Archives for September 2026

Good morning,

God is always at work.

The Scriptures are filled with incidents when it seemed that a disaster was on the horizon. There was no hope in sight. BUT GOD…

That is what we will be looking at this week. How God intervenes in the affairs of men and nations.

BUT GOD

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Ephesians 2:4)

Introduction “But God” is used 43 times in the Bible

But God helped in time of need:

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. (Genesis 31:7)

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (Genesis 50:20)

And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. (1 Samuel 23:14)

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. (Psalm 73:26)

The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. (Proverbs 21:12)

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,¹⁰ And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. (Acts 7:9-10)

For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. (Philippians 2:27)

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:3-5)

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi.¹⁸ And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?¹⁹ But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day. (Judges 15:17-19 Sampson after slaying 1000 Philistines)

But God will:

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. (Psalm 49:15)

But God is:

But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. (Psalm 75:7)

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (Galatians 3:20-21)

But God acts:

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.³⁰ But God raised him from the dead:³¹ And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. (Acts 13:29-31)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1 Corinthians 1:27)

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)

 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.⁷ So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

But God warns:

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife. (Genesis 20:3)

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ( Luke 12:20)

But God prophesy:

And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. (Genesis 48:21)

But God leads:

But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. (Exodus 13:18)

CONCLUSION

God acts on the behalf of men

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Christ and a crust!
Charles Spurgeon, “Certain Singular Subjects”

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Psalm 73:2-3, “But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone! For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.“

It will always be a mystery as long as the world stands, that the wicked often flourish, while the righteous often suffer. Holy and wise men have been perplexed and troubled, by the methods of divine providence.

Do you envy the prosperity of wicked men? For my part, I am glad for their present success, for it is all they ever will have! Poor souls, let them have as much of it as they may here on earth; for they will have nothing but Hell hereafter.

If the ungodly could gain all worlds, what use would they be to them when they come to die? Their own souls eternally lost–what have they gained after all? Let the worldlings have the treasures of this present evil world, who have nothing else.

“So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.” Psalm 73:16-17

Many professors would prefer that the Scripture said, “As many as I love, I caress and pamper!” But the Lord’s Word in Revelation 3:19 says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.”

Hebrews 12:6 says, “Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” That is a very stern phrase: “He scourges every son whom He receives.” Those whom God loves best, He often allots the hardest conditions.

God often brings His redeemed people into trial, to preserve them from the world and its evil influences, from themselves and their natural pride, from Satan and his evil devices. By sorrow and adversity, the children of God are driven to their knees, and brought near to their loving Father. Sanctified afflictions, are spiritual blessings. The salt and bitterness of sorrow, often preserves men from the gall and bitterness of sin.

We are often ignorant, rebellious, and willful–until the Lord trains us. “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I keep Your Word.” The Lord teaches us on the black-board of adversity, and He often gives us a rap on our knuckles. It is astonishing what we learn, when God brings us into the refining fire!

I think that I have hardly learned anything worth learning, except in the furnace of affliction. I fear that I have learned little, beyond that which has been whipped into me. Though I am not more fond of God’s rod of affliction than you are, I confess that such sweet fruit grows on the bitter tree of trial, that I would fear to be long without it. Far rather would I weep with the Lord’s chosen, than laugh with the reprobate.

If Jesus is ours, then the fleeting vanities of this world are of small importance. Give me Jesus, and I ask for nothing else! I leave all other things with the great Disposer of events. Christ and a crust; the promise and a burlap coat; grace and the poor-house! Cannot a saint be content with these?

God often thrusts His people into adversity, that He may improve them, arouse them, instruct them, and ennoble them. May the fire and the file, the crucible and the flame–remove your dross and rust, and make you pure and holy.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The crucified Christ has irresistible attractions!
Charles Spurgeon, “The Marvelous Magnet”
(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

John 12:32-33, “‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.”

Jesus is the spokesman here. He tells of His own death by crucifixion and of the result which will follow. It appears then, that our Lord’s power to draw men to Himself lies mainly in His death. There is an attractive power about our Lord’s person, and about His life, and about His teaching; but still, the main attractive force lies in His sin-atoning death upon the cross!

