Good morning,

Romans 8 takes us from the cradle to the grave. It begins declaring “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,”, salvation and ends declaring “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”, everlasting life. In-between Paul addresses the battle between the Spirit and the flesh, promises to the believer, the Holy Spirit’s ministry, and the four things God has done for us.

Romans 8:1-13 tell us about our new life in Christ.

1. No Condemnation to those in Christ Jesus (8:1-4)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2. Spirit-led or Carnally minded (8:5-13)

⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Jesus’ payment for our sin debt “…hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”  Our salvation was purchased by Jesus blood on the cross and His resurrection from the grave.

However, we must then make a choice whom to follow, the flesh or the Spirit of God. The flesh does not please God and results in death. The Spirit filled life results in life and peace.

What should our choice be?

Tomorrow we will look at promises God declares to us.

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

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

Jesus ministry (40-51)

⁴⁰ One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.⁴¹ He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.⁴³ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.⁴⁴ Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.⁴⁵ Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.⁴⁶ And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!⁴⁸ Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.⁵¹ And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

CONCLUSION

Jesus is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, the Rabbi

People got excited when they saw Jesus. Many recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. They brought their friends to Jesus. This section records how Andrew brought Peter, Jesus brought Philip, who brought Nathanael.

This is how others hear about Jesus, when we tell them. As we learned yesterday, believers in Christ, are God’s witnesses for Him on earth. When unbelievers hear the good news of Jesus and accept Him as personal Lord and Savior, they then begin to follow Jesus. They tell others and more people come to the Savior.

Are we doing our part? Do we tell others about how Jesus saved us from the slave market of sin?

We need to be willing and allow God to do the rest!

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

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

Jesus ministry (35-39)

³⁵ Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;³⁶ And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!³⁷ And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.³⁸ Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?³⁹ He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God. This phrase is prophetic because this would be the passover sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.

How does our world recognize Jesus, the Lamb of God? They see Him in our church’s, our ministers, and our evangelistic meetings. However, the most visible ways of recognizing Jesus are in His disciples. That would be those who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior. Unfortunately, many of those believers show no outward signs of a relationship with Christ. Worse than that is the person who says they are a believer, but lives like the world. They openly disobey God’s word.

What does the world see in us? A believer with a commitment to Christ or one who is not recognizable?

Live for Jesus!

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

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

The Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, the Rabbi

John 1:1-51

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (1:14)

The Word (1-5)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² The same was in the beginning with God.³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John the Baptist (6-8)

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

The True Light (9-14)

⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not.¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John’s witness (15-34)

¹⁵ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.¹⁶ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.¹⁸ No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.¹⁹ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?²⁰ And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. ²¹ And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.²² Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?²³ He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.²⁴ And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.²⁵ And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?²⁶ John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; ²⁷ He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.²⁸ These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.³⁰ This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.³¹ And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.³² And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.³³ And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.³⁴ And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Jesus ministry (35-51)

³⁵ Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;³⁶ And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!³⁷ And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.³⁸ Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?³⁹ He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.⁴⁰ One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.⁴¹ He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.⁴³ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.⁴⁴ Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.⁴⁵ Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.⁴⁶ And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!⁴⁸ Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.⁵¹ And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

CONCLUSION

Jesus is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, the Rabbi

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

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

John’s witness (15-34)

¹⁵ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.¹⁶ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.¹⁸ No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.¹⁹ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?²⁰ And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. ²¹ And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.²² Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?²³ He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.²⁴ And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.²⁵ And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?²⁶ John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; ²⁷ He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.²⁸ These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.³⁰ This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.³¹ And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.³² And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.³³ And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.³⁴ And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

John the Baptist gives an eyewitness account of his ministry and the person of Jesus Christ. He heralded the coming of Jesus. He made it very clear that he was not the coming one, the Messiah of Israel. He pointed to Jesus.

When we minister for Christ, where does the honor go? Are we looking for the praise of men or giving all the glory to God? Remember, nothing we do is possible without the power of God.

Give all the glory to God!

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

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

The Word (1-5)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² The same was in the beginning with God.³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John the Baptist (6-8)

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

The True Light (9-14)

⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not.¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The word of God is eternally true. Why? Because Jesus Christ is the Word. Every recorded word found in the Scriptures came from Jesus.

