Dawn 2 Dusk Peace That Stomps the SerpentRomans 16:20 holds a surprising pairing: God’s peace and God’s power. Paul closes his letter by lifting our eyes from the noise of conflict to the certainty of victory—evil will not have the last word, and God intends to bring that triumph close to home, right under the feet of His people. Peace Is Not Passive When Scripture calls Him “the God of peace,” it doesn’t mean He’s indifferent to war; it means He brings wholeness where sin brings fracture. Jesus said, “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33). Peace isn’t pretending things are fine—it’s standing in Christ when they’re not. That kind of peace guards you, not because you’re strong, but because God is steady. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). If your mind has been racing lately, let that promise reset the story: peace is a shield, not a mood. Soon Means God Is Already at Work “Soon” can feel slow when you’re tired, tempted, or bruised by spiritual pressure. But God’s “soon” is never wishful thinking—it’s a guaranteed outcome set on His timeline. The victory Paul promises isn’t random; it’s the echo of the oldest promise: “He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel” (Genesis 3:15). The serpent bites, but the Savior crushes. And the crushing has already begun at the cross. “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15). When you feel like darkness is winning, remember: you’re not fighting for victory—you’re fighting from it. Stand Your Ground, Then Step Forward There’s something personal in the promise: Satan under your feet. God doesn’t just defeat evil in the abstract; He trains ordinary believers to resist and remain. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Resistance isn’t dramatic—it’s daily obedience, steady repentance, and choosing truth when lies feel louder. So put your feet where God puts His promises. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). And when you stumble, don’t sit in shame—reach for the closing line of Romans 16:20: grace. The same Lord who calls you to stand is the One who supplies what you need to keep standing. Father, thank You for being the God of peace who never compromises with evil. Strengthen me by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ today—help me submit to You, resist the devil, and walk forward in obedient faith. Amen. Evening with A.W. Tozer Mysticism Plus TheologyChristian preachers and ministers ought to acknowledge, publicly and with humility, their great indebtedness to the apostles John and Paul. Study the Gospel of John and you will concur with me that John is surely the mystic of the New Testament! Explore the epistles of the Apostle Paul and you will also concur with the assessment that Paul is surely the theologian of the New Testament! John and Paul were completely immersed in love and adoration for Jesus, the Christ, the eternal Son and the Savior of the world. So we may say that Paul is the instrument and John is the music! God Himself was able to pour into the great mind and spirit of Paul the basic doctrines of the New Testament. But in John, God found harp-like qualities to sound forth devotion and praise. Paul, then, is the theologian who lays foundations. John does not really soar any higher than Paul-but he sings just a bit more sweetly! It is not amazing, really, that there is much mysticism in Paul's theology, and much theology in John's mysticism! Music For the Soul Sorrow According to GodAnd David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin. - 2 Samuel 12:13 In 2 Corinthians 8:10 the Apostle Paul takes it for granted that a recognition of my own evil and a consequent penitent-regretfulness lies at the foundation of all true Christianity Now, I do not want to insist upon any uniformity of experience in people, any more than I should insist that all their bodies should be of one shape or of one proportion. Human lives are infinitely different, human dispositions are subtly varied; and because both one and the other are never reproduced exactly in any two people, therefore the religious experience of no two souls can ever be precisely alike. We have no right to ask - and much harm has been done by asking - for an impossible uniformity of religious experience. You can print off as many copies as you like, for instance, of a drawing of a flower, on a printing press, and they shall all be alike, petal for petal, leaf for leaf, shade for shade; but no two hand-drawn copies will be so precisely alike, still less will any two of the real buds that blow on the bush there. Life produces resemblance with differences; it is machinery that makes facsimiles. So we insist on no pedantic or unreal uniformity; and yet, whilst leaving the widest scope for divergences of individual character and experience, and not asking that a man all diseased and blotched with the leprosy of sin for half a lifetime, and a little child that has grown up at its mother’s knee, " in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," and "so has been saved innocent of much transgression," shall have the same experience, - yet Scripture, as it seems to me, and