Good morning,

This week’s foundation stone is sin. What is sin? Who is Satan? What did God command Adam not to do? Did Adam have a choice? What was the results of Adam’s decision? What is the consequence of sin? Can we be restored?

These questions will be answered this week.

Today we will look at the result of how to deal with the temptations of Satan and we will learn why sin is a foundation stone.

SATAN ONLY HAS THE POWER YOU GIVE HIM

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13

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.

JAMES 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

COLOSSIANS 2:10-15

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

WHEN did this event occur?

1) When did Satan fall?

2) Day one?

3) How long were Adam and Eve in the garden prior to the fall?

WHERE did happen? 

The Garden of Eden.

WHY is this a foundation stone?

1) This one event effected man for all time.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)

2) Since this time, we have been in a spiritual war with the forces of evil.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

3) It caused God to put into play His plan for Jesus Christ to be the blood sacrifice to cover all our sins.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Cor 15:3-4)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week’s foundation stone is sin. What is sin? Who is Satan? What did God command Adam not to do? Did Adam have a choice? What was the results of Adam’s decision? What is the consequence of sin? Can we be restored?

These questions will be answered this week.

Today we will look at the result of Adam’s decision, God’s response to Adam’s decision, and what sin produces.

Result of Adam’s decision  v7-10

Realized he was naked and afraid of God

“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.⁸ And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. ⁹ And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? ¹⁰ And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

God’s response to Adam’s decision    v11-24

Recognizes Adam’s disobedience v11-12

“And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? ¹² And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”

God’s response to the serpent (Satan) v13-15

“And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. ¹⁴ And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: ¹⁵ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

God’s response to the woman (Eve) v16

“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”

God’s response to the man (Adam) v17-19

“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; ¹⁸ Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;¹⁹ In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

Removal from the garden v22-24

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

CONSEQUENCES FOR DISOBEDIENCE IS SEPARATION FROM GOD

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” (Psalm 66:18)

There are consequences when we sin. Adam and Eve paid a steep price for disobeying God. They lost their innocence, their home, their sustenance, their fellowship with God, and that sin would follow each generation.

The animal kingdom was also affected. They became predators.  They went from being docile and loving, to ferocious and angry. It has become survival of the fittest.

When we sin there are also consequences. We lose our fellowship with God. God then must judge us as He did Adam and Eve. If we fail to repent, the judgment becomes harsher. It is God’s way of getting our attention.

Keep short accounts with God. We will sin! What God wants us to do is repent immediately. Get right with God and so that we can enjoy the blessings and privileges that come along with being a believer in Christ.

Tomorrow we will learn how to deal with the temptations of the devil and learn why sin is a foundation stone.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week’s foundation stone is sin. What is sin? Who is Satan? What did God command Adam not to do? Did Adam have a choice? What was the results of Adam’s decision? What is the consequence of sin? Can we be restored?

These questions will be answered this week.

SIN

GENESIS 2:8-9, 15-17, 3:1-24

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis 3:6

INTRO:  In the beginning GOD…

WHO are the players?

1.  God: see previous lesson

2. Adam: God’s first created human male

3. Eve: God’s first created human female

4. Satan: Fallen Angel (IS 14:12-15, EZEK 28:12-19)

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. (EZEK 28:12-19)

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)

 WHAT happened to man? 

GOD’S COMMAND

GENESIS 2:8-9, 15-17

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

GENESIS 3

Satan’s temptation                     v1-5

Adam’s decision to disobey God v6

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  

Result of Adam’s decision          v7-10

Realized he was naked and afraid of God

God’s response to Adam’s decision    v11-24

Recognizes Adam’s disobedience                v11-12

God’s response to the serpent (Satan)       v13-15

God’s response to the woman (Eve)   v16

God’s response to the man (Adam)            v17-19, 22-24

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

CONSEQUENCES FOR DISOBEDIENCE IS SEPARATION FROM GOD

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13

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.

JAMES 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

SATAN ONLY HAS THE POWER YOU GIVE HIM

COLOSSIANS 2:10-15

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

WHEN did this event occur?

1) When did Satan fall?

2) Day one?

3) How long were Adam and Eve in the garden prior to the fall?

WHERE did happen? 

The Garden of Eden.

WHY is this a foundation stone?

1) This one event effected man for all time.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)

2) Since this time, we have been in a spiritual war with the forces of evil.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

3) It caused God to put into play His plan for Jesus Christ to be the blood sacrifice to cover all our sins.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Cor 15:3-4)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week’s foundation stone is sin. What is sin? Who is Satan? What did God command Adam not to do? Did Adam have a choice? What was the results of Adam’s decision? What is the consequence of sin? Can we be restored?

These questions will be answered this week.

Today we will look at God’s command, Satan’s temptation, and Adams decision.

