Good morning,

Although we sometimes forget, God is still in control of all things. Today’s devotional is a reminder. The Scripture references should challenge our thinking. God created us, nurtures us, sustains us, is patient with us, and ultimately brought us to the Savior for salvation. We are His children and He loves us. Consider these things as you read this devotion.

Father knows best!

(Charles Spurgeon)

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away–may the name of the LORD be praised!” Job 1:21

“Shall we accept good from God–and not trouble?” Job 2:10

Let the Lord do as He wills to us! He will never be unkind to us! He has always been our friend–He will never be our foe!

He will never put us into the furnace–unless He means to purge the dross out of us. Nor will there be one degree more heat in that furnace than is absolutely necessary–there will always be mercy to balance the misery–and strength supplied to support the burden to be borne.

Oh, children of God, your Father knows best! Leave everything in His hands and be at peace–for all is well.

“I was silent; I would not open my mouth–for You are the one who has done this!” Psalm 39:9

“He is the LORD; let him do what is good in His eyes!” 1 Samuel 3:18

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty–yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Wickedness thrives in every city. However, once Christianity is introduced to the city, it changes for the better. The moral landscape changes. Through the power of God, Christians tell their city about God’s love. Once the non-believers begin to experience for themselves the love of Christ, there is no turning back.

This is what began to happen in Ephesus. It can also happen where you live. Will you be the “…faithful in Christ…”?

This city was a moral cesspool, a sink of pollution, filled with all corruption, and reeking with vileness!

(Charles Naylor, “In Christ, and in Ephesus” 1920)

“To the saints in Ephesus–the faithful in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:1

Ephesus was one of the great centers of paganism. It was adorned with costly and magnificent heathen temples. It was rich and voluptuous. Both private and public life were utterly corrupt. Even the religious practices of the Ephesians were unspeakably vile. This city was a moral cesspool, a sink of pollution, filled with all corruption, and reeking with vileness! It was a second Sodom. Vice stalked abroad everywhere–and was honored and worshiped.

We might therefore well say, “Can any good thing come out of Ephesus? Can Christianity flourish in such surroundings?”

Yes! There were saints in Ephesus–and faithful ones, too. They were such in their lives and characters as to win the commendation of that great apostle to the Gentiles. Out of that obnoxious cesspool of iniquity, were growing the pure white lilies of Christian character! That is the glory of Christianity and of Christ. Those who were now Christians were not superior to the other Ephesians–they were not by nature different. In fact, Paul tells them that they had been the children of wrath, even as the others–and that they had been such by nature. What a triumph of divine grace, which raised these people up out of such unspeakable filth–and made them faithful saints! And yet that is the power of our great Christ!

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Sin is not our friend. It causes us to break our fellowship with God, our friends, and to do things we know are wrong. What is really strange is that we choose to sin. Satan tempts but we choose to sin.

The antidote to sin is repentance. This is also a choice. God has given us a precious promise if we do repent. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

No matter how badly we sin, if we choose to repent, God is still willing and able to use us in His service.

Read today’s devotional with this in mind.

The general cause of all suffering!

(James Buchanan, “Improvement of Affliction” 1840)

“In the day of prosperity be happy–but in the day of adversity CONSIDER: God has made the one as well as the other.” Ecclesiastes 7:14

In the day of adversity, you should consider the causes and occasions of suffering in general–and especially, inquire into the causes and occasions of your own affliction at the present time.

As to the general cause of all suffering—it is sin, and nothing else than sin. But for this accursed thing, there would be . . .
no affliction in the world,
no painful disease,
no abject poverty,
no hostile violence,
no death, and
no damnation.
All suffering proceeds from one general cause–namely, our inherent and actual sinfulness in the sight of God!

Sin is the root of all bitterness–and it is no wonder that its fruits are bitter. Rest assured, that God has not allowed so much suffering to prevail in the world from mere indifference to its welfare, or from any disposition to cruelty. No! “God is love”–and your happiness is dearer to Him than any other object–His own glory excepted.