the nature of the case do unite in asserting that there are certain elements which, in varying proportions indeed, will be found in all true Christian experience, and of these an indispensable one - and in a very large number, if not in the majority of cases, a fundamental one - is this which Paul calls "godly sorrow." Surely a reasonable consideration of the facts of our conduct and character point to that as the attitude that becomes you and me! Does it not? I do not charge you with crimes, as the law interprets them. I do not suppose that many who read these lines are living in flagrant disregard of the elementary principles of common every-day morality. There are some, no doubt. There are, no doubt, unclean men; there are some who eat and drink more than is good for them habitually; there are, no doubt, men and women that are living in avarice and worldliness, and things that the ordinary consciences of the populace point to as faults and blemishes. But I appeal to the so-called respectable people, that can say: "I am not as other men are, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." I come to you, and I have this one question to put to you: Looking at your character all round, in the light of the purity and righteousness and love of God, how say ye - "guilty or not guilty," sinful or not sinful? Be honest with yourself, and the answer will not be far to seek. Spurgeon: Morning and Evening Hebrews 12:23 Made perfect. Recollect that there are two kinds of perfection which the Christian needs--the perfection of justification in the person of Jesus, and the perfection of sanctification wrought in him by the Holy Spirit. At present, corruption yet remains even in the breasts of the regenerate--experience soon teaches us this. Within us are still lusts and evil imaginations. But I rejoice to know that the day is coming when God shall finish the work which he has begun; and he shall present my soul, not only perfect in Christ, but perfect through the Spirit, without spot or blemish, or any such thing. Can it be true that this poor sinful heart of mine is to become holy even as God is holy? Can it be that this spirit, which often cries, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this sin and death?" shall get rid of sin and death--that I shall have no evil things to vex my ears, and no unholy thoughts to disturb my peace? Oh, happy hour! may it be hastened! When I cross the Jordan, the work of sanctification will be finished; but not till that moment shall I even claim perfection in myself. Then my spirit shall have its last baptism in the Holy Spirit's fire. Methinks I long to die to receive that last and final purification which shall usher me into heaven. Not an angel more pure than I shall be, for I shall be able to say, in a double sense, "I am clean," through Jesus' blood, and through the Spirit's work. Oh, how should we extol the power of the Holy Ghost in thus making us fit to stand before our Father in heaven! Yet let not the hope of perfection hereafter make us content with imperfection now. If it does this, our hope cannot be genuine; for a good hope is a purifying thing, even now. The work of grace must be abiding in us now or it cannot be perfected then. Let us pray to "be filled with the Spirit," that we may bring forth increasingly the fruits of righteousness. Spurgeon: Faith’s Checkbook God’s High PlacesDoes the LORD say this to me? Yes, if I have known His name. Blessed be the LORD, I am no stranger to Him. I have tried Him, proved Him, and known Him, and therefore do I trust Him. I know His name as a sin-hating God, for by His Spirit’s convincing power I have been taught that He will never wink at evil. But I also know Him as the sin-pardoning God in Christ Jesus, for He has forgiven me all trespasses. His name is faithfulness, and I know it, for He has never forsaken me though my troubles have multiplied upon me. This knowledge is a gift of grace, and the LORD makes it to be the reason why He grants another grace-gift, namely, setting on high. This is grace upon grace. Observe that if we climb on high, the position may be dangerous; but if the LORD sets us there it is safe. He may raise us to great usefulness, to eminent experience, to success in service, to leadership among workers, to a father’s place among the little ones. If He does not do this, He may set us on high by near fellowship, clear insight, holy triumph, and gracious anticipation of eternal glory. When God sets us on high, Satan himself cannot pull us down. Oh, that this may be our case all through this day! The Believer’s Daily Remembrancer We Walk by FaithTHE Christian’s path is often very rough; thorns and briars grow on either side, dark clouds hang over it, and no cheering prospects appear to animate the heart. But if he acts consistently, he still believes it is the right path; that trials are mercies in disguise, and that the path of tribulation ends in the kingdom of God. He believes it is all needful, is the very best way his Father could select; that the design of God is gracious, and his present trials are to end in his eternal welfare. He believes his God is with him, though he