Good morning,

What do we do in the face of a crisis? We should pray and seek God.

Scripture reveals that God provides people to comfort those in crisis.

This week we have seen those who have comforted others.

Now it is our turn.

Today, we will look at some ways we can comfort others.

COVID-19 and Believers in Christ

CRISIS: COVID-19. Stay at home order. Social distancing. No money to pay bills.

This last month have been devastating to many. Our daily routines have been upended. We do not know what will happen next.

COMFORTER: Believers in Christ (us)

So, we need to know what to do. Romans 12:9-16 may be of some help.

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.¹⁰ Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;¹¹ Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;¹² Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;¹³ Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.¹⁴ Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.¹⁵ Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.¹⁶ Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”

What can we do to make a difference?

First, love one another. Do something so others know you are thinking about them. A card, telephone call, video chat.

Second, we should see others as more important than ourselves. Even if we are the ones that are most in crisis, we need to find a way to help others. Making masks, donating food, making meals for shut-ins.

Third, serve the Lord. Whatever we are doing for the Lord, we should continue doing. Look at our church’s. They can not meet in the building, but each Pastor has found a way to connect with his people. People need hope during this time. We have the hope they need. We need to tell others about the hope Jesus has for us.

Fourth, rejoice in hope. That hope is in Jesus Christ. He promised to be with us in every circumstance. He watches over us. Believers know their ultimate home is heaven.

Fifth, be patient during the crisis. It will pass. Use the time to reconnect with family. Learn something new. Relax. Study the Bible.

Sixth, pray. Never stop praying. Pray for the hospital workers, law enforcement officials, healthcare professionals, governors, individuals effected negatively, and the President. They are working hard to bring this crisis to an end. Thank God that He is in control. Pray that many would get saved during this crisis.

Seventh, distributing to the necessity of saints. There are people that need things. If we know there is a need, we should try and meet that need. It could be money, food, encouragement, or comfort.

Eighth, care about people. Rejoice when they rejoice and weep with those that weep. Think of Ruth and her relationship with Naomi. She was there in the good times and the bad. We need to do that with those God puts in our path.

Ninth, be of the same mind. This is not the time to play the blame game, criticize others, or dispute the finer points of our decision makers. We need to comfort and encourage.

I hope this weeks Daily Devotions has been an encouragement and challenge to you.

Please go and help others effected by this crisis.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

What do we do in the face of a crisis? We should pray and seek God.

Scripture reveals that God provides people to comfort those in crisis.

This week we will look at some of them.

King Saul, Israel and David

CRISIS: Goliath, the giant, defies Israel. King Saul and all Israel are afraid.

“Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.² And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.³ And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.⁴ And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.⁵ And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.⁶ And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.⁷ And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.⁸ And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.⁹ If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.¹⁰ And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. ¹¹ When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” (1 Samuel 17:1-11)

COMFORTER: David volunteers to fight Goliath. He speaks to King Saul setting forth his credentials to accomplish the task. His fight was a holy fight. Goliath defied the armies of the living God.

“And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:32)

“And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:³⁵ And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.³⁶ Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.” (1 Samuel 17:34-36)

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.⁴⁶ This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.⁴⁷ And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.⁴⁸ And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.⁴⁹ And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.⁵⁰ So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.” (1 Samuel 17:45-50)

God, through His servant David, triumphs over Goliath.

How can we be a David in the time of crisis?

First, know God intimately. Know everything about Him. Then when the crisis comes, we will not be scared.

Second, know the word of God thoroughly. Battle the crisis with the word of God. Trust in the God of the book.

Third, attack the crisis. David did wait for Goliath to attack. He struck the first blow.

We can overcome the crisis by being overcomers with the Lord!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

What do we do in the face of a crisis? We should pray and seek God.

Scripture reveals that God provides people to comfort those in crisis.

This week we will look at some of them.

The servant of the man of God and Elisha

CRISIS: The servant of the man of God is scared because Dothan is surrounded by Syrian troops, chariots, and horses.

“Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.⁹ And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.¹⁰ And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.¹¹ Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?¹² And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.¹³ And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.¹⁴ Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.¹⁵ And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:8-15)

COMFORTER: Elisha comforts his servant by opening up his eyes to see their protection. There were more with them than with the Syrians.

“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:16-17)

During a crisis sometimes we lose perspective. We fail to act on the things we already know and trust about God

So, what do we do?

First, pray and seek God. He already knows what we are going through.

Second, remember what God has done for us in the past. His faithfulness in the past will give us confidence that God will take care of us.

Third, pray God’s word back to Him. Acknowledge your confidence in Him and His word.

Allow God to open up our spiritual eyes to see the supernatural protection He has for us.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

What do we do in the face of a crisis? We should pray and seek God.

Scripture reveals that God provides people to comfort those in crisis.

This week we will look at some of them.

Mary/Martha and Jesus

CRISIS: Lazarus is dead. Mary and Martha are in mourning.

“Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” (John 1:14)

“Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.” (John 11:17)

COMFORTER: Jesus comforts Martha and Mary.

“Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.²² But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.²³ Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.²⁴ Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: ²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?²⁷ She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” (John 11:21-27)

“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.³³ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.” (John 11:32-33)

Then Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Gives comfort to Martha, Mary, Jews. Many believed on Him.

“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.⁴⁰ Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?⁴¹ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.⁴² And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. ⁴³ And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. ⁴⁴ And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.⁴⁵ Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.”             (John 11:39-45)

How can we be like Jesus in time of crisis?

First, be able to discern the living from the dead. There are many people in our sphere of influence who are dead spiritually.

Second, know how to tell them about their lost condition. Who Jesus is, why He came, and what He can do for them.

Third, go and raise the dead, as Jesus did. When we tell others about the life changing power of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has opportunity to breathe life into that individual.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

What do we do in the face of a crisis? We should pray and seek God.

Scripture reveals that God provides people to comfort those in crisis.

This week we will look at some of them.

Naomi and Ruth

CRISIS: Naomi has lost her husband and her two sons and is living in a foreign land.

“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.² And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. ³ And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.⁴ And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.⁵ And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.” (Ruth 1:1-5)

Naomi determines to go back to Bethlehem Judah. She wants her daughters in law to go back to their families. Orpah does but Ruth will not.

COMFORTER: Ruth stays with Naomi. She comforts and encourages her. She commits her life to Naomi.

“And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. ¹⁶ And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.¹⁸ When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.” (Ruth 1:15-18)

This is the highest form of comfort a person can give. Ruth gave up all to comfort Naomi.

So how can we be a Ruth to someone going through a crisis?

First, we must have a desire to be a comforter.

Second, we must remember that we belong to God. He is control of our lives. He will direct us.

Third, we must yield our lives to God. Allow God to use us in any way He sees fit.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We must remember what God has done for us. His faithfulness, His mercy, His grace, and His love. His willingness to forgive, when we deserved His wrath. His taking our impossible and making it possible.

Today’s devotion challenges us to remember.

Hitherto!

(Charles Spurgeon)

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying: “Hitherto has the Lord helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12

The word “hitherto” seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past.
Twenty years or seventy, and yet, “hitherto the Lord has helped us!”
  Through poverty and through wealth,
  through sickness and through health,
  at home and abroad,
  on the land and on the sea,
  in honor and in dishonor,
  in perplexity and in joy,
  in trial and in triumph,
  in prayer and in temptation,
“Hitherto has the Lord helped us!“

We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves.

In the same way, look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of loving-kindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received “hitherto.”

But the word hitherto also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes “hitherto,” he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed.
  More trials and more joys;
  more temptations and more triumphs;
  more prayers and more answers;
  more toils and more strength;
  more fights and more victories;
and then come sickness, old age, disease and death!

Is it over now?

No! there is more yet:
  awakening in Jesus’ likeness,
  glorious thrones,
  heavenly harps and songs,
  white clothing,
  the face of Jesus,
  the society of saints,
  the glory of God,
  the fullness of eternity,
  the infinity of bliss!