Our Lord Jesus Christ died a most shameful death. Sadly, many have come to use the cross as an ornament to display, while others turn the crucifix into an object of idolatry.

But the cross, to speak very plainly, was to the ancients what the gallows is to us–an odious instrument of death for the worst of criminals. It was not only painful, it was disgraceful and ignominious! It is because of His shameful sacrificial death, that Jesus is able to draw men unto Himself. On that cruel cross, Prince Emanuel manifests the beauties of His dying love. The crucified Christ has irresistible attractions!

The cross is the grand old story of the incarnate God who loved wicked sinners, and gave Himself to die in their stead, that they might escape Hell and have eternal life through Him.

Whence this astonishing attractiveness of Jesus? It is the force of love; for Jesus is love incarnate. In Him we see one who divested Himself of His divine glory, that He might save guilty rebels.

At length, His dying love compels the ungodly to believe and to adore. If I were asked the secret of the attractive power of the crucified Savior, I would answer that it is His invincible love! This it is–this unique, unrivaled love–which draws sinful men to Jesus. The pierced heart of Jesus is the marvelous magnet to draw hearts. By His agonies and death, men’s affections are drawn and their hearts are enthralled.

I turn my eyes to Jesus upon the cross, and view the thorn-crown, and the sacred head now wounded, and the eyes that were red with weeping, and the hands nailed fast to the wood, and the feet dripping with gore. I behold the Lord of life and glory suffering the most intensified pain and death; and when I remember that this shameful death was endured out of love to me, I am lost in wonder! His wounds distilled the richest balm that ever healed a sinner’s wound!

“Yes, He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!” Song of Solomon 5:16

“To you who believe, He is precious!” 1 Peter 2:7

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Please think about the fact that this was written 150 years ago. 

One reason why the church has so little influence over the world

Charles Spurgeon

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind!”

I believe that one reason why the church has so little influence over the world–-is because the world has so much influence over the church!

It is overwhelming to see the ever-growing worldliness of the visible church. Many professed Christians–the Lord alone knows whether they are true believers or not–give us grave cause for concern. We see them tolerating practices which would not have been endured by their fathers; my blood chills when I think of how far some fashionable professors go astray!

When the Church descends to the world’s level, her spiritual power is gone. Jesus said, “Preach the gospel to every creature!” But men are getting tired of the divine plan; they are going to be saved by the music, or by the theatricals, or by the amusements! Well, they may try these things as long as ever they like; but nothing can ever come of the whole thing but utter disappointment and confusion:
  God is dishonored,
  the gospel is mocked,
  hypocrites are manufactured by thousands,
  and the church is dragged down to the level of the world!

An unholy church! It is useless to the world–and of no esteem among men. It is . .
  an abomination,
  Hell’s laughter,
  and Heaven’s abhorrence!

Horatius Bonar:
“The world has absorbed the Church, and the church is content that it should be so!”

Rowland Hill:
“Conformity to the world, in all ages, has proved the ruin of the church!”

George Everard:
“The spirit of the world is eating out the very heart and life of true godliness!”

Horatius Bonar:
“Refined worldliness is the present snare of the Church of God!”

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Pure, unalloyed, perfect truth!

Charles Spurgeon

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

The Bible is a vein of pure gold, unalloyed by any earthly substance.

The Scripture is,
  a star without a speck,
  a sun without a blot,
  a light without darkness,
  and a glory without a dimness.

O Bible! It cannot be said of any other book, that it is perfect and pure; but of the Bible we can assuredly declare that all
wisdom is gathered up in it, without a particle of folly.

This is the judge that ends the strife, where wit and reason fail.

This is the Book untainted by any error; but is pure, unalloyed, perfect truth.

“The Law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
bringing joy to the heart;

the commandments of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;

the judgments of the LORD are true,
being altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

By them indeed Your servant is warned;
in keeping them is great reward.”
Psalm 19:7-11

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering begins on the evening of Friday, September 25, 2026 and runs through the evening of Friday, October 2, 2026. This is one holiday with four different names and meanings. This week we will explore these events. 

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering 

The Facts: 

What do the Scriptures say about it? 

