Morning Devotions

By Dr. Tom Wallace

It has been the joy of my life to have someone tell me that the Lord used me to inspire them to give their life to Christ, to surrender to a full-time ministry, or start a church. Now that I have reached my eighty-fifth birthday, my desire is to live on after I leave for Heaven and continue to have influence for the Lord. I have written these three hundred sixty-six devotionals of personal experiences, answered prayers, and Scriptural truths hoping they might be used in the years to come to encourage, inspire, and challenge someone to service if the Lord tarries His coming.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sword of the Lord Foundation
• Release date: Sep 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310089022

Book preview

JANUARY 1

Here We Go Again

There is something exciting about getting starting in a new year. We have a new chapter in the book, and a new page on the calendar, twelve new months, fifty two new weeks, and three hundred sixty-five new days. All of these untouched, unmarred, unscarred, unblemished., and of course uncertain and unknown.

Charles Kettering said, "We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there.

Joshua reminds us that, we ought to sanctify ourselves for ye have not passed this way hitherto fore and tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you (Josh.3:4,5).

David reminds us, Thou wilt show me the path of life (Psa. 16:11).

Like Paul we can forget those things that are behind, and press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil.3:14).

Dr. W.A. Criswell used to tell about the old cowpoke in West Texas who went to see his first silent movie. The villain dressed in black rode up to the hero dressed in white with the beautiful girl standing by his side. The villain reached down, grabbed the girl, pulled her kicking and screaming up onto his horse and rode away.

The cowpoke got so excited, he jumped up, hollered, hey, you can’t do that, pulled out his two six guns and put twelve bullet holes in the movie screen. That cowpoke wasn’t going to just sit there and let that happen. It will be a good thing for all of us to get up, roll up our sleeves, and get into the new year with zeal and excitement, new vision and a spring in our step.

As Pastor Mike Norris says, Hurry up the Lord is coming.

JANUARY 2

Let Us Go On

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,

let us go on unto perfection" (Heb 6:1).

The Bible constantly admonishes us to forget the past and set our sights on the future. This passage assumes that we have trusted Christ. We are now to concentrate on growth, maturity, and filling of the Holy Spirit. Some obviously spend time majoring on the minors, and minoring on the majors.

I. THINGS THAT ARE BEHIND US.

Our original and inherited sin problem is behind us. David referred to this when he said, In sin did my mother conceive me (Psa. 51:5). Paul touched on this when he said, By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin… (Rom. 5:12). Our own sins that are the result of that inherited sinful nature is also under the blood. He has promised to not remember them again. As the children sing in Sunday School, Gone, gone, gone yes, my sins are gone.

II. THINGS THAT ARE BEFORE US.

We have no way of knowing what the future holds but we know who holds the future. We also know about the judgment seat of Christ, the marriage supper, the millennial reign on earth, the glorified bodies, the celestial city, and the glories of heaven for all of eternity.

III. THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN US.

We believers have Christ in us. Paul speaks of, Christ in you the hope of glory. (Col. 1:27). We also have the Spirit of God in us. Our bodies are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in us Our Bible say, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power might be of God and not of us (II Cor.4:7).

JANUARY 3

Answer From Heaven

Sometimes answers to prayer are almost unbelievable. We had purchased a camp in the Baltimore area with a $1,000 down payment and that in itself was a miracle of the Lord. What happened next was even more of a miracle.

The buildings were in good condition except for the roof of the big dining hall and our meeting room. We couldn't make payments without campers and we couldn't have camp until the hole in the roof was fixed. A number of us began to pray and share our problem with the Lord. A short time later a plane from the Martin Marietta Corporation in the Baltimore area was flying a test run over our area and a piece of the plane fell off. You will not believe where it fell. It fell right through the hole in the roof of that building. We called the airplane company to report the incident. They came immediately to investigate. They informed us that, of course they would make arrangements to put a new roof on our building.

Our prayer was answered, our problem was solved, and our faith was greatly increased.

John wrote, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him (1 John 5:15).

It should not have been a surprise. Jesus said, ask and ye shall receive. Jeremiah tells us what the Lord promised, Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3).

God works in marvelous ways, His wonders to perform.

JANUARY 4

Real Holy War

Sammy was born in Palestine. He had lived there all his life and now that he was of age he began to dream of going to America.

Some of his family had already migrated and had begun to be successful in business. The more he heard from his relatives the more determined he was to go himself.

His opportunity finally came and he took it. His parents wanted a good education for their boy so they enrolled him in our Christian school. The messages in our chapel programs and Bible teaching in the class rooms soon brought strong conviction and then eventually conversion.