All suffering is designed to mark His holy displeasure against sin, and to vindicate the honor of that Law which God, as the righteous moral Governor of the world, has prescribed for the regulation of our hearts and lives.

When viewed in this light, the sufferings which prevail to such a melancholy extent in the world–are fitted to deepen our conviction of the odious nature of sin. For when we reflect, on the one hand, on the infinite love of God, and His delight in the happiness of His creatures; and consider, on the other hand, how that, notwithstanding this love–God has permitted, nay, appointed so many evils to befall us–Oh! are we not sensible that sin, which is the cause of all suffering, must be, in His estimation, a most offensive and loathsome thing!

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Dana Clark is a missionary, teaching at William Carey Academy, in Bangladesh. Each week she writes a letter to her supporters. It is her life and thoughts. They are a challenge to me.

Dear Rope Holders,

Tuesday was a special national holiday here in Bangladesh, Mother Language Day.  The students were excited to wear their black and white clothing and perform traditional music and dance, as well as, recite some poetry to remember their heritage of bondage and freedom. Many feel that their language had been stolen from them by the hands of the oppressive Pakistani government, but earned back by the blood of the martyrs who fought for their independence.

Although my appreciation for the beautiful Bangla language is increasing, my knowledge of it is not increasing. There are days that I find this very frustrating, so I decided to celebrate the language of Our Father.  This language is also beautiful, and I am not only increasing in appreciation for it, but also in the knowledge of it. God has several ways of speaking to us, and one of His best communication tools is creation.  It can be understood by every nation, tribe and tongue. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands, Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.  Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4) “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) I am grateful that no one can take His language from me, yet as I learn more of this language and strive to share it with those here in Bangladesh, I am reminded that there are many false interpreters of this language.  Creation and His amazing voice that is heard in nature are constantly being explained away by natural processes and chance mutations.

Thank you for praying for us at William Carey Academy as we strive to share the knowledge and true interpretation of God’s language of love for those He created here in Bangladesh.

Grateful for the opportunity to share the Good News!

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

God’s love is always the same, endures forever, is everlasting, and never ends. In the good times or bad, God always loves us.

He cannot love you more–and He will not love you less!

(Charles Spurgeon)

“Having loved His own who were in the world–He loved them to the very end!” John 13:1

Christian, God’s love to you is always the same. He cannot love you more–and He will not love you less!

Never, when afflictions multiply, when terrors frighten you or when your distresses abound–does God’s love falter or flag. Let the rod fall ever so heavily upon you–the hand that moves, like the heart that prompts the stroke, is full of love! Judge not the Lord by feeble sense–but trust Him for His grace. Whether He brings you down into the depths of misery, or lifts you up into the seventh Heaven of delight–His faithful love never varies or fluctuates–it is everlasting in its continuity!

“His faithful love endures forever!” Psalm 136:1

“I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love!” Jeremiah 31:3

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends!” Lamentations 3:22

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Although this devotional is a little lengthy, I trust it will encourage you.

My portion!

(James Smith, “Gleams of Grace” 1860)

“You are my portion, O Lord!” Psalm 119:57

Many people are proud of their possessions, and boast of their wealth; yet their possessions are very limited, and their wealth has wings and may flee away at any time!

A Christian may not be proud–but he has great reason to be thankful.

He can look over the whole earth, and say, “My wealth exceeds all this!”

He can look up and gaze on the starry heavens and say, “My property exceeds this vast expanse!”

He may try to conceive of the greatness and glory of the created universe, and then say, “I claim more than all this!”

Looking up to the Author, Owner, and Disposer of all worlds–he can say, “You are my portion, O Lord!”

What a privilege! A portion–and such a portion.
God Himself in all His greatness, and in all His goodness.
God with all He is, and all He has–is my portion!

What kind of a portion is this? It is immense, for it comprehends all.