Lev 23:34 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.”
Lev 23:35 “On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.”
Lev 23:36 “Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHVH: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHVH: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.”
Lev 23:39 “Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.”
Lev 23:40 “And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.”
Lev 23:42 “Ye shall dwell in booths seven days…”
Deut 16:13 “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:”
Deut 16:14 “And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.” 

When is it? 

Lev 23:34 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto YHVH.” 

What are we commanded to do? 

1. Keep it Holy as a regular Sabbath, doing no servile work or the things associated with the seventh day Sabbath on the first day and the eighth day of the feast.
2. Keep it at its time and season on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.
3. Have a holy convocation on the first day of the feast and on the eighth day of the feast. This is a calling of the assembly or community of like-minded believers to assemble together and celebrate Tabernacles. If no one is able to convocate then call together your own family or travel to where another group of believers are assembling and keeping this day Holy or set apart.
4. We are to build “booths or sukkahs” out of various branches mentioned in Lev. 23:40. We are to dwell in booths or tents for seven days and rejoice before YHVH. This is one of the pilgrimage feasts where all of the males have to appear in Jerusalem before the Lord.  

Spiritual/Prophetic Significance: 

Sukkot is significant of many things: 

1. The Israelites were led through the wilderness, being delivered from the bondage of Egypt and dwelt in booths and tents. YHVH provided everything they needed and protected them throughout their wanderings.
2. Yeshua is believed to have been born on the first day of Sukkot (not on December 25th) and was the Word made flesh and dwelt (tabernacle/sukkoted) among us and was circumcised according to the covenant of Abraham on the eighth day (Hoshana Rabbah).
3. Sukkot could also speak of a future exodus out of Babylon as scattered Israel and those nations that are grafted in journey through the Great Wilderness of the Tribulation and ultimately tabernacle with the Messiah in the New Jerusalem for 1,000 years. 

The Messiah in Sukkot 

Bible scholars believe that it was during the feast of Sukkot that Yeshua the Messiah was born upon this earth. Specifically, the first day of Sukkot the Son of God put on temporary flesh and dwelt among men. John the disciple alluded to this fact when he wrote where the Messiah came from. Matthew starts out showing the lineage of Joseph, while Luke eludes to the lineage of Miriam (Mary) through the family connection of Zechariah and Elizabeth but John spoke of the Heavenly DNA, linking Yeshua of Nazareth with the Word of God. 

John 1:1-2,14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” The word used for dwelt in this passage literally means “tabernacled.”  

The feast of Sukkot is a 7-day feast with a special 8th day observance called Hoshana Rabba (the last great day or the last great praise) and Yeshua was circumcised on this 8th day (of the feast), and it is recorded in Luke 2:21. 

Later on, in the life of Yeshua we see another mention of Sukkot and it is a powerful demonstrative teaching that causes much stir in the temple ceremonies. It is during the Feast of Sukkot that a temple ritual would take place called the water libation ceremony. A priest was dispatched from the temple mount out through the southern steps down to the pool of Shi loach (which means sent) and the priest fills a vessel with water and returns up the steps into the temple. This is the only time that water (mixed with a little wine) is placed upon the altar. As water is poured out down one side of a trough that led down to the altar, wine was poured down another trough leading to the altar and together they would meet together on the altar that was red hot at this point. As the mixture of wine and water splashed upon the altar it hissed and steamed as everyone huddled around praying for rain in the coming season, praying for the Messiah to come and the indwelling of the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit). It is at this moment that Yeshua stood up and proclaimed, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!’” (John 7:37-38). It is at this moment that everyone started putting together the pieces of the puzzle. The waters carried up from the pool of Shiloach were called the “waters of salvation” or quite literally the waters of Yeshua. Here they have the Messiah who was named Yeshua which meant salvation and he stands at this moment and makes this claim as the mixture of wine and water, which symbolized the blood and water that flowed from his side was spilled upon the altar. Some argued with him, and some believed while others pondered these things further. On Hoshana Rabbah, the last day of the feast four 75 foot tall Menorahs were lit in the temple courts and Yeshua continued his teaching by using the symbolism of the bright lights around him: 

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world: whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.” 

