Archives for 2020

Good morning,

This devotion is a warning to all of us. We easily discount little sins. The fact is that little sins become big sins eventually.

It is but a little sin!

(Thomas Brooks)

“So that Satan will not outsmart us–for we are familiar with his evil schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11

“Ah!” says Satan, “It is but a little sin–a little pride, a little worldliness, a little lust, etc. You may commit it without any danger to your soul. It is but a little one.”

But there is great danger, yes, many times most danger, in the smallest sins.

Greater sins sooner startle the soul, and awaken and rouse up the soul to repentance, than lesser sins do. Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and indiscernibly in the soul–until they come to be so strong as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul!

Little sins multiplied, become great sins. There is nothing less than a grain of sand, yet there is nothing heavier than the sand of the sea when multiplied.

Little sins are very dangerous!
A little leaven, leavens the whole lump.
A little hole in the ship, sinks it.
A small breach in a dyke, carries away all before it.
A little stab at the heart, kills a man.

Many are eternally undone by the ‘little sins’, as they call them, that are nourished in their own bosoms.

A little sin, without a great deal of mercy, will damn a man!
 
If the serpent sneaks in his head, he will draw in his whole body after him!

Though the scorpion is little, yet will it sting a lion to death!

Just so, a little sin may at once bar the door of Heaven, and open the gates of Hell!

The least sin is contrary . . .
  to the law of God,
  to the nature of God,
  to the being of God,
  and to the glory of God!
Therefore it is often punished severely by God.

The least sin will damn us–if not pardoned by the death of Christ!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

John Flavel: 
Perhaps the smallness of the sin is urged as a reason why you may commit it: “It is . . .
  but a little sin,
  but a small matter,
  but a trifle!”
 
But, if you commit this little sin–you will offend a great God! Is there any little Hell to torment little sinners in? No! The least sinners in Hell are full of misery! There is great wrath treasured up for those whom the world regard as little sinners.
 
The less the sin–the less the inducement you should have to commit it. Will you provoke God for a trifle? Will you destroy your peace, wound your conscience, and grieve the Spirit–all for nothing? What madness is this!
   ~  ~  ~  ~

We should not trifle with sin. None!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Do we choose to sin and suffer eternal death in hell or to obey and have eternal life in heaven?

It is our choice.

Choose life!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This devotion was written years ago.

However, you will see that is taken right out of todays news. The struggle for universal equality.

Yet the same reasons it could not happen in Ryle’s time, is the same reason it can’t happen today.

Riches and Poverty!

(J.C. Ryle, “Riches and Poverty!“)

Many in every age have disturbed society by stirring up the poor against the rich. But so long as the world is under the present order of things, universal equality cannot be attained.

So long as . . .
  some are wise, and some are foolish;
  some are strong, and some are weak;
  some are healthy, and some are diseased;
so long as children reap the fruit of their parent’s misconduct;
so long as sun, and rain, and heat, and cold, and wind, and waves, and drought, and blight, and storm, and tempest are beyond man’s control–so long will there be inequality in this world.

Take all the property in England by force this day, and divide it equally among the inhabitants. Give every person over twenty years old an equal portion. Let all share alike, and begin the world over again. Do this, and see where you would be at the end of fifty years. You would just have come round to the point where you began! You would just find things as unequal as before!

   Some would have worked–and some would have been lazy;
   some would have been always careless–and some always scheming;
   some would have sold–and others would have bought;
   some would have wasted–and others would have saved.
And the end would be that some would be rich–and others would be poor.

We might as well say . . .
  that all people ought to be of the same height, weight, strength, and cleverness;
  or that all oak trees ought to be of the same shape and size;
  or that all blades of grass ought to be of the same length
–as that all people were meant to be equal.

Settle it in your mind that the main cause of all the suffering you see around you, is sin. Sin is the grand cause . . .
  of the enormous luxury of the rich–and the painful degradation of the poor;
  of the heartless selfishness of the highest classes–and the helpless poverty of the lowest.

