Category: Grace Living (Christian Life)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing #1

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

“And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6 KJV).

The first verse of the classic Christmas carol highlights today’s Scripture.

“Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!”

Angels are very strange, and thus, often misunderstood, creatures. They are like humans in some respects but also drastically different from us. According to today’s Scripture, angels have a capacity to find worth in, and hence worship, their Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. God the Father, according to the book of Hebrews (today’s Scripture), does not consider His Son an angelic being but rather Someone apart from the angelic host, Someone worthy of their worship.

Psalm 103:20,21 says: “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.” And Psalm 148:2, “Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.” In the spirit of these verses, the writer of the book of Hebrews penned what he did in today’s Scripture.

The angels knew that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, had finally become flesh, and He could now fulfill the Old Testament prophecies going all the way back to Adam—chiefly, God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly kingdom. On the night of Christ’s birth, Luke 2:13,14 says: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” In perfect accordance with the book of Psalms, the angels filled the night sky of Palestine and joyfully sang to praise the Lord of glory! (What that massive angelic choir sounded like to human ears, we can only wonder!!)

Let us, by faith, join that angelic host in praising the Lord of glory!

NOTE: Dear readers, this is devotional #5300! Onward by God’s grace we go to #5400! 🙂

In Every Thing Give Thanks

Thursday, November 27, 2025

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV).

Dear saints, take a moment this Thanksgiving to learn a valuable lesson from the Holy Scriptures!

God wants “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3,4). To be “saved” here means you have been rescued from the penalty of sin (hell and the lake of fire), and that you have a home in heaven, because you have trusted the death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for your sins. To “come unto the knowledge of the truth” is when a person who has trusted Christ, begins to understand why God saved him or her, and how God will use him or her for His glory. Although soul salvation is instantaneous, spiritual maturity is a life-long process (that is especially true regarding handling difficulties, the grace way!).

It is human nature to avoid difficulties and stress, to flee them, rather than confront them. This self-preservation is advantageous, particularly in “life or death” situations. However, running from troubling circumstances is not the way God has designed our life in Christ to function. Today’s Scripture says, “In every thing give thanks,” not “For every thing give thanks.” We do not thank God for our troubles; we thank God while we are enduring those troubles. This is tough, I know, but it takes time for us to learn it. Even the Apostle Paul had to learn this.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Be thankful in every thing. God’s grace is sufficient for you, dear saint, in all of life’s circumstances. When you learn this, you are “[coming] unto the knowledge of the truth.”

*Excerpted from our Thanksgiving 2012 Bible study with the same name. That study can be read here or watched here.

You may also see, “What are our spiritual blessings in Christ?”

Your Right to Eat Meat

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4,5 KJV).

Before we advocate animal rights, let us understand that we have a God-given right to eat them!

An animal rights activist once appeared on television to complain about the consumption of turkeys on Thanksgiving. He argued that turkeys “feel pain” when they are slaughtered, and thus we should not eat them. His line of reasoning was, “If we would not eat our pet dog, then we should not eat turkey.” Such people, despite their sincerity, are ignorant of today’s Scripture.

Originally, all people and animals were herbivores; they only ate vegetation. “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so” (Genesis 1:29,30).

Then, sin entered, and God incorporated meat into the human diet: “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat” (Genesis 9:3,4).

When we ignore the fact that God gave us animals to eat, and we demand that others must also abstain from meat for religious (nature-worshipping) purposes, that is a “doctrine of devils” in this dispensation (1 Timothy 4:1-5). The creature should not be worshipped; only the Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, should be worshipped (Romans 1:25). As long as we thank the Lord for whatever creatures we eat, consuming animal flesh is acceptable and godly. It does not sit well with the pantheists—who exalt nature as God—but it is approved of the living God, and that alone ultimately matters.

The Clever Axe #6

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).

Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.

A deacon board was considering a pastoral candidate for their local church. Hearing his responses to questions, one solitary deacon doubted the man’s spiritual reliability, but, outnumbered, he ultimately joined his colleagues in unanimously endorsing and installing the pastor. Within three years, that “minister” permanently destroyed the assembly with his false doctrine. Though three decades have passed, my community and my family have never been the same; yes, that was our church (!). By the way, when I was much older, I interviewed that lone deacon. Looking back on those events, he realized his reluctance to accept the self-serving candidate was justified. The other deacons were Bible babies, having no real spiritual sense and totally unqualified to judge men for the ministry.

“Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22). This refers to ordaining men to serve in the ministry (cf. 1 Timothy 4:14). We should not be swift in aligning ourselves with pastors and teachers, hurriedly appointing people as our spiritual leaders and/or supporting them before we know what they really believe and are really doing. Remember, the child focuses on the axe’s harmless wooden handle, but the adult notices its sharp iron head. We must have a mature view about hazards, physical and spiritual.

Wolves wearing sheep’s clothing also involved false pastors, false prophets, and false shepherds in Jeremiah 23:1-40 and John 10:1-18. Israel’s false teachers failed in their job to guard the nation against Satan’s errors. Likewise, most of our pastors and teachers have failed us miserably in this regard for the last 20 centuries. Paul wrote, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:37,38). In the midst of error (Acts 20:28-31), grace principles, Romans to Philemon, are the key to spirituality and safety (Acts 20:32).

The Clever Axe #5

Monday, November 24, 2025

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).

Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.

Remember the “grievous wolves” of Acts 20:28-32 are the “ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing” in today’s Scripture. Philippians 3:2 has something similar: “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.” These Jewish false teachers (cf. Titus 1:10,11) have mutilated their physical bodies with a circumcision that has no corresponding faith (spiritual circumcision). It is empty religion. They bragged about how, for example, God originally gave the Scriptures to Israel, so only Jews (who knew Hebrew) could properly interpret the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament); they also preached Law, not Grace.