All the attributes of the Divine nature, are for us.
All the perfections of God’s character, are on our side.
All the productions of the divine power, are for our good.
Therefore the apostle says, “All things are yours!”
Nothing good is withheld from us!

What the father of the prodigal said to his eldest son–our heavenly Father says to every one of His children, “Son, you are ever with Me–and all that I have is yours!“

We may adopt similar language in speaking to our heavenly Father, to that used by the angel to Abraham, “By this I know that You love me, because You have not withheld Your Son, Your only Son from me!” And from this fact, we may draw the same conclusion as Paul did, “He who spared not His own Son–but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with Him also, freely give us all things!”

O beloved, God in all the glory of His nature and perfections, God with all His unsearchable riches–is our portion!

What kind of a portion is this? It is immutable. It remains forever. Others may lose their property, or it may become deteriorated and comparatively valueless–but our portion is forever the same!

Speaking of the finest, noblest, and most durable works of creation, the Psalmist says, “In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain the same; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be discarded. But You remain the same, and Your years will never end!” Psalm 102:25-27

Our portion can never be forfeited, or alienated, or reduced in value–because it is the unchangeable God Himself!

Blessed is the man that can say with Jeremiah, “The Lord is my portion, therefore will I hope in Him!”
Or with David, “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance!”

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!” Psalm 73:26

~  ~  ~  ~

In light of this, how should we act. Thankful would be a good starting point. Worshipful for the greatness of God. Awed that the God of creation, all knowledgeable, would give us, wicked, sinful, men and women a portion.

It might be good to take some time and reflect on this devotional. There is a lot to absorb.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Mary had a desire to know Jesus and His teachings. She sat at His feet and listened.

This challenges me to want to spend more time in God’s word, so I might get closer to Jesus. The closer we get to Jesus, the more like Him we become. We know how to conduct ourselves as believers.

Was there ever a better student in divine knowledge?

(George Everard, “At the Feet of Jesus!” 1884)

“Mary seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching.” Luke 10:39

Holy Scripture abounds in promises to the humble.
“He exalts the humble and meek.”
“He who humbles himself shall be exalted.”
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

To take the lowest place, to sit down in the lowest room–is the sure road to true peace on earth and a throne of glory hereafter. By this path our Master went before–and we must endeavor to walk in His footsteps.

For this purpose, let us keep close to the Savior. For all that we need, let us abide “at His feet.”

Let us look at the feet of Jesus, as the place for the LEARNER. And was there ever a better student in divine knowledge than Mary of Bethany? While her sister was hard at work, desiring to honor Christ by providing for His physical needs–Mary sat quiet and still, calmly drinking in the words of grace and wisdom and love that flowed from His lips. His words sank very deep. She was filled with faith and love and reverence and holy joy and strength of soul. She was prepared for days of sorrow that lay before her. She learned well the lesson of His love, which led her in future days to bring her box of ointment and anoint Him for His burial.

Like Mary, come to the footstool of Jesus. Be a willing pupil in His school. Ever hearken to the voice that speaks to us from God.

The written Word is to us, in place of the teachings of the Incarnate Word. And in the study of the Word, nourish a quietness and stillness of spirit as in the very presence of Jesus. Believe it, that Christ is as near to you, as to Mary as she sat at His feet. And in the consciousness of this–avoid all hurried, hasty reading. Watch against the mind being preoccupied with business or anything of earth. Realize Christ close beside you, and let this thought calm and refresh your spirit, and prepare you to receive whatever instruction you need.

And as you read, be ever looking to Jesus for divine illumination. We can imagine Mary looking up again and again to the Savior when anything seemed beyond her. Then He would open her understanding, give her some fresh word of explanation, and make it all plain.

Only catch the humble, teachable spirit of Mary–and doubtless you shall have Mary’s blessing and reward.

It is a blessed thing to be with Christ, as a lowly, teachable learner, drinking in the words of eternal life.

