Good morning,

How quick we are to find fault in others. Yet each of us has our own flaws. This short devotional reminds us that we have not arrived.

A diamond with a flaw–is better than a pebble without one!

(George Everard, “The Home of Bethany” 1873)

“Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples: Let us also go, that we may die with Him!” John 11:16

We often think only of Thomas as the picture of a doubting, unbelieving disciple. Let us not forget that there was in him the spirit of true self-denying love. Christ purposed to go into Judea. Thomas thought the Jews would kill Him–but if so, he was ready to share the danger.

We may learn a lesson here–let us look at the best side of a Christian’s character.

“A diamond with a flaw–is better than a pebble without one!“ A Christian may have some grave infirmity; he may fail very grievously at some crisis of his Christian career–yet for all that he may be one of Christ’s jewels, and may shine brightly hereafter in His crown!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

New believers need training to understand their relationship in Christ Jesus. We will encourage them to be obedient in baptism, reading their Bible, prayer, and many other things. However, I do not recall a lesson on humility. This is a challenging devotional.

The first lesson of a Christian!

(Thomas Adams)

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5-6

Humility is knowing that we are not humble. Alas! Who is humble?

Perhaps many, who think themselves high in Christ’s school, have not yet begun with their A-B-C’s. The first lesson of a Christian is humility; and he who has not learned the first lesson, is not fit to take out a new one.

“Much more of true religion consists in deep humility, brokenness of heart, and an abasing sense of barrenness and lack of grace and holiness–than most who are called Christians imagine.” (David Brainerd, 1718-1747)

“For those who would learn God’s ways, humility is the first thing, humility is the second thing, and humility is the third thing.” (Augustine, 354-430)

“Only a broken heart can receive a bruised and crucified Savior!” (George Everard, 1882)

There may a lesson in this for our older believers. How many of us are proud, puffed up, and unholy as we walked through our Christian lives. We need to be the example of humbleness as Jesus was for us.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

What is the basis for our salvation? Is it that we are good people? That we live good moral lives? That we read the Bible? That we go to church? That we keep a set of commandments? No, a thousand times NO! We are saved because God sent His Son Jesus Christ to the cross. Man, being sinful, needed a blood sacrifice for their sin. The Levitical Law provided animal sacrifices. Those sacrifices were temporary. They were continual. When Jesus went to the cross, He shed His perfect blood, once, for the sins of mankind forever. Then He died. End of story? NO! Three days later He arose from the grave, the victor over sin and death, and later ascended to Heaven. This set Jesus apart from any other religious leader. Today J.C. Ryle will expound on this topic.

The lever which has turned the world upside down!

(J.C. Ryle)

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

The cross of Christ is the strength of the minister–it is the heart of the gospel.

I would not preach a sermon without preaching Christ Crucified. I would feel . . .
like a soldier without a weapon,
like an artist without a brush,
like a ship without a rudder,
like a laborer without tools.

Let others, if they will, preach law and morality; let others drench their congregations with baptisms and church laws–but give me the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ!

This is the lever which has turned the world upside down!

This is the only gospel that will cause men to repent and forsake their sins.

This is the only message which can give peace to a troubled soul.

And if the cross of Christ will not do it, nothing will.

A man may begin preaching with a perfect knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; but he will do his hearers no good unless he experimentally knows Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

A missionary may go forth with compassion for the poor, tenderness for the sick, and pity for the enslaved; but he will never relieve poverty of spirit, sickness of soul, nor bondage of will–unless he takes them the gospel of Christ Crucified.

This is the preaching the Holy Spirit will bless. He honors those who honor Christ Crucified!

This ladies and gentlemen is the message we must take to our dying, sin sick world.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

When we pray do we really expect God to answer? Do we pray fervently, persistently, and patiently? Will we pray till God says “yes”, “no”, or “wait”? Jesus gives us an example of persistent prayer in Luke 11:5-10.

^“5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶ For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? ⁷ And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. ⁸ I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. ⁹ And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. ¹⁰ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Importunity means “earnestness and perseverance in presenting requests to God on behalf of oneself and others; seen in persistent pleading, faithful intercession and bold appeal.” (8653 Dictionary of Bible themes)

The “friend” had an earnest expectation that he would get his bread. He did not quit asking. He had a need and sought a resolution. He knocked on his neighbor’s door till he received his request.