The Feast of Ingathering 

Another name given in scripture for the feast of Sukkot is the feast of Ingathering and also the feast of harvest. This is the end of the year in the fall when the fruit harvest was being collected. Three times a year males are to go up and pilgrimage to Jerusalem to keep the three “harvest feasts.” They are not to be empty handed because they are to produce the first fruits of their harvest as tithes to the LORD. The first harvest feast is Passover which is the barley harvest. The second harvest feast is Shavuot (Pentecost) which is the wheat harvest, and the third harvest feast is Sukkot for the fruit harvest. Notice that there are three harvest feasts to report to Jerusalem and there are three resurrections recorded in scripture. 

1. When Yeshua raised from the dead and those that raised with him called the first fruits of the resurrection (Matt. 27:53, 1 Cor. 15:20,23).
2. The “first resurrection” or the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14) before the millennial reign of the Messiah (Rev. 20:4-6).
3. The “second resurrection” after the millennial reign of the Messiah (Rev. 20:12) which has been titled the Great White Throne Judgment by many teachers. 

It is interesting to note that these were pilgrimage feasts symbolizing the resurrections into the Kingdom of Heaven or the New Jerusalem. It is also symbolized in scripture in various places as being the reaping of the harvest. 

Exodus 23:16 “And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field.” 

Mark 4:29 “But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” 

Revelation 14:15 “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

Remember that the “first resurrection” is called up at the feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) and those that are Atoned for under the blood of Yeshua (Yom Kippur) will be gathered together and made priests and judges in the Millennial kingdom, while tabernacling with the Messiah for 1,000 years. 

Isaiah 27:12-13 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” 

Zechariah 14:9 “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day (the millennium of the Lord) shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” 

What will the Messiah Yeshua be doing during the Millennial reign over the Earth? 

Micah 4:2 “And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and HE (the Mashiach) will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law (Torah) shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” 

Isaiah 2:3 says the exact same thing. HE, the Messiah, will teach us His ways. I doubt Yeshua will be teaching replacement theology or modern church doctrine that speaks against the Torah and the feasts of the LORD. There will still be Gentiles or nations outside of the New Jerusalem that will be required to go up and keep the feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot or they will face famines and plagues as punishment. Does this sound like modern Christian doctrine? This is not a matter of liberty or grace but a righteous requirement. This isn’t the “well I don’t fully understand this feast stuff so God understands my heart and will be ok with it.” Read for yourself! The scriptures speak it clearly and overwhelmingly, leaving no shadow of doubt or question. 

Zechariah 14:11,16-18 “And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited… And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles… And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain… the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles… and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”  

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning,

Christ, who is our life
Charles Spurgeon

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Colossians 3:4, “When Christ, who is our life, appears–then you also will appear with Him in glory!”

Paul’s marvelously rich expression indicates that Christ is the source of our spiritual life. “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins!” Ephesians 2:1. That same voice which brought Lazarus out of the tomb, raised us to newness of life.

Christ is now the substance of our spiritual life. It is by His life that we live. He is in us as, the hope of glory, the spring of our actions, the central thought which moves every other thought.

Christ is the sustenance of our life. What can the Christian feed upon but Jesus? O wayworn pilgrims in this wilderness of sin–you never get a morsel to satisfy the hunger of your hearts, unless you find it in Him!

Christ is the solace of our life. All our true joys come from Him. In times of trouble, His presence is our consolation. There is nothing worth living for, but Him. His loving-kindness is better than life!

Christ is the object of our life. As the ship speeds towards the port–so the believer hastens towards the haven of his Savior’s bosom. As the arrow flies to its goal–so the Christian flies towards fellowship with Jesus.

Christ is the exemplar of our life. If we live in near fellowship with the Lord Jesus, then we shall grow like Him. We shall set Him before us as our Divine example, and we shall seek to tread in His footsteps. “Whoever claims to live in Him, must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

Oh! how safe, how honored, how happy is the Christian–since Christ is our life!

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain!” Philippians 1:21

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Please take time to read and meditate on this devotion. Each statement will convict and challenge our thinking about who Jesus is, why He came, and  what we are doing about that knowledge.

He left Heaven for us!

Thomas Brooks, “The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures“

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24

Let the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, work us into a gracious willingness to embrace sufferings for His sake, and cheerfully and resolutely to take up His cross and follow Him.