Sin must be first cast out of the world;
the hearts of all people must be renewed and sanctified;
the devil must be bound;
the Prince of Peace must come down and take His great power and reign
–all this must be before there ever can be universal happiness, or the gulf be filled up which now divides the rich and poor.

Beware of expecting a millennium to be brought about . . .
  by any method of government,
  by any system of education,
  or by any political party.

Labor to do good to all men; pity your poorer brethren, and help every reasonable endeavor to raise them from their low estate. Do not slacken your hand from any endeavor . . .
  to increase knowledge,
  to promote morality,
  to improve the temporal condition of the poor.

But never, never forget . . .
  that you live in a fallen world,
  that sin is all around you,
  and that the devil is abroad.
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Things have not changed.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Pithy gems from Thomas Watson #3

What good will it do a man when he is in Hell, that others think he has gone to Heaven?
   ~  ~  ~  ~
Godliness consists in a harmony between holy principles and holy practices. 
   ~  ~  ~  ~
How can the unrepentant sinner be merry, who is heir to all God’s curses, and does not know how soon he may take up his lodgings among the damned?
   ~  ~  ~  ~
The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ!
   ~  ~  ~  ~
Christ is never sincerely loved, until sin is sincerely loathed!
   ~  ~  ~  ~
He a fool, who minds his recreation more than his salvation!
   ~  ~  ~  ~
The greatest judgment God lays upon a man in this life, is to let him sin without hindrance.
   ~  ~  ~  ~
He who hides one rebel in his house is a traitor to the Crown.
Just so, he who indulges one sin is a traitorous hypocrite.
   ~  ~  ~  ~
It is better to go with difficulty to Heaven, than with ease to Hell! “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able!” Luke 13:24
   ~  ~  ~  ~
True happiness consists not in beauty, honor, riches (the world’s trinity)–but in the forgiveness of sin. “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!” Psalm 32:1  
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Read these words of wisdom and then seek God for their application. There are challenges for each of us in this devotion.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Yesterday we looked time in relationship to salvation.

Today, we look at time as a talent. We will see that we are accountable for how we use the time we are allotted.

We are challenged specifically to do things that have eternal consequences.

A jewel of more worth than a world!

(Thomas Brooks, “The Hypocrite Detected”)

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16

Time is a jewel of more worth than a world!

Time is not yours to dispose of as you please.
It is a glorious talent, which men must be accountable for, as well as any other talent.

Of all talents, time is the hardest to improve well.

Ah, beloved, have not you need to improve your time–who have so much work to do in so short a time:
  your souls to save,
  a God to honor,
  a Christ to exalt,
  a Hell to escape,
  a race to run,
  a crown to win,
  temptations to withstand,
  corruptions to conquer,
  afflictions to bear,
  mercies to improve, and
  your generation to serve!

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
   ~  ~  ~  ~

This should make us think about how we are using our time. Hopefully, it will motivate us to do a better job managing our time. But more importantly, what we are spending our time doing.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Time is always on our minds. Our lives are led by the clock. We have planners, calendars, Day Timers, and computer programs to schedule our days. One day time will stop for us. We do not know when.

What are we doing with our time today? Are our goals kingdom goals or earthly goals. Will what we do today count for anything in eternity?

Today’s devotion challenges us to think about how we use our time.

The thread of life is held by the divine hand alone!

(Samuel Davies, “A New Year’s Gift!” January 1, 1760)

“Knowing the TIME, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep!” Romans 13:11

TIME, like an ever-running stream, is perpetually gliding on–and hurrying each of us into the boundless ocean of eternity! Consider the UNCERTAINTY of your time! You may die . . .
  the next year,
  the next month,
  the next week,
  the next hour, or
  the next moment!

I once knew a minister who, while he was speaking on this same point–was made a striking illustration of it, and instantly dropped down dead in the pulpit!

You cannot call one day of this next year your own! Before that day comes, you may be done with time–and have entered upon eternity!