When Sammy told his parents, they were irate. They were practicing Moslems. A holy war broke out in the home. His dad was filled with anger and spit in his face and walked away. He was heartbroken, but the joy of his relationship to Christ caused him to be happy to realize that he was suffering for Christ. He set out to ‘present himself as a living sacrifice’ as Paul wrote in Romans 12:1. Then he found Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ, never the less I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. Then, Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass (Psalm 37:5).

Sammy met a wonderful Christian girl and they were married. They have surrendered their lives to serve the Lord as missionaries to the thousands of Arabs in the United States. That calling now has a new meaning since the September 11th tragedy. Maybe this is what Jesus was saying when He said, So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33).

JANUARY 5

In That Casket

John Bailey had been a Christian for almost 60 years.I had talked with him a number of times about his faith in Christ and we had prayed together often. When John died I was asked to preach his funeral. I preached on the text, precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Several days later I went by the house to see how Mrs. Bailey was coping with her sorrow. I noticed a teenage girl lying on the couch. Mrs. Bailey introduced her to me and said, She is my granddaughter, Carol. I told Carol, I was happy to meet her and asked, Carol were you at your grandfather’s funeral. She assured me that she was. I then asked, Carol, if you had been in that casket instead of your grandfather, where would you be right now? Her reply, It wouldn’t be so good with me.

I pulled up a footstool and sat by the couch and explained to her that she was born with a sinful nature and that she could not go to Heaven unless something was done about that. I then explained the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to her and how she could receive Christ as her personal Saviour right then and there if she would like to. She assured me that she would. She very sweetly put her faith in Christ and was saved.

That would be a good question for anybody. If you, dear friend were in your casket right now, where would your soul be? Let’s face it, we will all be in our caskets one day too soon. That would be a good thing to have settled.

JANUARY 6

Me Too, Please

Everyone listened intently as I gave examples in my sermon, one after another of how people get saved. The occasion was a meeting at the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Florence, AL.

I explained that one of the greatest joys of the Christian life was helping someone establish their relationship to Christ. I read the words of Solomon, he that winneth souls is wise (Prov. 11:30). I then read to them the words, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost and that getting people saved was the closest things to the heart of God (Luke 19:10). I further emphasized that it did not take a Bible college graduate or a preacher to do this. I stated that the Lord would be delighted to use any of us, if we would allow ourselves to be used by Him.

The song leader was a city policeman and his wife was the pianist. They both excelled in their part of the service. When the invitation was given to come forward and tell the Lord that they would accept the challenge to go out and tell someone about Christ and help them get saved. They both responded to the invitation.

The policeman’s wife had a burden for a lady that she worked with. She sought her out at lunch time and tenderly witnessed to her. She willingly accepted Christ right there at the table. Another lady sitting there at the same table listening to the conversation, suddenly interrupted and said, I want to do that, too. She, too was saved right there on the spot.

What a radiant joy the policeman’s wife had on her face as she gave testimony of the experience that night in our service.

JANUARY 7

Losing It

"But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed" (2 Kings 6:5).

The story is told of the man who was sitting on his porch when a truck pulled up in front of his house, a man got out of the truck and dug a hole, then got back in the truck.

A second man got out and filled the hole up. While the man on the porch watched, the other two men repeated the digging and filling up holes seven times.

Finally the man said to the two men, fellows, I don’t want to meddle in your business, but would you mind telling me what you’re doing. The men said, we’re planting trees, but the man who puts the trees in the ground is sick today. They were just going through the motions.

I thought of the student in Elisha’s school who was cutting down a tree. The axe head flew off the handle of his axe.

The axe handle represents the human part in the account while the axe head represents the power of God. What should a person do when he loses his power?

There are four things he could have done:

He could have pouted and blamed the person who made the axe, it was their fault.

He could have pitied himself. Why do bad things always happen to me?

Then he might have pretended. and just kept swinging an empty axe handle. The thud sound of an empty axe handle tells us something is wrong.

Finally he could pray, and that’s what he did. He cried out, Alas, master, for it was borrowed.

We need a sharp edge, if we are to accomplish anything for the Lord.

JANUARY 8

The Giants Keep Coming

In the Bible classic of David and Goliath we see right triumph over wrong. The guy in the white hat wins over the one in the black. The little with God’s help wins over the one who depicts evil.

Even the kindergarten children begin to understand that we can overcome big obstacles and mountain like problems when God is in it. Our Goliath is not a nine foot giant Philistine. It may be cancer, the death of our mate, a wayward child, a suicide in the family, or some other tragic situation.