GOD’S COMMAND

GENESIS 2:8-9, 15-17

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

GENESIS 3

Satan’s temptation v1-5

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?² And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:³ But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.⁴ And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:⁵ For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Adam’s decision to disobey God v6

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Adam was the recipient of God’s command. He was there when Satan was speaking to Eve. Adam chose, by an act of his own free will, to disobey God. He did not step in and counteract what Satan was telling Eve. Then when given the opportunity to eat the fruit, he did.

Sin is disobeying God’s commands.

Tomorrow, we will see the results of Adam’s sin and God’s judgement.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week’s foundation stone is sin. What is sin? Who is Satan? What did God command Adam not to do? Did Adam have a choice? What was the results of Adam’s decision? What is the consequence of sin? Can we be restored?

These questions will be answered this week.

Today we will look at a definition of sin and the tempter of sin, Satan.

What is sin?

Simply put, sin is disobedience to God’s word.

Who is Satan?

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. (EZEK 28:12-19)

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)

Satan committed the first act of rebellion, when he rebelled against God. It was his desire to be exalted above God, his maker. Satan is a created being. He was the anointed cherub. He was above all the other angels in heaven. When he rebelled, he took a third of the angels with him.

It is his task to draw people away from God. Believers are tempted so that they might do things that would ruin their testimony for Christ.

We must walk in obedience to God’s word on a daily basis.

Tomorrow, we will look at God’s command to Adam, Satan’s temptation, and the first act of disobedience by man.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

These pithy gems are given for your reflection.

Please read each one and reflect on what is says and how it impacts you. Then allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into action.

Pithy gems from Thomas Goodwin, 1599-1679


They only are wise, who are wise unto salvation.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

In Christ are treasures that will require digging to the end of the world!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

If I were to go to Heaven, and find that Christ was not there, I would leave immediately; for Heaven without Christ would be Hell to me.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Judas heard all of Christ’s sermons.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with thanks.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

As faith is merely a receiving grace, so prayer is a begging grace.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

My brethren, when God first began to love you, He gave you all that He ever meant to give you in the lump–and eternity is the time in which He is doling it out.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Christian! All that God is, will supply all that you need.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The person who loves Christ best, is the person who will pray best.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Christ’s riches are unsearchable, and the gospel is the field this Treasure is hidden in.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

God is infinitely beautiful in Himself, and His beauty ought to attract you like a magnet.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Prayer is a privilege.

We have the privilege to come before the throne room of God and talk with Him. We may praise, adore, worship, or come with our petitions for ourselves and others. He is never wearied by our coming. He desires it.

This devotional expounds on the throne of grace.

The throne of grace

(Henry Law, “Family Prayers”)

Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, Heaven and earth are full of Your glory! Blessing and honor and glory and power be to You, O Father of mercies, O God of all grace and love.

We thank You, that, as vile and sin-soiled as we are–we may come into Your immediate presence, and hold this converse with You, and commune with You concerning all our concerns, all our sins, and fears, and hopes and desires.

We are astonished that we, poor sinners on earth, may speak directly to You–our great and glorious God, on Your throne in the Heaven of heavens! How wondrous the thought that our poor breathings may fly on the wings of faith, and have instant access to the ears of Your grace!

We thank You that, in the multitude of Your tender mercies and the riches of Your pitiful compassion, You have been pleased to erect this throne of grace before which we now most humbly bow. We bless You that here, free grace reigns. We bless You that, at all times and in all places, we have open access to You through the blood of Your dear Son.

We bless You that the veil is open, and that in His great name we may ever approach and find You . . .
  ready to hear, 
  waiting to be gracious,
  arrayed in smiles of love, 
  bidding us to touch the scepter of Your sovereign mercy, 
  inviting us to pour out every need and desire of our hearts, 
  and promising to give more than we can ask or think.

Grant, oh grant, that we may be wholly consecrated to You. May we, in spirit, soar far above earth. May our hearts be fast barred against admission of worldly thoughts or cares. Send Your peace, passing all understanding, as a flood into our anxious minds.  May our meditations of You be sweet. May we drink deeply of the refreshing streams proceeding out of Your throne. May we feast on the heaven-sent manna of Your precious Word, and thus gather strength for the upward race.

Hear us, answer us, bless us we pray. All we ask is in Jesus’ name, and for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

“Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16  

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

What does it mean to be content?

This devotional will challenge our desire to be content. We may choose to be content or discontent. It depends on how we view our God.

Discontent!

(Arthur Pink, “Comfort for Christians”)

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11

Contentment is the being satisfied with the sovereign dispensations of God’s providence. It is the opposite of murmuring, which is the spirit of rebellion–the clay saying to the Potter, “Why have You made me thus?” Instead of complaining at his lot–a contented man is thankful that his condition and circumstances are no worse than they are.