People presume upon time, as if it were guaranteed to them for so many years; and this is the delusion which ruins multitudes! How many are now in eternity, who began the last year with as little expectation of death, and hopes of long life–as you have at the beginning of the present year! And this may be your doom!

Should a prophet be sent to open the book of the divine decrees to you–as Jeremiah did to Hananiah; some of you would no doubt see it written there by your name, “This very year you are going to die!” Jeremiah 28:16. Some unexpected moment in this year–will put an end to all the labors and enjoyments of the present state, and all the duties and opportunities peculiar to it!

Therefore, if sinners would repent and believe–NOW is the time, because this is the ONLY time they are certain of! Sinners, you may be in Hell before this year finishes its round–if you delay the great business of salvation any longer!

For remember, time is uncertain! Youth, health, strength, business, riches, power, wisdom, and whatever this world contains–cannot insure it. No, the thread of life is held by the divine hand alone; and God can snap it asunder, without warning, in whatever moment He pleases!

“It is appointed unto men once to die, and after that to face judgment!” Hebrews 9:27
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The foundation for living the Christian life is Christ. Everything we are is wrapped up in the person of Jesus Christ.

Read this devotional in light of that.

Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption

(Robert Traill)

“But from Him you are in Christ Jesus, who for us became:
wisdom from God,
 as well as righteousness,
 sanctification,
 and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30

Wisdom outside of Christ–is damning folly!

Righteousness outside of Christ–is guilt and condemnation!

Sanctification outside of Christ–is filth and sin!

Redemption outside of Christ–is bondage and slavery!

If a man trusts to his own righteousness, he rejects Christ’s righteousness.
If he trusts to Christ’s righteousness, he rejects his own righteousness.

I know no true religion but Christianity.

I know no true Christianity but the doctrine of Christ:
  of His divine person,
  of His divine offices,
  of His divine righteousness,
  and of His divine Spirit.

I know no true ministers of Christ, but such as make it their business to commend Jesus Christ in His saving fullness of grace and glory, to the faith and love of men.

I know no true Christian, but one united to Christ by faith, and abiding in him by faith and love, unto the glorifying of the name of Jesus Christ, in the beauties of gospel-holiness.   
   ~  ~  ~  ~

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

How did you and I get saved? You would say by faith through grace. Trusting in Jesus finished work on the cross for me. And those are good answers, but not totally correct.

It was the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives that brought us to Jesus. He wooed us and took rejectors and sinners to the very cross of Christ.

This devotional expands on this thought.

The only effectual reformer of the world!

(Samuel Davies, “Serious Reflections on WAR” 1757)

“When He comes–He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment!” John 16:8

The Holy Spirit is the only effectual reformer of the world! If He is absent–
  legislators may make laws against crime;
  philosophers may reason against vice;
  ministers may preach against sin;
  conscience may remonstrate against evil;
  the divine law may prescribe, and threaten Hell;
  the gospel may invite, and allure to Heaven;
but all will be in vain!

The strongest arguments, the most melting entreaties, the most alarming denunciations from God and man, enforced with the highest authority, or the most compassionate tears–all will have no effect–all will not effectually reclaim one sinner, nor gain one sincere convert to righteousness!

Paul, Apollos, and Peter, with all their apostolic abilities, can do nothing, without the Holy Spirit. Paul may plant the seed–and Apollos may water it; but God alone can make it grow! “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything–but only God, who makes things grow!” 1 Corinthians 3:6, 7

Never will peace and harmony be established in this jangling world–until this Divine Agent takes the work in hand.

It is He alone, who can melt down the obstinate hearts of men into love and peace!

It is He alone, who can soften their rugged and savage tempers, and transform them into mutual benevolence!

It is He alone–who can quench those lusts that set the world on fire, and implant the opposite virtues and graces. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, are mentioned by Paul, as the fruit of the Spirit, because the Spirit alone is the author of them. And if these dispositions were predominant in the world–what a serene, calm, peaceful region would it be, undisturbed with the hurricanes of human passions! Oh, how much do we need the influence of the blessed Spirit . . .
  to break the heart of stone,
  to enlighten the dark mind, and
  to comfort the desponding soul!
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We do not like being afflicted. We do not ask God to bring suffering into our lives.

