Good morning,

Did you know our world is perishing? Ever since sin entered the world, it has been going downhill. What God created as “very good”, is now corrupt.

So why is it that we Christians cling so closely to the things of this world? Would we rather live here than in Heaven? Heaven is perfect. No sin, corruption, or decay. It will be perfect for all eternity.

That sounds better than this present world. Come quickly Lord Jesus!

We find that they are empty bubbles!

(J.C. Ryle)

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world!” 1 John 2:15-16

The possession of the whole world and all that it contains, will never make a person happy. Its pleasures are false and deceptive! Its riches, rank, and honors, have no power to satisfy the heart! So long as we have not got them–they glitter, sparkle, and seem desirable. The moment we have them–we find that they are empty bubbles, and cannot make us feel content!

And, worst of all, when we possess this world’s good things to the utmost bound of our desire–we cannot keep them! Death comes in and separates us from all our property forever! Naked we came upon earth, and naked we go forth–and of all our possessions, we can carry nothing with us.

Such is the world, which occupies the whole attention of thousands!

Such is the world, for the sake of which millions are every year destroying their souls!

“This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave!” 1 John 2:17
~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today’s devotion was written in 1872. However, it is as relevant today as it was then.

Idol worship comes in many forms. If anything becomes more important to you than God, it is an idol. God abhors all forms of idol worship.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols!

(“Every Day!” Author unknown, 1872)

“You shall have no other gods before Me!“ Exodus 20:3

Though there is no danger of our bowing down to graven images–to gods that have eyes and see not, ears and hear not–none are exempt from the danger of being idolaters in spirit. There are gods many and lords many, in lands of Bibles and gospel privileges–as truly as in heathen countries!

Wealth, honor, sports and pleasure–are the idols of multitudes.
Gold is as truly worshiped–as Baal once was!
Self is as really the idol of many now–as Diana of the Ephesians was anciently.

Then, too, there are “household gods“–idols in family life. Affection in the various relationships we sustain, which is proper and lovely in a right degree–too often becomes idolatrous.

Christians have need to be warned against idolatry, as well as others. The exhortation, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols!” was addressed to believers.

Remember, my soul, that whatever may lead your highest affection and supreme devotion away from God your Savior–would be to you an idol!

Help me, O Lord, to watch and pray against the sin of idolatry in all its forms. Show me more of Your glory and Your grace–and ever hold the highest place in my heart!

“The dearest idol I have known,
Whatever that idol be,
Help me to tear it from Your throne,
And worship only Thee!”
~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Why do we love Jesus? This question will be answered in today’s devotion. As you read, think about all Christ has done for you. Then prayerfully think about the answer to the question, “Do you love me?”

All this I have done for you–do you love Me?

(“Every Day!” Author unknown, 1872)

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

“Do you love Me?” John 21:17

Does not Jesus in thus appealing to me, in effect say: 

“For you, I left the realms of glory, and the adoration of ten thousand times ten thousand holy ones!

For you, I became incarnate, took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

For you, I obeyed the law, and wrought a perfect righteousness for your justification.

For you, I endured the cross, and despised the shame.

For you, I gave My back to the smiters, and My cheeks to those who plucked off the hair.

For you, I endured the crown of thorns, and gave My hands and My feet to be nailed to the tree.

For you, I shed My blood, and laid down My life!

I loved you with a love of pity and compassion–when you were dead in trespasses and sins!

I opened your eyes, revealed to you your sinfulness and guilt, and awakened your cry for mercy.

I sought you in your wanderings–and found you!

I brought you up out of the horrible pit, and miry clay–and set your feet upon the rock.

I have loved you with an everlasting love–and therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you!

All this I have done for you–do you love Me?”

“We love Him, because He first loved us!” 1 John 4:19

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Chapters 2 and 3 of Galatians, Paul teaches on justification by faith. He has made his case for his apostleship and now gets down to the reason for writing this letter.