O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise your “Ebenezer,” for He who has helped you hitherto–will help you all your journey through! When read in Heaven’s light, how glorious and marvelous a prospect will your “hitherto” unfold to your grateful eye!
~  ~  ~  ~

God is faithful. He never leaves or forsakes us. Cradle to grave, God is there to help and guide us along our journey.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Some of us had a parent, teacher, sports hero, celebrity, or professional we looked up to and wanted to be like them. We wanted to be conformed to their image.

Christians are to be conformed to the image of Christ. We are to have the mind of Christ. We are to do things the way Jesus instructed us from the Bible.

This devotional is a warning to seek things above. Not the things of this earth.

A canker into the very core of your spirituality!

(Octavius Winslow)

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

Heavenly-mindedness can only be maintained by the strictest vigilance. It is a delicate and fragile flower, susceptible to every variation of the spiritual atmosphere. Guard against that which checks its growth.

Many are not aware how much . . . 
  worldly amusements,
  light conversation,
  foolish jesting,
  novel reading,
  carnal music,
unfit the heart for communion with God, and lessen the tone of its spirituality.

Close communion with mere nominal religious professors is particularly to be avoided. Much more injury to spiritual-mindedness accrues from intimate friendship with such, than from those who assert no pretensions to a religious character; as with the one we are apt to be less on our guard than the other.

Avoid the world’s amusements–they will eat as a canker into the very core of your spirituality!

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world” is a prohibition which should never be absent from the eye of a traveler to the heavenly city.

Are not heaven’s attractions many and powerful?

How rich is heaven! Why, then, should not our thoughts be there? Oh! shall not our hearts be more where our most precious treasure is, where our holiest and dearest hopes center, and where we ourselves shall shortly be?
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2

XXXXXXXX

Where do our minds dwell? Earth or heaven? Are we conformed to this world or the heavenly one?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Jesus is all I need! In every circumstance, all we need to do is draw close to the one who died on the cross for us. Shed His perfect blood to take away the sin debt we owed. Who died, was buried, and rose again the third day.

In our life today, we often loose perspective. We forget what Jesus did for us. We forget that the victory was won when Jesus paid our sin debt. We forget that Satan no longer has dominion over our lives. Jesus owns us. Jesus bought us with His blood.

So this devotional is a reminder.

The life-buoy!

(Charles Spurgeon, “Christ Is All”)

Whatever trials you have, my dear brother, Christ is all in all to meet them.

Are you poor?He will make you rich in your poverty by His consoling presence.

Are you sick?He will make your bed in your sickness, and so will make your sick-bed better than the walks of health.

Are you persecuted?If it is for His sake, you may even leap for joy.

Are you oppressed? Remember how He also was oppressed and afflicted; and you will have fellowship with Him in his sufferings.

Amidst all the vicissitudes of this present life, Christ is all that the believer needs to bear him up, and bear him through.No wave can sink the man who clings to this life-buoy; he shall swim to glory on it!
Jesus is all I need!  Jesus is . . .
  the living water to quench my thirst,
  the heavenly bread to satisfy my hunger,
  the snow-white robe to cover me,
  the sure refuge in times of trouble,
  the happy home of my soul,
  my food and my medicine,
  my solace and my song,
  my light and my delight.

The believer can say, “Christ is mine!” No emperor is half as rich as the beggar that has Christ! He who has Christ, being a pauper, has all things. And he who has not Christ, possessing a thousand worlds, possesses nothing for real happiness and joy!

Oh, the blessedness of the man who can say, “Christ is mine!“
~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

COVID-19 is a great time to determine where we will put our trust. Today’s devotion challenges us to think about the “bitter cups” we drink. Does it cause to draw closer to Christ or the world?

Drinking bitter cups!

(Octavius Winslow)

“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Oh truth most divine!

Oh words most consolatory!

