Good morning,

The best friend we could ever have is Jesus. Today we will read why. We can comfort ourselves in the fact that we have a friend who loves us, cares about us, has compassion on us, and will never forsake us.

This should encourage us and challenge us to walk closer to Him.

How is your Beloved better than others?

(Edward Payson, 1783-1827)

“How is your Beloved better than others?” Song of Songs 5:9

Does not our Friend as far excel all other friends . . .

as Heaven exceeds earth,

as eternity exceeds time,

as the Creator surpasses His creatures?

See all the fullness of the Godhead–dwelling in One who is as meek and mild as a child.

See His countenance beaming with ineffable glories–full of mingled majesty, condescension and love.

Hear the soul-reviving invitations and gracious words which proceed from His lips.

See that hand in which dwells everlasting strength–swaying the scepter of universal empire over all creatures and all worlds.

See His arms expanded to receive and embrace returning sinners.

While His heart, a bottomless, shoreless ocean of benevolence–overflows with tenderness, compassion, and love.

Such, O sinner, is our Beloved–and such is our Friend.

Will you not then embrace Him as your Friend? If you can be persuaded to do this–you will find that half, nay, that the thousandth part has not been told to you!

All the excellency, glory and beauty which is found in men or angels, flows from Christ–as a drop of water from the ocean, or a ray of light from the sun.

If, then, you supremely love the creature–can you wonder that Christians should love the Creator! Can you wonder that those who behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, should be sweetly drawn to Him by the cords of love, and lose their fondness for created glories? All that you love and admire and wish for in creatures, and indeed infinitely more–they find in Him!

Do you wish for a friend possessed of power to protect you?

Our Friend possesses all power in Heaven and earth, and is able to save even to the uttermost!

Do you wish for a wise friend?

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Do you wish for a tender, compassionate friend?

Christ is tenderness and compassion itself.

Do you wish for a faithful, unchangeable friend?

With Christ, there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

His unchangeable love will ever prompt Him to make His people happy!

His unerring wisdom will point out the best means to promote their happiness!

His infinite power will enable Him to employ those means.

In all these respects, our Beloved is more than any other beloved!

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Here is a devotional to challenge our thinking.

Did it ever occur to you that when we complain and grumble, we are doing what Israel did in the dessert? God was not pleased with their conduct then and is not pleased with our conduct today.

Sometimes we forget the God that we serve. He knows exactly what we are going through. He knows why we are going through it. He also knows how it will end.

Do we have the faith to trust God’s plan for us?

When I grumble about the weather!

(J.R. Miller, “Miller’s Year Book–a Year’s Daily Readings”)

“The Lord has heard all your grumblings against Him!” Exodus 16:8

Does God really hear every discontented word which I ever speak?

Does He hear when I grumble about the weather . . .
  about the hard winter,
about the late spring,
about the dry summer,
about the wet harvest?

Does He hear when I grumble . . .
about the frosts,
about the drought,
about the high winds,
about the storms?

Does He hear when I grumble . . .
about my circumstances,
about the hardness of my lot,
about my losses and disappointments?

If we could get into our heart, and keep there continually, the consciousness that God hears every word we speak–would we murmur and complain so much as we now do?

We are careful never to speak words which would give pain to the hearts of those we love. Are we as careful not to say anything that will grieve our heavenly Father?

“I tell you this–that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak!” Matthew 12:36

“He who complains of the weather–complains of the God who ordains the weather!” William Law
~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

How do you start your day? For most of us it is structured and fast paced. This is a good devotion to start our week. If nothing else it gives us something to think about.

A quiet hour spent alone with God at the beginning of the day

(Thoughts for the Quiet Hour)

“In the morning the Word of the Lord came to me” Ezekiel 12:8

A quiet hour spent alone with God at the beginning of the day, is the best beginning for the toils and cares of the day. A brief season of prayer, looking to God for wisdom and grace and strength, and seeking the assistance of the Holy Spirit–helps us to carry our religion into all of the events of the day. It brings joy and peace within the heart.

And as we place all our concerns in the care and keeping of the Lord, faithfully striving to do His will–we have a joyful trust that however dark or discouraging events may appear–our Father’s hand is guiding everything, and will give the wisest direction to all our toils.

“In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.”  Psalm 5:3

“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.  Show me the way I should go,  for to You I lift up my soul.”  Psalm 143:8

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This devotional will give you hope. No matter what your situation in life is today, this teaching will encourage and challenge us. We must never forget who is in charge.

This unravels the mystery!

(Octavius Winslow, “Christ, the Counselor”)

The path of providence is often paved with difficulties and beset with perplexities with which we can hardly cope.

Our way to Heaven is through an intricate wilderness, and across a circuitous desert.

To many even of the Lord’s people, this is literally the case. Visit their abodes, and ponder the struggle passing within. All is . . .
poverty and discomfort,
penury of bread,
scantiness of clothing,
pining sickness,
loathsome disease,
excruciating suffering,
with no human friends, no soothing alleviation, no earthly comforts.

And yet this dark picture is not entirely unrelieved.