It is our privilege to do the same. We can go to God boldly. However, remember, we must be praying in the will of God. James 4:3 states, “Ye ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.” We need to pray for others, ourselves, our needs and desires, within Scriptural Bible principles.

It is exciting to watch how God answers prayers. God is still in the business of doing the miraculous. Never be limited in what you ask God to do. Never be surprised when He does it.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

What is your priority in life?  Today we will see the greatest priority of Mary’s. She chose Jesus. When life becomes a burden, choose Jesus. When life collapses, choose Jesus. When all is well, choose Jesus. In every situation in life, whether good or bad, choose Jesus.

Mary’s portion!

(George Everard, “The Home of Bethany” 1873)

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

“Only one thing is needed.” Not many things, but one. Not the provision for the table, the food that perishes–but the Bread of Life; for “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Dear reader, one thing is needful for you . . .
the wedding garment to cover you,
the pearl of great price to enrich you,
the water of life to refresh you,
the balm of Gilead to heal you,
the Rock of Ages to shelter you,
the Everlasting arms to uphold you,
the wing of your Redeemer to cover you.

Yes, “one thing is needed;” in a word, Christ! His love, His presence, His grace, His image, His glory! With this, you are rich and happy through eternal ages!

And this was Mary’s portion. This was her rich inheritance. This was the good part which she had chosen, and which would never be taken from her. Her choice was without wavering or hesitation. She could say in truth, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. I have one desire, one aim, one deep longing–to know You, to love You, to cleave to You more and more.”

What is your portion? Choose Jesus!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today’s devotional will help us to remember what the Christian life is about. If we fail to remember these things, act upon them, and be obedient to the Scriptural principles, we will fail to be successful in our walk with Christ.

The Christian should remember that every day he lives

(Hannah More, “Self-Examination”)

The Christian should remember that every day he lives, he has . . .
a God to glorify,
a soul to save,
repentance to perform,
a Savior to believe and imitate,
a body to mortify through the Spirit,
graces and virtues to nurture by earnest prayer,
sins to weep over and forsake,
mercies and deliverances to be thankful for,
a Hell to avoid,
a Paradise to gain,
an eternity to meditate upon,
time to redeem,
a neighbor to edify,
works of charity to perform,
a world to fear, and yet to conquer,
demons to combat,
passions to subdue, and
perhaps, death to suffer, and judgment to undergo!
And all these must be met and performed in the grace of Christ, and not in your own strength, which is perfect weakness.

“Hold me up, and I shall be safe!” Psalm 119:117 

Please read this devotional during a time of quietness and prayer. Pray through each area. Allow God to speak to you.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Welcome to 2016. We enter into a new year of unknowns. We will encounter new experiences, new people, and a new way we must travel. Today’s devotional will explain who can lead us on our way.

Lord, how can we know the way?

(J.R. Miller, “Evening Thoughts” 1907)

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way” John 14:5-6

This is the first day of a new year. We are setting out on a journey of which we can have no knowledge in advance. The road is one on which we never have gone hitherto. We know not what any day will have for us . . .
  what our duties will be,
what burdens shall be laid upon us,
what sorrows we shall have to endure,
what battles we shall have to fight.

“You have never traveled this way before.” Joshua 3:4. We cannot see one step before us! How can we know the way?

As we sit in the quiet, this first evening, and ask the question, we hear an answer which is full of comfort. Jesus says to us, “I am the way!”

All we shall have to do, therefore, will be to follow Jesus. He has made a way through this dark world for us. He has gone over all the journey and opened a road for us at great cost. He went over the way Himself–we shall find His shoe-prints at every step. 

He has a definite way for each one of us. Every mile of the journey He has chosen–and every place where I pitch my tent He has selected for me!

“Leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps!” 1 Peter 2:21

That is a good challenge for us in 2016.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We have completed another year. For some it has been a wonderful prosperous year. For others it has been wrought with trials, tribulations, and heartache. Whichever circumstance we find ourselves in, this year is over. We cannot change the past, but must look forward to the future.

Paul was being harassed by the Judaizers and made this statement in Philippians 3:8-15, “⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. ¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

Paul was not going to live in the past, but was going to “…press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” That should be our goal in 2016.

