish for a friend possessed of power to protect you?

Our Friend possesses all power in Heaven and earth, and is able to save even to the uttermost!

Do you wish for a wise friend?

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Do you wish for a tender, compassionate friend?

Christ is tenderness and compassion itself.

Do you wish for a faithful, unchangeable friend?

With Christ, there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

His unchangeable love will ever prompt Him to make His people happy!

His unerring wisdom will point out the best means to promote their happiness!

His infinite power will enable Him to employ those means.

In all these respects, our Beloved is more than any other beloved!

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Here is a devotional to challenge our thinking.

Did it ever occur to you that when we complain and grumble, we are doing what Israel did in the dessert? God was not pleased with their conduct then and is not pleased with our conduct today.

Sometimes we forget the God that we serve. He knows exactly what we are going through. He knows why we are going through it. He also knows how it will end.

Do we have the faith to trust God’s plan for us?

When I grumble about the weather!

(J.R. Miller, “Miller’s Year Book–a Year’s Daily Readings”)

“The Lord has heard all your grumblings against Him!” Exodus 16:8

Does God really hear every discontented word which I ever speak?

Does He hear when I grumble about the weather . . .
  about the hard winter,
about the late spring,
about the dry summer,
about the wet harvest?

Does He hear when I grumble . . .
about the frosts,
about the drought,
about the high winds,
about the storms?

Does He hear when I grumble . . .
about my circumstances,
about the hardness of my lot,
about my losses and disappointments?

If we could get into our heart, and keep there continually, the consciousness that God hears every word we speak–would we murmur and complain so much as we now do?

We are careful never to speak words which would give pain to the hearts of those we love. Are we as careful not to say anything that will grieve our heavenly Father?

“I tell you this–that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak!” Matthew 12:36

“He who complains of the weather–complains of the God who ordains the weather!” William Law
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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001