~  ~  ~  ~

I trust this has challenged you to spend more time in God’s word. It will bless you and ultimately others as you share all that you are learning.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Foundation is defined as the basis or groundwork of anything, the natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests. the lowest division of a building, wall, or the like, usually of masonry and partly or wholly below the surface of the ground.

A foundation supports something. The foundation of a building determines whether it will stand when floods, wind, rain, or earthquakes come. If the building is built on a solid foundation it will stand.

Luke 6:46-49 tells us that Jesus and His words are the foundation for all believers.

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?⁴⁷ Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:⁴⁸ He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.⁴⁹ But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”

Jesus is the rock. He is the believer’s foundation. He is the only way of salvation. His words are the only words that are trustworthy, life changing, and will never fail us. Complete obedience to His word puts us in the center of God’s will for our lives.

That is a solid foundation!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

When you look up what do you see? Spurgeon challenges us to look with our spiritual eyes opened.

Contemplating God’s greatness!

(Charles Spurgeon)

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place–what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” Psalm 8:3-4

Lift up your eyes, behold the heavens, the work of God’s fingers–behold the sun guided in his daily march! Go forth at midnight, and behold the heavens–consider the stars and the moon! Look upon these works of God’s hands, and if you are men of sense, and your souls are attuned to the high music of the spheres–you will say, “What is man that You are mindful of him?”

My God! When I survey the boundless fields of ether, and see those ponderous orbs rolling therein; when I consider how vast are Your dominions–so wide that an angel’s wing might flap to all eternity and never reach a boundary–I marvel that You should look on insects so obscure as man!

When I behold the Almightiness of Jehovah–I am so little that I shrink into nothingness! I am so little, that the difference between the molecule and man dwindles into nothing–when compared with the infinite chasm between God and man.

Let your mind rove upon the great doctrines of the Godhead; consider the existence of God from before the foundations of the world; behold Him who is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty.

Let your soul comprehend as much as it can of the Infinite, and grasp as much as possible of the Eternal–and I am sure if you have minds at all, that they will shrink with awe.

The tall archangel bows himself before his Master’s throne–and we shall cast ourselves into the lowest dust when we feel what base nothings, what insignificant specks we are, when compared with our all-adorable Creator.

Labor, O soul, to know your nothingness–and learn it by contemplating God’s greatness!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

We have come to the end of our study of Esther. The Jews are safe. Mordecai has  achieved greatness in the eyes of the King and of the Jews. A holiday is commemorated to remember the occasion.

The presence of God is seen through each and every chapter. We serve an awesome God!

Chapter 9

Jews Defend Themselves Successfully (9:1-10)

Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) ² The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.³ And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.⁴ For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.⁵ Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.⁶ And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.⁷ And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,⁸ And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,⁹ And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,¹⁰ The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

Number Slain Brought to the King (9:11-12)

¹¹ On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. ¹² And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

Esther’s Request (9:13)

 ¹³ Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

King’s Command (9:14)

¹⁴ And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.

Jews Defend Themselves for a Second Day (9:15-19)

¹⁵ For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.¹⁶ But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,¹⁷ On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.¹⁸ But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.¹⁹ Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

Feast of Purim Begun (9:20-32)

²⁰ And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,²¹ To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,²² As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.²³ And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;²⁴ Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;²⁵ But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.²⁶ Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,²⁷ The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;²⁸ And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.²⁹ Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.³⁰ And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,³¹ To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.³² And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

CHAPTER 10

Mordecai Promoted

And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.² And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?³ For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

Things to think about

The leadership of the King helped the Jews. Why was there still opposition? The sin nature of man. Unregenerate men and women hate Jews. Haman tried to destroy them and failed.  So, others pick up the torch thinking they would be able to defeat them. They also failed.

When Haman’s ten sons were executed, why didn’t the Jews take the spoil? Earlier, the King gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther. She already owned the spoil.

The Feast Of Purim is a celebration over wickedness. It is a time of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

Mordecai was a Jew. The Bible says he became great among the Jews, advanced by the King, declared great by the King, next unto the King. How does this happen apart from God’s intervention?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001