Jesus created all things. This refutes the theory of evolution.  Jesus created all things during the six days of creation found in Genesis 1.

Jesus is the Light of the world. He brought light to those who walked in darkness. This Light pointed the lost to the Savior. Some believed the message of Salvation but many rejected His offer of a new life.

God allowed His son, Jesus, to dwell among men. So they could hear the message of salvation straight from God. So that they could hear His preaching, see Him work miracles, and ultimately to see Him die for the payment for their sins. The righteous dying for the unrighteous.

This should challenge us to live for Jesus. In Jesus we are overcomers. God has given us His word, instructions, and protection. All we must do is execute God’s plan.

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

Good morning,

Someday, very soon, we shall see our Savior Jesus Christ face to face.

We are longing for this and we will never grow tired of seeing Him.

Let this devotion be an encouragement to you.

They will never be weary of gazing on His lovely face!

(Archibald Alexander, “Love to an Unseen Savior!” 1772-1851)

“Whom having not seen, you love!” 1 Peter 1:8

If we here love the Savior whom we have never seen, and whom we can only approach by faith–then how strong will our love be when we shall see Him face to face, and find ourselves not only in His actual presence, but forever enclosed in His loving embrace!

Here our love to the Savior is feeble, on account of the dimness of our faith, and often interrupted by dark clouds and earthly affections which draw us away from the contemplation of the matchless character of our Redeemer. But in Heaven there will be no interposing obstacles to veil His glory, or counteracting affections to enfeeble or interrupt our perfect love for Him.

Happy, happy condition of those who love a Savior whom they never saw–when they shall see Him as He is, and be like Him. They will never be weary of gazing on His lovely face! They will never cease to give Him thanks and praise for His unparalleled, unspeakable love, to which they will forever acknowledge their indebtedness for salvation!

“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be.
 We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is!” 1 John 3:2
   ~  ~  ~  ~
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Church attendance, baptism, or membership does not save anyone. Yet our churches are filled with people that “suppose” they are a Christian. They are not.

Their lifestyles, associations, and speech make it clear they do not have a relationship with Christ.

Our devotion today deals with their attitude toward sin.

One is saved by repenting of their sins, by faith accepting Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and allowing God to have complete control of their life. (John 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9 John 1:12, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

I belong to the church; I suppose I am a Christian

(J.C. Ryle, “Are You Born Again?“)

Are you born again? This is one of life’s most important questions. Jesus Christ said, “Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God!” John 3:3

It is not enough to reply, “I belong to the church; I suppose I am a Christian.” Thousands of nominal Christians show none of the signs of being born again which the Scriptures have given us in the First Epistle of John.

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin” 1 John 3:9

“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin” 1 John 5:18

A person who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. He no longer sins with his heart and will and whole inclination. There was probably a time when he did not think about whether his actions were sinful or not, and he did not always feel grieved after doing evil. There was no quarrel between him and sin; they were friends. But the true Christian . . .
  hates sin,
  flees from sin,
  fights against sin,
  considers sin his greatest plague,
  resents the burden of sin’s presence,
  mourns when he falls under sin’s influence,
  and longs to be completely delivered from sin.

Sin no longer pleases him, nor is it even a matter of indifference to him; it has become the horrible thing which he hates. However, he cannot eliminate its presence within him.

If he said that he had no sin, he would be lying, 1 John 1:8. But he can say that he hates sin, and that the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts from entering his mind, or shortcomings, omissions, and defects from appearing in both his words and his actions. He knows that “we all stumble in many ways,” James 3:2. But he can truly say in the sight of God, that these things cause him grief and sorrow, and that his whole nature does not consent to them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

“No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous.” 1 John 3:6-7
   ~  ~  ~  ~

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

Good morning,

What do we give to God? Is it our very best? Or is it what we don’t want anymore?

Todays devotional will challenge our thinking.

The very first, the very best, the most sacred, is the Lord’s.

The object in putting these verses in the Bible

(J.R. Miller, “Devotional Hours with the Bible”)  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

Malachi 1:
The LORD Almighty says to the priests: “You have despised My name!”
    But you ask, “How have we ever despised Your name?”
“You have despised My name by offering defiled sacrifices on My altar!”
    Then you ask, “How have we defiled the sacrifices?”
“When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong?
 When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong?” says the LORD Almighty.