does not enjoy his presence, and that all needful supplies will be sent, though he cannot tell from whence. He rests on the faithful word, trusts in an immutable God, and says, when surrounded by trials, “None of these things move me; I know that it is through much tribulation that I must enter the kingdom; my God will support me, His hand will defend me, and His grace shall be glorified in my present and eternal salvation. I know not the way, but my God knows, and He will lead me; He will never leave me, but will be my guide, even unto death.” Oh may I daily walk by faith, Believing what my God has spoke; Rely on His unchanging love, And cease to grasp at fleeting smoke; On His eternal truth depend, And know Him as my God and Friend. Bible League: Living His Word And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it.— Ezekiel 17:24 ESV Sooner or later, everyone will know that the Lord God of heaven and earth rules and reigns over all things. In our verse for today, trees represent the nations of the earth. Sooner or later, then, every nation of the earth will know that the Lord God rules and reigns over all things. How shall the Lord make this known, even to the nations of the earth? He shall make it known by bringing low the high trees and drying up the green trees. Every nation that looks upon its power and wealth, that thinks it is above the rule and reign of the Lord God will be brought low. The other nations will see this happen and pay heed, lest the same thing happen to them. You can't rage against the Lord, you can't plot against Him, and expect to get away with it. The Lord God sits in heaven and laughs at that kind of foolish hubris. He holds the nations that indulge themselves with it in derision (Psalm 2:1-4). The Lord shall also make it known by making high the low trees and making the dry trees flourish. Every weak and poor nation that acknowledges the rule and reign of the Lord God will be lifted up and made to flourish. The other nations will also see this happen. If they see and pay heed, then the same thing can happen to them. Any wise and humble nations that serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling, any that look to Him for help and take refuge in Him, will be richly blessed (Psalm 2:10-12). The Lord Himself has spoken this and He will do it. It is, put simply, a done deal. It doesn't matter what the nations of the earth think about this, it's going to happen the way the Lord God says it's going to happen. And, sooner or later, every nation will know it. Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,Revelation 1:17,18 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, • and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 5:30 because we are members of His body. Colossians 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Colossians 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; Hebrews 2:14,15 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, • and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 1 Corinthians 15:53,54 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. • But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own.We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die. Insight God's ability to direct our lives well is infinitely beyond our ability. Sometimes we are afraid of God's power and God's plans because we know his power would easily crush us if he used it against us. Challenge Don't be afraid to let God correct your plans. He will give you wisdom if you are willing. Devotional Hours Within the Bible Nebuchadnezzar’s DreamDreams have an important place in the Bible. There is no doubt that dreams were really means of divine communication, as in Jacob’s ladder, in the dreams of Pharaoh, and in that of Nebuchadnezzar. The account of this dream and its interpretation is very interesting. The king’s strange forgetting of it gave additional opportunity for the glorifying of the true God. Babylon’s ‘wise men’ could not tell the king, what he had forgotten. Then Daniel came. There is a suggestion in the king’s forgetting. Does God never come to us with some revealing, some glimpse of His holiness, some lesson, some vision of truth which we immediately forget? Some of us forget sermons before we get home from church! Sometimes we can hardly even remember the minister’s text! Sometimes impressions that are vivid and distinct at the time they are made pass almost entirely from the mind in a little while! The king could not recall any part of the dream which had troubled him so. He demanded of his wise men, that they tell him first what the dream was and then what it meant. When all his wise men failed to be able to do this, Daniel sent the king word that his God was a revealer of secrets, and that he would make known Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He then told him what the dream was, and afterward made known its message. Daniel said, “You, O king, are king of kings unto whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom.” The point to be specially noted here is that all earthly power is from God. He gives it to whoever He will. Kings are appointed to rule for Him and receive their authority from Him. The same is true of all who bear authority, of whatever kind. This gives a sacredness to power, whether it be the parent’s, the teacher’s, the magistrate’s, the overseer’s. All human power and authority is only God’s power entrusted. We must use it reverently, in faithfulness, in love. Napoleon, when he became emperor, took the crown in his own hands and put it on his head, implying that he made himself ruler. Later he learned that power belongs to God ; that He puts one down and sets another up. Daniel proceeded to indicate in detail the meaning of the vision. “You are the head of gold. And after you shall arise a kingdom inferior to you, and another third kingdom. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things.” Thus history ever reads. One kingdom gives place to another. The greatest kingdoms are pushed aside and thrust down by the less. Not only among nations is this true; we see the same in families and among individuals. The rich of one generation, are the poor of the next. The high in rank today, are forgotten tomorrow. Thrones built by human hands crumble. God can humble the proudest whenever He desires. He can destroy the head of gold; and crush the arms of silver; and break the legs of brass; and demolish the feet of iron and clay! “The snowflakes of Russia humbled Napoleon’s pride, and the raindrops at Waterloo sent him into exile!” Then Daniel went on to describe the element of glory in the vision the setting up of the kingdom that never should be destroyed. “The God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever!” Right in the midst of the glory of Rome came Jesus Christ, to set up the kingdom of His Father in this world. This kingdom differed in many ways from those world kingdoms which were pictured in the vision. It was not established by war, by military conquest but by moral force alone. Christ had no armies of soldiers marching forth with Him to crush opposition. He came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them! There is a story of an emperor in whose realm, there was a rebellion. Certain of his subjects were in revolt. The emperor was setting out to the scene of the uprising, and said to his nobles, “Come with me and see me destroy those rebels!” But when he reached the province he showed only kindness to those in revolt. He treated them with gentleness and affection. The result was that they laid down their arms and became his most loyal subjects. His nobles reminded him of his words to them, “Come and see me destroy my enemies!” He replied, “I have destroyed my enemies; I have made them my friends!” This illustrates Christ’s conquest and the way He extends His kingdom. It is set up not by force of arms but by love; it rules our hearts ! “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end but it will itself endure forever!” Daniel 2:44 There are four things said here about the kingdom of Christ: First, it never shall be destroyed! The kingdoms of this world have their day and then cease to be. One destroys another. The strongest earthly kingdom has in it, the elements of decay clay mingled with its iron and is thus doomed to destruction! Nothing earthly is indestructible. But the kingdom of Christ shall never be destroyed. Second, it shall never pass to another king! No one king long occupies any earthly throne. Human life is short, and no hand can long hold the scepter. Even dynasties are short-lived. But Christ is a King out of whose hands the scepter shall never drop; on whose brow the diadem shall never lose its luster! Third, this kingdom of Christ shall go on conquering until all earth’s kingdom’s have submitted to its sway! Unto Christ every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is the Lord of all! Fourth, the kingdom of Christ shall be eternal! When all earth’s thrones have crumbled into dust, Christ’s throne shall appear in the clouds, shining in glory! The interpretation of the dream closed in a wonderful picturing of the glorious coming of the kingdom of Christ. “This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy!” The rock was Christ. It came from heaven, from God. Its origin was supernatural, “Not by human hands.” It smote the image, and broke in pieces the iron, the clay, the silver, the gold. So shall the kingdom of Christ continue to grow and extend until it shall fill all the world and absorb all power! Whatever is wrong shall be broken to pieces; and holiness shall fill all things. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever!” Revelation 11:15 Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Kings 12, 13, 14 2 Kings 12 -- Joash Reigns over Judah, Repairs the Temple NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Kings 13 -- Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Kings of Israel; Elisha Dies NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Kings 14 -- Amaziah and Jeroboam II Kings of Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 5:25-47 John 5 -- The Pool of Bethesda; Testimony about Christ NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. |
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