So what is the purpose of afflictions and sufferings? William Romaine has some thoughts about that.

There is not one thing that thwarts your will, that is not in God’s will

(Letters of William Romaine, 1714-1795)

My dear friend,                                                                                                              
Your frequent afflictions are His sweet lessons. It is the proper work of the grace of Jesus to humble the proud sinner, to make him and to keep him sensible of his needs, convinced always that he has not any good of his own and cannot possibly of himself obtain any–but what he must be receiving every moment out of the fullness of Jesus.

All providences, sicknesses, losses, successes–are only so far blessings, as they lead us more out of ourselves, into the fullness of Jesus.

The Lord having appointed you for His heavenly kingdom, has also appointed all the steps which are to lead you there. Your every affliction is in the covenant. Your sicknesses, your failings, your disappointments–there is not one thing that thwarts your will, that is not in God’s will. Nothing can befall you but what is . . .
  divinely ordered,
  contrived for you by infinite wisdom,
  brought upon you by infinite love!

Oh, for eyes to see, for a heart to receive all God’s dealings with you in this covenant view. How sweet would be your many trials, if you found them all appointed and managed for you by the best of friends! Learn to receive them thus.

To the care of His dear loving heart I commend you and yours,
William Romaine
   ~  ~  ~  ~

God uses our afflictions, sufferings, and trials to humble us. In so doing, He brings us closer to Him.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Psalm 107:1-32 shows us that problems come to everyone. Four examples are given. The wanderer, the prisoner, the fool, and those who are in a storm. How these problems were dealt with, will be our study this week.

Those who are in a storm (Psalm 107:23-32)

The problem (107:23-27)

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; ²⁴ These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.²⁵ For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.²⁶ They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.²⁷ They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.

Their cry (107:28)

²⁸ Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

God’s solution (107:29) (Reference 107:25-27)

²⁹ He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. ³⁰ Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Our response should be to praise the Lord for His goodness (107:31)

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

God’s solution (107:32) (Reference 107:23-27)

³² Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Some of the storms in our lives are made specifically for us. God wants to see our level of faith and trust in Him.

Jesus did this to His disciples. Matthew 8:23-27 records a similar storm.

“And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.²⁴ And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.²⁵ And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.²⁶ And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.²⁷ But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”

In the midst of our storms in life, where is our trust? It should be on the Lord Jesus. We are not capable of handling our problems. God is!

Whatever life throws at us, God is bigger than any problem. He has the resources to fix any problem we have.

The question is, do we have the faith to believe God is working on our behalf?  Just like salvation, the Christian life is lived by faith.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Psalm 107:1-32 shows us that problems come to everyone. Four examples are given. The wanderer, the prisoner, the fool, and those who are in a storm. How these problems were dealt with, will be our study this week.

The fool (Psalm 107:17-22)

The problem (107:17-18)

Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.¹⁸ Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

Their cry (107:19)

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

God’s solution (107:20) (Reference 107:17-18)

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Our response should be to praise the Lord for His goodness (107:21)

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

God’s solution (Psalm 107:22) (Reference 107:17-18)

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Many people in our world are walking around as fools. They are walking in their sins (iniquities), they reject God’s word (meat), and they are afflicted and near death.

Then God sends them the Word of God. They hear it, obey it, and they trust Christ to be their personal Lord and Savior. Salvation.

They are no longer fools. They have been healed by trusting Christ. Instead of near death they are now headed for an eternity with Christ.

These people are thankful and are excited to be able to tell others about Jesus. Why? Because they have come from death to life eternal.

Does that thought still excite you as a believer in Christ? It should. Someone presented the gospel to you and you got saved. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could introduce someone else to Christ?

No time like the present!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chapla1n, 907 715-4001