Galatians 2:15-3:29

Justification by Faith

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (2:16)

Introduction

All people must be justified by faith in Christ (2:15-18)

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.¹⁷ But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.¹⁸ For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Counted dead to the law (2:19—21)

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.²¹ I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The Holy Spirit comes by faith (3:1-5)

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?² This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?³ Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?⁴ Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.⁵ He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Abraham’s spiritual children (3:6-9)

 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.⁷ Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.⁸ And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.⁹ So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

One under the law is accursed (3:10-12)

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.¹¹ But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.¹² And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Christ redeemed us from the law curse (3:13-18)

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:¹⁴ That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.¹⁵ Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.¹⁸ For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

The law a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ as condemned sinners (3:19-24)

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.²⁰ 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.²² But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.²³ But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

All believers are children of God (3:25-29)

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.²⁶ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.²⁷ For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.²⁹ And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

We need internal illumination!

(Archibald Alexander, 1772-1851)

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)

A genuine Christian is not only taught out of the Word, but by the Holy Spirit. External teaching, however correct, is not sufficient. We need internal illumination by the Spirit. Not that this divine Instructor teaches anything different from the Word. No! He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto us. He is the Spirit of truth and will guide the disciples into all truth.

What are some of the lessons which the Spirit teaches? 

1. The Spirit teaches us the worth of the soul.

2. The Spirit teaches us the value of time.

3. The Spirit teaches us to venerate the holy Scriptures as the infallible rule to guide our faith and practice.

4. The Spirit teaches us of our ruined and condemned state. He gives the soul a glimpse of indwelling sin–by which it is convinced of its total depravity. Oh, what a multitude of evils! What a fountain of impurity! What a mass of corruption! The heart is found to be deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. There is found nothing in it truly good.

5. The Spirit teaches us to prize Christ above all. “To you who believe–He is precious.” The disciple treasures Jesus as . . .
his infallible Prophet,
his sovereign King,
his sin-atoning Priest.

6. The Spirit teaches us to roll all our burdens on the Lord, and to live outside of ourselves–by daily desiring vital supplies from Christ.

7. The Spirit teaches us the beauty of holiness.

8. The Spirit teaches us the reality and sweetness of communion with God. While many are contented to worship in the outward court–the Christian desires to penetrate into the holy of holies, where he can hear the words, and see the resplendent face of Immanuel.
~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Israel are God’s chosen people. They were blessed by God, given His promises, covenants, and leadership. This was a picture for what was to come.

The fulfillment came in the person of Jesus Christ. God’s perfect lamb, who paid the penalty for man’s sin, once for all.

Read today’s devotion with this in mind.

Surely God is good to Israel–to those who are pure in heart!

(“Every Day!” Author unknown, 1872)

“Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD!” Deuteronomy 33:29

Were God’s ancient people distinguished among all nations for their privileges and blessings? Then much more happy are God’s spiritual Israel. They are redeemed from a viler slavery than that of Egypt, and with a more glorious manifestation of power and grace.

Believers now have not the tabernacle in the wilderness, nor the temple at Jerusalem–but they have all the precious realities typified by them. They are not mere outer-court worshipers, but have access to the Holy of holies through the blood of the Lamb.

They are not fed with the manna of the desert, but with “the True Bread of Heaven.”

They do not drink of the waters of the rock of Horeb, but of the river of life flowing from the Rock, Christ Jesus.

They do not have in prospect an earthly Canaan, but a heavenly city, whose builder and Maker is God.

They do not have a temporal inheritance–but an incorruptible, undefiled and unfading inheritance!

Israel of old had the shadows, Christians now have the substance.

“Surely God is good to Israel–to those who are pure in heart!” Psalm 73:1
~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

A universal truth is that all have sinned.

What does sin mean to us?

Today’s devotional will help define sin for us.

A cheat, a deceiver, and a destroyer!

(C.D. Cole)

Sin is an obvious fact of experience, of observation, and of Scripture revelation.

I feel it in my own heart–and I see in others, even in my best friends and loved ones.

The policeman pursues it,
the physician prescribes for it,
the law reveals it,
conscience condemns it,
God surely punishes it,
and yet nobody likes to own it!