The Jewish law required that every sacrifice offered unto God must be without blemish. No lame, blind, or diseased animal would be accepted. It was an insult to God to bring to His altar anything that was maimed, blemished or worthless. Yet the people had been taking the best of everything for themselves, and then bringing the refuse–the blind and lame animals, as offerings to God!

Well, how is it with ourselves? The object in putting these verses in the Bible, was not to get us to condemn the people who lived twenty-three hundred years ago! It was to make us think whether WE are doing this base thing ourselves!

Do we give God the best of all we have–our best love, our best gifts, our best service?
Or do we take the best of all for ourselves, and then give God the blind and the lame?

How many people in the church, when the collection plate is being passed, pick out the smallest bit of money to put in the plate! We give our strength to our own work or leisure, and then have only our weariness to bring to God. We save our best things for ourselves, and then have only worthless things to offer our wondrous King! What kind of service are we giving to our glorious Lord?

The Lord’s answer to the arrogant defense of the priests is startling: “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not at all pleased with you, and I will not accept your offerings!”

What do WE bring to God . . .
  when we go through the forms of prayer,
  when we sing the sacred words of our hymn,
  when we give our offerings,
  when we sit down at the Lord’s table?
If there is only words, words, words in all our worship–no heart, no love, no real presenting of ourselves to God, no laying of our best on the altar–then God has no pleasure in us and will not accept our offerings at our hand!

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep US from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” 1 Corinthians 10:6

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Something to ponder
Thomas Watson, 1620-1686: “There is more evil in a drop of sin, than in a sea of affliction!”

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

Good morning,

The greatest book ever written is the Bible. It is the very word of God, telling us how to live life. It explains what God wants us to and what not to do.

So, as believers in Christ, what value do we give to the Bible?

Today’s devotion will help us to answer that question.

Do we love the Word?

(Thomas Watson, 1620-1686, “The Godly Man’s Picture Drawn with a Scripture Pencil“)

A godly man is a lover of the Word of God. Christ is the fountain of living water, the Word is the golden pipe through which it runs!

A godly man diligently reads the Word of God. The noble Bereans “searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11). Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures (Acts 18:24). The Word is the field where the Pearl of Great Price is hidden. How we should dig for this pearl! A godly man’s heart is the library to hold the Word of God; it dwells richly in him (Colossians 3:16). By diligent conversing with Scripture, we may carry a Bible in our heads!

A godly man frequently meditates on the Word of God. “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Psalm 119:97). A pious soul meditates on the truth and holiness of the Word. He not only has a few transient thoughts, but leaves his mind steeping in the Scripture. By meditation, he sucks honey from this sweet flower, and ruminates on holy truths in his mind.

A godly man delights in the Word of God. It is his recreation. “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jeremiah 15:16). Never did a man take such delight in a dish that he loved, as the prophet did in the Word. And indeed, how can a saint choose but take great pleasure in the Word? All of his eternal hopes are contained in it. Does not a son take pleasure in reading his father’s will and testament, in which he bequeaths his estate to him? “I delight in your commands because I love them! (Psalm 119:47)

A godly man hides the Word of God. “Your word have I hidden in my heart” (Psalm 119:11)–as one hides a treasure so that it should not be stolen. The Word is the jewel; the heart is the cabinet where it must be locked up. Many hide the Word in their memory–but not in their heart. And why would David enclose the Word in his heart? “That I might be kept from sinning against You.” As a man would carry an antidote about him when he comes near an infected place, so a godly man carries the Word in his heart as a spiritual antidote to preserve him from the infection of sin. Why have so many been poisoned with error, others with moral vice–but because they have not hidden the Word as a holy antidote in their heart!

Do we love the Word?
When we need direction, do we consult this sacred oracle?
When we find corruptions strong, do we make use of this “sword of the Spirit” to hew them down?
When we are disconsolate, do we go to this bottle of the water of life for comfort?
Then we are lovers of the Word!

“I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold!” (Psalm 119:127)

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Something to ponder
“Think of Christ as the very substance, marrow, soul, and scope of the whole Scriptures!” Isaac Ambrose, 1604-1664

   ~  ~  ~  ~

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