Archives for 2017

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!

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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

 

Good morning,

How do you start your day? For most of us it is structured and fast paced. This is a good devotion to start our week. If nothing else it gives us something to think about.

A quiet hour spent alone with God at the beginning of the day

(Thoughts for the Quiet Hour)

“In the morning the Word of the Lord came to me” Ezekiel 12:8

A quiet hour spent alone with God at the beginning of the day, is the best beginning for the toils and cares of the day. A brief season of prayer, looking to God for wisdom and grace and strength, and seeking the assistance of the Holy Spirit–helps us to carry our religion into all of the events of the day. It brings joy and peace within the heart.

And as we place all our concerns in the care and keeping of the Lord, faithfully striving to do His will–we have a joyful trust that however dark or discouraging events may appear–our Father’s hand is guiding everything, and will give the wisest direction to all our toils.

“In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.”  Psalm 5:3

“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.  Show me the way I should go,  for to You I lift up my soul.”  Psalm 143:8

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This devotional will give you hope. No matter what your situation in life is today, this teaching will encourage and challenge us. We must never forget who is in charge.

This unravels the mystery!

(Octavius Winslow, “Christ, the Counselor”)

The path of providence is often paved with difficulties and beset with perplexities with which we can hardly cope.

Our way to Heaven is through an intricate wilderness, and across a circuitous desert.

To many even of the Lord’s people, this is literally the case. Visit their abodes, and ponder the struggle passing within. All is . . .
poverty and discomfort,
penury of bread,
scantiness of clothing,
pining sickness,
loathsome disease,
excruciating suffering,
with no human friends, no soothing alleviation, no earthly comforts.

And yet this dark picture is not entirely unrelieved.

Christ dwells in that obscure abode! God’s eye is watching over it! There is . . .
gnawing poverty–and yet boundless wealth;
deep need–and yet a rich supply;
acute suffering–and yet exquisite pleasure;
keen sorrow–and yet unspeakable joy!

And why these paradoxes? How are we to understand these strange contradictions?

The apostle gives us a clue in a page of his own history.
“As unknown–and yet well known;
as dying–and behold, we live;
as chastened–and not killed;
as sorrowful–yet always rejoicing;
as poor–yet making many rich;
as having nothing–yet possessing all things!”

This unravels the mystery!

The possession of Christ explains it! He who has Christ in him, and Christ with him, and the hope of being forever with Christ in glory–is not a poor, nor a sorrowful, nor a suffering, nor a lonely man. He can say, “I am not alone, for my Father is with me! I am not poor, for all things are mine! My body is diseased–but my soul is in health! I have all and abound!”

Can we for a moment doubt His perfect power . . .
to undertake all the cares,
to cope with all the difficulties,
to solve all the doubts, and
to disentangle all the perplexities brought to Him by His saints in all places and at all times!

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name–you are Mine! When you go through deep waters and great trouble–I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty–you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression–you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!” Isaiah 43:1-3

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The Book of 1 John is a very practical book. This week we will learn to try the spirits and many aspects of love.

God is love. What should our response be? John explains in verses 16-21.

The Christian’s response to God and His love (4:16)

¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

The perfecting of love, both now and in eternity (4:17-18)

¹⁷ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

The reason for our love to Jesus (4:19)

¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us.

The commandment to love (4:20-21)

²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?²¹ And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

How does God tell us to try the spirits?

Who is the source of love? Why?

How did God model His love for us?

What does He command us to do?

How does the unity of the Trinity work?

What should I response be to God’s love?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

The Book of 1 John is a very practical book. This week we will learn to try the spirits and many aspects of love.

God is love. What does that mean? John explains in verses 7-15.

God is the source of all love (4:7-8)

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

God models what genuine love is (4:9-10)

⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  ¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God commands us to love one another (4:11-12)

¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.¹² No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Assurance of the work of the Triune God in us (4:13-15)

¹³ Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.¹⁵ Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

John tells us who is love, gives us the true example of love, tells us God commands us to love, and then tells how we can be assured that we dwell in Him and He in us.

Listening to the news, reading your newspaper, or meeting people on the street, you quickly see that we lack love. People are angry, hateful, and mean to each other. The antidote to this is LOVE!

We must follow God’s command to love one another.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001