All things under the government of an infinitely great, all wise, righteous, and beneficent God, work together for good.

What that good may be, the shape it may assume, the complexion it may wear, the end to which it may be subservient–we cannot tell.

To our dim view it may appear an evil, but to God’s far seeing eye it is a positive good.

His glory secured by it, and His end accomplished–we are sure it must be good.

How many whose eye traces this page, it may be whose tears bedew it, whose sighs breathe over it, whose prayers hallow it, may be wading in deep waters, may be drinking bitter cups, and are ready to exclaim, “All these things are against me!”

Oh no, beloved of God, all these things are for you!

“The Lord sits upon the flood.”
“The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.”
“He makes the clouds His chariot.”

Be not then afraid.

Calmly stay your faith on this divinely assured truth, that “all things work together for good to those who love God.”

Will it not be a good, if your present adversity results . . . 
  in the dethronement of some worshiped idol;
  in the endearing of Christ to your soul;
  in the closer conformity of your mind to God’s image;
  in the purification of your heart;
  in your more thorough fitness for Heaven;
  in a revival of God’s work within you;
  in stirring you up to more prayer?

Oh yes! good, real good, permanent good must result from all the Divine dispensations in your history. Bitter repentance shall end in the experienced sweetness of Christ’s love.

The festering wound shall but elicit the healing balm.

The overpowering burden shall but bring you to the tranquil rest.

The storm shall but quicken your footsteps to the ‘hiding place’.

In a little while, oh, how soon! you shall pass away from earth to heaven, and in its clearer, serener light shall read the truth, often read with tears before, “All things work together for good to those who love God.”
~  ~  ~  ~

So how do we look at our trials in life? Temporal or eternal. God is working in each of our lives. He is preparing us for heaven.

Will we let Him?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Heaven is a wonderful place. We do not commonly refer to it as Immanuel’s land, but it is. Immanuel is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are going to be with Him when we die. It is Immanuel’s land.

This devotion challenges us to think about Immanuel’s land.

Immanuel’s Land!

(Gene Fedele, edited)
What can be more delightful for the weary pilgrim who is hastening to his heavenly mansion, than to meditate on the unspeakable wonders of his future home beyond the skies? There is much of Immanuel’s Land to engage our hearts in sacred contemplation, even while we sojourn and toil in this world as strangers and pilgrims.

Heaven is the most cheering and attractive occupation to which we may set our hearts. Yet I wonder why many of us fail to avail ourselves of the enjoyment and spiritual strength afforded in such a holy pursuit.

Could it be that the allurements of this world keep us from recognizing how near we are to the unseen, supernatural, and eternal state? Instead of dwelling on the glorious world to come–do we focus on the mere momentary pleasures of time? We do well to examine ourselves with judgment day honesty, that we may check the affections of our heart.

It is the influence of the future heavenly realities exercised in our hearts and lives, which gives vitality and beauty to our religion. It reveals genuine piety, as our aim is in contrast to the passing pleasures of this fleeting earth. It affords light along the path of life’s dark trials, and points to the realms of bliss, where there shall be no more tears, and sorrow is banished forevermore!

The glorious rest that remains for our earth wearied souls;
the sweet consolation of the redeemed in glory;
the unending fellowship of that precious society of saints;
the incalculable riches laid up in store for us to receive on that glorious day
–are all facets of Immanuel’s Land, that we might set an adoring eye towards the one object of our affections, Christ Jesus our Lord!

Let us, therefore, ‘set our affections on things above’ and fix our hearts steadfastly upon the heavenly joys and glory of Immanuel’s Land!

“But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body!” Philippians 3:20-21
~  ~  ~  ~

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our world upside down. Right now our thoughts are how are we going to pay our bills, feed our families, keep sane, in the wake of staying home.

Unfortunately, Immanuel’s land may not be top priority. However, it should be. When we focus on Immanuel, Jesus Christ, we know that He knows what is going on, and has a purpose for it.

His will, will be done.

Focus on Immanuel!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001