So many time however we miss another great truth in this story. Little is said about the giant’s four big brothers. After David’s victory these brothers came one by one to avenge their brother’s death. David was not able to handle these giants and had to depend upon his men to come to his aid. Each of the other giants were slain by someone else.

The Christian life is referred to in the Bible as a walk, a race, a pilgrimage, and even a fight. Paul said, I have fought a good fight. Every believer is troubled by the giants of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We have trouble, too with giant despair, pride, doubt, selfishness, jealousy, covetousness, and dozen other ancient sins as Dr. Lee Roberson put it, that dog the steps of modern men.

Just about the time we get one problem solved another one come charging over the hill. However the Bible says, the battle is the Lords. In His strength we can overcome the giant and all his brothers. With Paul we can say, I can do all things, through Christ, which strengtheneth me (Phil. 4:13).

JANUARY 9

The Unfriendly Bible

An old poem reads:

This old book is my guide, tis a friend by my side.

It will lighten and brighten my day,

And each promise I find,

Soothes and gladdens my mind,

As I read it and heed it each day.

This ancient bestseller, the Bible, has been superior to any and all other books for thousands of years. It is an anvil that has worn out multitudes of skeptic hammers. It's literary excellence, its exhaustive wealth of truth, minute accuracy of statements, its fullness of teaching, its eternal freshness, and its marvelous power to change lives makes it the book of books. It is filled with promises of great privileges and tremendous benefits for the Christian. It is an, Open sesame to Ali Baba's cave to those who believe.

However it is not the same book to the unbeliever, the worldly mind, and the disobedient Christian. The truth of the Bible goes against the grain. It rubs the fur the wrong way for the person who is not walking in the light of its teachings.

It warns of accountability and judgment. Those who reject the creator God, refuse to accept the reality of Heaven, the awfulness of an eternal Hell, and the awesome length of eternity try in vain to dethrone God and seat themselves in His place.

We are taught that men do not come to the light because their deeds are evil. The old book can be the best friend a person ever had, giving understanding and comfort in times of need, or it can be an unfriendly volume on the library shelf warning of awful retribution and as Dr. R. G. Lee so eloquently preached, payday someday.

It refuses to go away.

JANUARY 10

Three Hundred Stitches

The young man lying in the hospital bed looked like he was wearing a football helmet, but it turned out to be a large head bandage. The last thing he remembered was speeding down the highway in his car. How did he get here in this hospital bed? What happened anyway?

They told him that that he had been there several days and that he had three hundred stitches in his head. It was a miracle that he had not died right there on the spot, and it’s really a good thing that he didn’t. Eternity is a long time without Christ. He could have been on a slab in the city morgue.

I sat down on the edge of his bed and talked with him about getting things squared away with the Lord. He listened carefully as I talked about the problem of original sin, and the awful judgment to follow at the end of a life without Christ.

After explaining how Christ died on the Cross, was buried in the ground, and then rose again on the third day to make a payment for our sin, and explaining to him how to receive the Lord into his heart, he readily opened his heart to the Lord.

That was a very close call. He could have died and gone out to meet the Lord unprepared. What a tragedy that would have been. Our Bible says, it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment (Heb. 9:27). We ought not wait for the accident, or the heart attack, or stroke before getting around to getting this settled. Behold today is the day of salvation, now in the accepted time (II Cor. 6:2).

JANUARY 11

Costly Mistakes

Dr. Jack Treiber of Santa Clara, CA tells of a young woman in his church who saved her money and bought a brand new car. She washed it every week, carefully vacuumed it on the inside, and drove it to the station and filled the gas tank every Saturday morning, without fail. It would seem that she had the best cared for car in the state of California.

Two years after buying the car and while driving down the road smoke began to roll out from under the hood. It began to jump and sputter. The motor stopped and would not start again.

The mechanic checked everything out and gave her the verdict. There was no oil in the crank case. The motor had completely burned up. The girl did not realize that she was to get the oil checked and changed on a regular basis.

In this case ignorance was no excuse. The damage had been done. Many sincere well meaning folks go to church, live their lives according to the golden rule, and keep things in order but have neglected to accept Christ as their personal Saviour and get born again.

The writer of the book of Hebrews makes it very plain, How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation (Heb. 2:3).

Paul advises the Christian also about this. He says, Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery (1 Timothy 4:14).

Many are guilty of neglect in their devotions, and such matters as church attendance, Bible study, prayer life, giving tithes, and witnessing. Dr. Bill Rice said, The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

JANUARY 12

Caesar’s Big Mistake

It was 44 AD. Julius Caesar’s chariot rounded the corner where a small group of onlookers were gathered around a fallen statue. The head was broken off and so were the arms. It was a statue of the great emperor himself.