Did Christ suffer, who knew no sin; and shall we think it strange to suffer, who know nothing but sin?

Shall He lie sweltering under His Father’s wrath, and shall we cry out under men’s anger?

Was He crowned with thorns, and must we be crowned with rose-buds?

Was His whole life, from the cradle to the cross, made up of nothing but sorrows and sufferings; and must our lives, from the cradle to the grave, be filled up with nothing but pleasures and delights?

Was He despised, and must we be admired?

Was He debased, and must we be exalted?

Was He poor, and must we be rich?

Was He low, and must we be high?

Did He drink of a bitter cup, a bloody cup, and must we have only cups of consolation?

Let us not think anything too much to do for Christ,
nor anything too great to suffer for Christ,
nor anything too dear to part with for such a Christ, such a Savior–who thought nothing too much to do, nor too grievous to suffer–so that He might accomplish the work of our redemption!

He left Heaven for us, and shall not we let go of this world for Him?

He left His Father’s bosom for us, and shall not we leave the bosoms of our dearest relations for Him?

He underwent all sorts of sufferings for us, let us as readily encounter all sorts of sufferings for Him.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich!” 2 Corinthians 8:9

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

We are never beyond the reach of His care!

(J.C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Mark” 1857)

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Mark 6:50, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Mark how our Lord sees the troubles of His believing people, and in due time will help them.

We read that when the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He was alone on the land, that He saw they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves; He came to them walking on the sea; and cheered them with the gracious words, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid,” and changed the storm into a calm!

There are thoughts of comfort here for all true believers. Wherever they may be, or whatever their circumstances, the Lord Jesus sees them!

Alone or in company;
in sickness or in health;
by sea or by land;
in perils in the city;
in perils in the wilderness;
the same eye which saw the disciples tossed on the lake, is ever looking at us!

We are never beyond the reach of His care!

Our way is never hidden from Him!

He knows the path that we take, and is still able to help. He may not come to our aid at the time we like best, but He will never allow us utterly to fail.

He who walked upon the water, never changes!

He will always come at the right time to uphold His people. Though He tarries, let us wait patiently.

Jesus sees us, and will not forsake us.

“Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” Mark 6:50

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

What unsearchable riches there are in this golden mine!
Letters of William Romaine, 1714-1795

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Psalm 119:103, “How sweet are Your Words to my taste–sweeter than honey in my mouth!”

Jeremiah 15:16, “Your words were found, and I ate them. Your Words became my joy and my heart’s delight!”

In books I converse with men; in the Bible I converse with God.
The more I read, the more I long to read.
The Scripture is always new, always instructing, always delightful.

The value of the Bible is inestimable. It is not only a perfect map of the spiritual world; but the believer surveying its riches and beauties and pleasures, has a good warrant to say, “All these are mine, for God Himself is mine!”

God has spared me to read through His Word once more. Oh, what a treasure–what unsearchable riches there are in this golden mine! I have never dug deeper, nor found more precious jewels than upon this last perusal. Indeed, upon every reading of the Bible it grows more precious to me, as  it has become the conveyance of the unsearchable riches of Christ to me.

It is our duty to read and meditate on the Word, but we should always do it with the fixed dependence of our hearts upon His divine teaching. Without meditation, the Word itself will profit us nothing.

The Word of God can be made useful to us, only by the enlightening of the Spirit of God. It is by continual dependence on the teaching of the Spirit, that we come to find its value and to taste its pleasures. For it then opens a new world to us–a spiritual and eternal world.

Thanks be to Him . . .
  who revealed His Word to me,
  who opened my eyes to see wondrous things out of His Word,
  who often made me look up and say, “Oh, how sweet are Your Words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

God has made His Word very precious to me. My love for it has grown much in taste and value.
In taste, it is sweeter than honey.
In value, it is more precious than gold, yes, than much fine gold! As I dig deeper, the mine becomes richer, and the treasures of grace are greatly enhanced by their being the pledges of glory.

The great end and design of the Scripture, is to conform us to itself. When the Word is understood and believed and lived upon--God makes it the means of conforming the whole man to it. It is so assimilating that every tint is to be seen upon him.

“I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.” Job 23:12

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com