As a matter of fact–sin is all that anyone really owns; he is merely a steward of everything else he may possess. As obvious as sin is, there is a proneness to treat it like some folks treat their trashy relatives–it is ignored and even denied.

Sin may be defined–but it cannot be fully explained. How sin got started in the universe, is a profound mystery. It had no place in the original creation, which God pronounced good. Sin is a parasite, an interloper in the moral system, and a terrible monstrosity. Sin made its appearance on earth in a garden of delights–and then it turned this fair earth into a wilderness of woe! In the original creation we read only of Heaven and earth–but after sin entered, we are told of everlasting fire prepared for the Devil, his demons, and all the unrepentant.

Sin is a cheat, a deceiver, and a destroyer!

It promises pleasure–and pays off in pain!

It promises life–and pays off in death and damnation!

It promises profit–and pays off in poverty, and the loss of all good!

Every sin is committed for profit or pleasure. Nobody would sin if he did not think that it would profit in some form or other. There is some profit in sin–but it is short-lived.

Moses took a long look and made the wise choice. He chose to suffer affliction with the people of God–rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. He esteemed the reproach of Christ to be greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. He chose in view of the day of judgment.

Sin is dangerous beyond expression and description. Sin is violation of the moral law of God–and violated divine law cries out for just retribution. Sin is against God, the Judge of all the earth–and must be accounted for before God.

Human society may and often does punish crime–but only God can punish sin. At times, human society may fail to punish the criminal–but God will not fail to punish the sinner who is without a Savior.

All crime against men–is also sin against God.
But not all sin against God–is a crime against men.

Human society punishes men for what they do–but God also punishes men for what they are.

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

Tenderly and graciously does He deal with us!

(Francis Bourdillon, “A Psalm of Blessing!” 1864)

“For He knows how weak we are–He remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone–as though we had never been here! But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:14-17

The shortness and uncertainty of our lives–our weakness, frailty, and sinfulness–God knows them all. Tenderly and graciously does He deal with us! In His great mercy and compassion, He . . .
bears with us;
raises us when we fall;
strengthens us when we are weak; and
helps, guides, sustains and comforts us.

He has . . .
a perfect knowledge of our needs,
an unspeakable compassion for them,
and full power to supply them all.

His mercy is everlasting. It will never wear out–and never come to an end.

As for us, we are frail and short-lived. Let but a few years pass, and . . .
the strongest will have fallen to the scythe of death,
the longest-lived will have all passed away, and
our own course here below will have come to a close.
“Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone–as though we had never been here!”

Not so is the mercy of the Lord, and the things which He has prepared for those who love Him. They are from everlasting to everlasting. His promises will never fail. Jesus is . . .
an all-sufficient Savior,
an unfailing Advocate,
an everlasting portion!

Well may every believer join with the Psalmist in rejoicing and praising God,
“Praise the LORD, O my soul–all my inmost being, praise His holy name!
Praise the LORD, O my soul–and do not forget all His benefits!” Psalm 103:1-2

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will begin a study of the book of Galatians.

Attached is a synopsis of the book and lesson one.

Download (Galatians-synopsis.docx, DOCX, 51KB)

Download (Galatians-1.docx, DOCX, 15KB)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Carl Heinrich von Bogatzky was a hymn writer born in 1690. He ministered to orphans. He taught them about Jesus.

This is part of what he taught them.

Abiding in Christ!

(Carl Heinrich von Bogatzky, “A Golden Treasury for the Children of God” 1718)

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine–so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4

To abide in Christ, who is our righteousness and strength–is the very life and power of Christianity. We are in this happy state, when . . .
our thoughts are going out after Him,
our hearts are cleaving to Him, and
our minds are staying upon Him.
To abide in Him brings peace and joy, and strength to overcome sin and the world–which believers renounce the more readily, as they have found something better in Christ.

Abiding in Him, believers . . .
look to Christ for all,
go to Christ with all, and
depend on Christ through all.
Thus they abide in Jesus–and Jesus abides in them.

May the Lord give me grace, likewise, immovably to abide in Him. Then I shall . . .
conquer sin,
overcome the world,
and always triumph in Christ.
~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001