Furthermore, in the context of today’s Scripture, the Lord warned preaching in His name was not necessarily good. Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

We see more “clever axes” in 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him…. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

The Clever Axe #4

Sunday, November 23, 2025

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).

Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.

The notion of “wolves in sheep’s clothing” is not confined to the prophetic program. In fact, even though a dispensational change has come since Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew to John, today’s Scripture), the Apostle Paul (Christ’s heavenly ministry) advises us to beware of false teachers who dress in ingenious disguises. In mystery, Satan still labors as tirelessly as ever to promote his cheap counterfeits!

Read Paul’s warnings to the church elders of Ephesus in Acts 20:28-32: “Take heed [watch out, be careful, exercise caution] therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this [it is certain!!], that after my departing shall grievous [cruel, violent, brutal] wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

The two threats are thus. Firstly, “…grievous [cruel, violent, brutal] wolves [shall] enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” The imagery is striking. Outsiders would infiltrate the church, bringing about its doctrinal ruin starting without and working their way in. Secondly, “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Christian leaders themselves would grow apostate—fall from the truth—and corrupt the church by beginning from within. For 20 centuries, the professing church has failed most miserably in guarding against these “clever axes”….

The Clever Axe #3

Saturday, November 22, 2025

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).

Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.

“Fruit inspecting” is one of religion’s “hot topics.” Ripping from context Matthew 7:16 and Matthew 7:20 (the context of today’s Scripture), self-righteous churchgoers look for “signs” of salvation among their peers. “Ye shall know them by their fruits…. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” It has been therefore proclaimed, “Unless you have fruits, you are a fake Christian!” This is a gross distortion of the passage.

Today’s Scripture heads the pericope of Matthew 7:15-23 (verses to be studied in conjunction). The subject is “false prophets,” preachers speaking wrong information. Verses 16-19: “…Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” A good tree (symbolic of the true prophet) cannot produce evil/corrupt fruit (error). Neither can a corrupt tree (representative of the false prophet) yield good fruit (truth). To distinguish true prophets from false prophets, we must inspect the prophet’s “fruit” (contents of the message). “Fruit-inspecting” is not so much looking for good works as it is looking for good words!

Re-read the dictum: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” Many such “axes” lead our churches and “Christian” schools, though they know and use Bible words and Scriptural phrases that assist them in blending in with the trees (God’s people)… as the axe’s wooden handle helps it “identify with” the trees it decimates. Just as false prophets corrupted ancient Israel (about whom Jesus warned in the Sermon on the Mount!), so “Christian” leaders everywhere still destroy God’s people with their manmade opinions and traditions. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing….

The Clever Axe #2

Friday, November 21, 2025

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).

Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.

How frightening it is that voters are frequently unable to express specific, reasonable justification for their choice of candidates. Other than silence, the only “defenses” offered are along the lines of, “He or she promised the public this free service or those free goods. I saw internet videos of this person or that person acting like everyone else. This man or woman is a great speaker.” You can pose the same question to religious people… except apply it to their pastors and teachers. What you will hear is, “This person is funny. He or she is kind. That person has a large following. Here is why I sit under his or her teaching.” Very rarely is the criterion, “He or she teaches sound Bible doctrine, and I learn such valuable information there.”

The phrase “wolf in sheep’s clothing” is indeed derived from the English Bible—specifically today’s Scripture. Jesus’ audience was of an agrarian or agriculture-based lifestyle. The Jewish people were well acquainted with raising sheep, and how shepherds were to be constantly vigilant of wolves (the sheep’s natural predator). What made such wolves exceptionally dangerous was when they were no longer perceived to be a threat. Nevertheless, they were “ravening” (related to “ravaging”), voracious, hungry, or greedy; thus, they would go to great lengths, they would stop at nothing, to fill their bellies!

Sheep naturally follow each other and stay in a group because they feel they have “safety in numbers.” Among humans, this is known as “herd mentality,” people blindly conforming to a principle simply due to the fact many others have adopted it. However, such sheep (both animals and people) are in grave danger if the “sheep” they are following turns out to be a “wolf in sheep’s clothing!” The prey realizes, when it is usually too late, that his neighbor was really the enemy in disguise….

The Clever Axe #1

Thursday, November 20, 2025

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).

Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.

There is no question that the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7) is extremely popular in Christendom. The “Our Father” Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)—erroneously known as “the Lord’s Prayer”—and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) are particularly appealing to church members who mindlessly quote these passages without any real meaningful understanding of their dispensational context. Had they known from these chapters what they should have known, they would be shocked beyond belief!

Part of the Sermon on the Mount is Matthew 7:15-23, today’s Scripture and its subsequent verses. Carefully read them, perhaps a few times: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Ironically, the individuals and institutions who habitually run to the Sermon on the Mount for authority and teaching are often the same whom it condemns as false (!)….

The Mighty Man #8

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

“Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually” (Psalm 52:1 KJV).

Let us see how Psalm 52 can teach us something about the past, the present, and the future….

Re-read the rest of Psalm 52, verses 5-9: “[5] God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. [6] The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: [7] Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. [8] But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. [9] I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.”

As David the Psalmist had faith in JEHOVAH God, so we ought to trust the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as David was said to be like “a green olive tree,” so we have spiritual life and access to Father God through Christ: “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18). We the righteous should not fear the so-called “mighty man”—those who fight against the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, for He is the true Mighty Man and our victory in Him is certain. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:57,58).

Similar to how David praised God in the midst of trouble, so our Apostle Paul did and we should too: “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:17,18).