We should determine to move forward for Jesus Christ. Bible reading and study is a good start. If you have never read the entire Bible, challenge yourself to read it this year. Prioritize church attendance.  Get involved in ministries in your church. Tell someone that you are a Christian and how that happened. If God is calling you to full time ministry, step out in faith.

Then watch God work in your life. It will be SO exciting!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Last week I was asked to visit a man who dying in the hospital. He had no family in this area. His daughter came in from Colorado to be with him. I was unable to speak with the gentleman because he was asleep. The daughter was joyful. Why? She trusted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at the age of 7. For the next 45 years she prayed for the salvation of her father. That prayer was answered the day before.

The Bible tells us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Paul admonishes us to “…Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:18)

This man will never be baptized, witness to others, enjoy the sweet fellowship with believers in Christ, read the Holy Scriptures, or view God’s creative works. This man, by trusting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, will soon pass from this world of pain, sorrow, corruption, deceit, worldly sin and will enter heaven and be greeted by His Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. No more sin, pain, sorrow, temptations, but holiness, perfection, beauty, love, and being in the presence of God. All this happened in a moment.

There are 2 things we need to learn from this.

First, persevere in prayer. Never quit praying for the salvation of loved ones. God hears every prayer that a believer prays. He may grant our request, deny our request, or tell us to wait, but continue to pray. This daughter fervently prayed for 45 years. God answered her prayer.

Second, we need to understand salvation is immediate. When someone trusts Christ as their Lord and Savior, they are saved. Certainly, it is our desire for them to be baptized, read and learn the Bible, to obey it, and ultimately to tell others about the Good News of Jesus Christ. This gentleman is saved and will soon be with his Lord Jesus in heaven.

That is cause for great rejoicing. That is why the daughter could rejoice and find encouragement in this time of grief and sadness.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The New Year will bring challenges, heartaches, encouragement, and blessings. God’s word, The Bible, is the source book for what will befall us in 2016. We need to read it, obey it, teach it, and proclaim it. Today’s devotional will encourage us to do that. The Bible states in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Search the Scriptures!

(George Everard, “A Talk about the Family Bible” 1878)

The word Bible signifies Book; and when we call it the Bible, we mean that it is the Book of books–the best Book, the wisest Book, the Book that will do us the most good of any in the world!

If all the other books in the world were destroyed, however great and irreparable the loss–if men still had the Bible, they would be far better off than if this were destroyed and all other books remained.

It is the Book that alone can tell . . .
how sin can be forgiven,
how temptation can be overcome,
how trouble and sorrow can be met,
how tears can be wiped away, and
how death can be the gate of everlasting life.

It is indeed the best companion . . .
for days of trial,
for the day of sickness, and
for the hour when we must part from all below!

Oh what a treasure is a well-read Bible! It is . . .
a mine of gold,
a hive full of honey,
a field covered with a rich harvest.
It is a tree of life, of which every twig bears precious fruit.
It is an ocean full of pearls.
It is a river full of the purest water of life.
It is a sun whose beams warm and cheer the heart.
It is a bright star that can guide the pilgrim through the darkest night.
It is a granary stored with the finest of the wheat.
It is a medicine-chest, from which we may find a remedy for every malady of the soul.
It is a Mount Pisgah, from which we can view the promised land of Canaan.
All this and much more, is the Bible to those who love to search it and explore the depths of heavenly wisdom which it contains.

Dear reader, whatever you forget, never, never forget to read something out of this precious Book day by day.

The Scriptures warn against . . .
  the fear of man,
the allurements of worldly pleasures,
the snare of pride, and
the temptation of doubt and unbelief.

Search the Scriptures! Whatever you have done hitherto, begin now to search them daily as for hidden treasures!
Go deep into this precious mine.
Ponder what you read.
Compare one part with another.
Compare the commands and precepts with your own daily life.
Bring its promises to bear on your heart and temptations.

When we read the Scriptures, we should pay good heed to it. There are depths and heights in many of the simplest verses that we can never reach. Therefore we ought to turn them over again and again in our minds. We must mark, learn, and inwardly digest them. A few verses or even a single verse well thought over, and still better, well prayed over–will bring more profit and help than many chapters listlessly or carelessly read!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001