Discontent! Was there ever a time when there was so much discontent and restlessness in the world, as there is today? We very much doubt it. Despite our boasted progress, the vast increase of wealth, the time and money expended daily in pleasure–discontent is everywhere! No class is exempt. Everything is in a state of flux, and almost everybody is dissatisfied. Many even among God’s own people are affected with the evil spirit of this age.

Contentment! Is such a thing realizable, or is it nothing more than a beautiful ideal, a mere dream of the poet? Is it attainable on earth, or is it restricted to the inhabitants of Heaven? If feasible here and now–may it be retained, or are a few brief moments or hours of contentment the most that we may expect in this life?

The force of Paul’s statement will be better appreciated, if his condition and circumstances at the time he made it, are kept in mind. When the apostle wrote the words, he was not luxuriating in a special suite in the Emperor’s palace–but was in prison “in chains”. The contentment which Paul enjoyed, was not the result of congenial and comfortable surroundings. Most people suppose that contentment is impossible, unless one can have the desires of the carnal heart gratified. A prison is the last place to which they would go, if they were seeking a contented man. This much, then, is clear–contentment comes from within and not without; it must be sought from God, not in creature comforts.

Now, there is a vast difference between precept and practice, between the ideal and the realization. But in the case of Paul, contentment was an actual experience! It was something he had learned in the school of Christian experience.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said–Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Sheep need a shepherd.

Believer’s in Christ are sheep and Christ is our Shepherd.

This devotional will tell us our responsibilities as sheep and Christ’s responsibilities as the Shepherd.

My sheep!

(James Smith)

“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.
 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish–ever!
 No one will snatch them out of My hand!” John 10:27-28 

All of Christ’s sheep know Him, love Him and follow Him.
They all somewhat possess His disposition: He was meek and humble in heart.
Are you one of Christ’s sheep? Are you following after the Good Shepherd? If so, He will lead you, feed you, protect you and save you.
Your person, life, comforts, and eternal safety–are committed to His care.

He loved His sheep more than His own life–He laid down His life for them!

He searches and seeks out His sheep wherever they stray.

He feeds His flock. He cares for His sheep more than for all the world beside. He feeds them in the most suitable pasture, and leads them in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

O view Jesus as your Shepherd! Expect Him to lead you, feed you, enfold you and present you to His Father with exceeding joy. Cleave to Him; let nothing tempt you to leave His feet, His flock or His fold. He will never leave you–nor will He ever forsake you.

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young!” Isaiah 40:11
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This devotion challenges us to look at ourselves for fulfillment in life or fulfillment through Christ’s work in our lives.

We are failures in our own power, but complete when God has control of our lives.

There is a contrast of wickedness and holiness.

All that we see within is foul, ugly, and grim!

(Frank Hall)

“You are complete in Him!” Colossians 2:10

Oh desponding Christian, is not your grief caused by looking within yourself? Is not that miserable feeling of failure and disappointment, caused by your strange fixation upon your hollow heart of iniquity? You look within, hoping to find something good, something pure, something precious, something clean–but what do you see? Nothing but sin! To stare into one’s self–is to stare into a bottomless pit of despair and hopelessness! “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked!” Jeremiah 17:9

Will we ever learn this? There is nothing within us to give us hope, rest, or peace. Have we ever found anything within us that gave us joy? Of course not! Then why do we continue to stare into the darkness? All that we see within is foul, ugly, and grim! One glance within ought to sicken us. We would sooner find diamonds in a dunghill or roses growing in a sewer–than find goodness dwelling within!

In ourselves we are sinful, guilty, and vile! But bless God forever!
Our standing before God is not in ourselves; it’s in Christ! He is . . .
  our Salvation,
  our Righteousness,
  our Hope,
  our Holiness, and
  our Acceptance with God!

Change the direction of your gaze–and look up! Stop staring into the empty void of your heart–and fix your eyes upon Jesus your Lord, in whom all fullness dwells. Our hope is not within, but without, seated at the right hand of the Father! Lift up your head that is bowed down with guilt and shame! Behold Christ your Savior! Behold your glorious Redeemer! Bid sorrow goodbye and fear depart! Rejoice, for “You are complete in Him!”

Believers are perfect in Christ. To be complete in Christ is to be perfect in Christ. Perfect is not something that we will be, or strive to be–but something that we are right now, by virtue of our eternal union with God’s darling Son.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are, by the free grace of God, complete in Christ our Savior!
We lack nothing!
All that He is–we are in Him!
All that He has–we have in Him!
All that He has done–we’ve done in Him!
We possess the infinite fullness of eternal life and everlasting salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord!

We are completely righteous in Him!
We are completely holy in Him!
We are completely forgiven in Him!
We are completely accepted in Him!
We are completely, everlastingly, perfectly sinless in Him!

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!” Hebrews 12:2

“For every look at SELF–take ten looks at CHRIST!” Robert Murray M’Cheyne
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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001