Christ dwells in that obscure abode! God’s eye is watching over it! There is . . .
gnawing poverty–and yet boundless wealth;
deep need–and yet a rich supply;
acute suffering–and yet exquisite pleasure;
keen sorrow–and yet unspeakable joy!

And why these paradoxes? How are we to understand these strange contradictions?

The apostle gives us a clue in a page of his own history.
“As unknown–and yet well known;
as dying–and behold, we live;
as chastened–and not killed;
as sorrowful–yet always rejoicing;
as poor–yet making many rich;
as having nothing–yet possessing all things!”

This unravels the mystery!

The possession of Christ explains it! He who has Christ in him, and Christ with him, and the hope of being forever with Christ in glory–is not a poor, nor a sorrowful, nor a suffering, nor a lonely man. He can say, “I am not alone, for my Father is with me! I am not poor, for all things are mine! My body is diseased–but my soul is in health! I have all and abound!”

Can we for a moment doubt His perfect power . . .
to undertake all the cares,
to cope with all the difficulties,
to solve all the doubts, and
to disentangle all the perplexities brought to Him by His saints in all places and at all times!

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name–you are Mine! When you go through deep waters and great trouble–I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty–you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression–you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!” Isaiah 43:1-3

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The Book of 1 John is a very practical book. This week we will learn to try the spirits and many aspects of love.

God is love. What should our response be? John explains in verses 16-21.

The Christian’s response to God and His love (4:16)

¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

The perfecting of love, both now and in eternity (4:17-18)

¹⁷ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

The reason for our love to Jesus (4:19)

¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us.

The commandment to love (4:20-21)

²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?²¹ And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

How does God tell us to try the spirits?

Who is the source of love? Why?

How did God model His love for us?

What does He command us to do?

How does the unity of the Trinity work?

What should I response be to God’s love?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

The Book of 1 John is a very practical book. This week we will learn to try the spirits and many aspects of love.

God is love. What does that mean? John explains in verses 7-15.

God is the source of all love (4:7-8)

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

God models what genuine love is (4:9-10)

⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  ¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God commands us to love one another (4:11-12)

¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.¹² No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Assurance of the work of the Triune God in us (4:13-15)

¹³ Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.¹⁵ Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

John tells us who is love, gives us the true example of love, tells us God commands us to love, and then tells how we can be assured that we dwell in Him and He in us.

Listening to the news, reading your newspaper, or meeting people on the street, you quickly see that we lack love. People are angry, hateful, and mean to each other. The antidote to this is LOVE!

We must follow God’s command to love one another.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The Book of 1 John is a very practical book. This week we will learn to try the spirits and many aspects of love.

God reveals the secret of being able to discern between the Spirit of God and the spirit of the antichrist. This will help us to separate truth from error. We are over-comers in Christ.

Try the spirits (4:1-6)

 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ⁴ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.⁵ They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.⁶ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

The result of this passage is that we can boldly go and tell people about Jesus. Why? Jesus Christ lives in us. We know truth from evil and have overcome the wicked one. We have the message of salvation. What Jesus did for us He can do for others.

Go tell someone about Jesus.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

First John 3 explains the Father’s love for us, why we should abide in Christ, what it means to love our brother, and the heart.

We explore the areas of love, abiding, and obedience. It is God’s desire that His word be practical for our everyday living.

This completes our study of 1 John 3.

Today we will look at the heart.

The heart (3:19-24)

¹⁹ And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.²⁰ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.²¹ Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.²² And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.²³ And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. ²⁴ And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Are our hearts right with God? Do we keep His commandments? Our we obedient believers?

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Why are we called the Sons of God?

What does it mean to abide? What must we do to show we are abiding?

What are some manifestations of love?

Wat doe the heart do? What does God tell us to do?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

First John 3 explains the Father’s love for us, why we should abide in Christ, what it means to love our brother, and the heart.

We explore the areas of love, abiding, and obedience. It is God’s desire that His word be practical for our everyday living.

Today we will look at loving one another.

Love one another (3:11-18)

¹¹ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.¹² Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.¹³ Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.¹⁵ Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.¹⁶ Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.¹⁷ But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? ¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

It is God’s command for us to love one another. It proves that we love God, keep His commandments, and have compassion for others. We are to share with others. Share our worldly goods, money, talents, time, and friendship. Verse 18 makes it plain that love needs to be in deed and in truth.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

First John 3 explains the Father’s love for us, why we should abide in Christ, what it means to love our brother, and the heart.

We explore the areas of love, abiding, and obedience. It is God’s desire that His word be practical for our everyday living.

Today we will look at abiding in Christ.

Abide in Christ (3:6-10)

⁶ Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.⁷ Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.⁸ He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.⁹ Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.¹⁰ In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Why is it so important that we abide in Christ? The answer is found in John 15:3-5. “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Our total being is wrapped up in what Jesus did at Calvary. He paid our sin debt with His blood, He was buried, and 3 days later He rose from the dead.

That means that the power to live the Christian life is totally in Him. When we abide in Christ, read His word, and study the Bible we will know how to live life successfully. Will we sin? YES! But we choose to do it. We know what is right and we know what is wrong. The closer we stay to Jesus, the less we will sin.

Choose to abide in Christ!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001