At his order, the driver pulled the chariot to a halt. Caesar walked into the crowd to check out the cause. Just then a loyal Roman handed him a small scroll. He tucked it into his robe, boarded his chariot and was quickly on his way. He didn’t bother to read his message. Later that eventful day, he would say those infamous words, Et too Brutus.

The knife that was driven into him just missed the small scroll. Later those who would examine him read the message intended for the great leader. A warning of the assignation was on the scroll giving the names of those involved. A few minutes to read and heed would have changed the history of the world, however it was simply ignored.

How many folks have been given a tract with a message that would prevent them from experiencing eternal death, but they stuffed it in their pocket and didn’t bother to check out the solemn warning.

Ezekiel the prophet gave a good word on this. He preached, He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul (Ezekiel 33:5). Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard (Heb. 3:1).

Paul the Apostle cautioned young Timothy, Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee (1 Timothy 4:16).

JANUARY 13

Little Biting Worms

A couple in Louisiana were having problems in their marriage. They decided to take their small boy to the river and go fishing. They helped him get line baited and thrown into the water, then they moved a short distance away. They threw their lines in the water too, but without worms. They wanted to talk, not fish.

A game warden came along and asked the small boy if he was catching any fish. No the boy said, My fishing worms keep biting me. The warden looked at the worms and asked, where did you get these?

The boy pointed and said, under that rock over there. The game warden picked up the boy and ran to his to parents. The worms were little copper head snakes. They had bitten the boy numerous times. The little fellow died on the way to the hospital This little fellow became the victim of those little poisonous snakes.

We can see a great truth is this account. We have all become victims of the tragedy of the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. The wages of sin is death. Jesus Christ, God's son is the only antidote for the curse of sin. He came to pay for our sin through His death, burial, and resurrection.

When the children of Israel had been bitten by snakes in the wilderness the Lord told Moses to put a brass serpent on a pole and have the people come and look upon it. If they believed that the Lord would heal them they lived. Many died because they did not believe. Jesus later said, As Moses lifted up the serpent, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. By faith we look and live.

JANUARY 14

Answered Prayer

They insist that it is a true story. A couple in Charlotte, North Carolina went out into their back yard and found their cat had climbed and was clinging to the top of a skinny sapling tree and would not come down.

They tried everything to rescue the cat. They put a bowl of warm milk under the tree. That didn't work. They opened a can of cat food, heated it to make the aroma rise and lure the cat down. It would not budge.

In the past the man had done some cowboy tricks with a rope. He told his wife he was going to lasso the top of the tree and pull it down and she should be ready to grab the cat.

He caught the top of the tree with his first throw and gently pulled down the tree and the cat. Just as she reached to get the cat, the rope slipped off and the tree flew back and the cat went flying into the air and over the fence.

Next door and old couple were having a cookout with their little granddaughter from California. They asked her to ask the blessing on the hamburgers and hot dogs. She thanked the Lord for the food and then added, Lord you know that I have been asking you for a kitty cat. Just at that moment the cat landed on the table. She took the cat into her arms thanking the Lord.

When the couple came through the gate to retrieve their kitten they did not get the cat back. The girl took it home with her because God gave it to her.

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).

JANUARY 15

Cop Saved

Joe Paisley was sitting in his squad car at 2:00 A.M. making sure the bad guys did not do bad things to the good guys. What happened next would change Joe's life forever.

Joe was my first cousin. It was quite a surprise when he showed up at my house with his fiancée and asked if I would perform their wedding ceremony. I asked him if he had ever received Christ as his Saviour. His answer was even more of a surprise.

I sure have he said, you helped me get that settled. He went on to tell me that while sitting in the police cruiser, he was listening to rock music on his radio and I came on with a closing thought for the day.

He said, You asked, is there anybody out there who would like to go to heaven, but you don't have the matter settled? He continued, Then you said, why don't you bow you head and ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart right now and save your soul.

I did just that, Joe explained. The Lord saved me then and there, he continued.

A short time later Joe died from cancer. What a blessing it was, when I looked at him in his casket, to know that he had put his trust in the Lord Jesus and now had gone to heaven.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher" (Romans 10:13-14).

He heard, he believed, he called and he got saved.

JANUARY 16

A Trouble-free Life

Are you weary? No need to be. Are you heavy hearted? No need for that either. Do you have troubles? If so, there is something you can do about it.

Dr. Curtis Hutson used to say, I am the only one who can mess up my day. He refused to allow health, finances, weather conditions, people, or any circumstances to rob him of God’s blessings.

We can do that, too. Jesus spoke of being free indeed. In John 14 there are four reasons given to enable me to do this.

First, we have peace. The Bible speaks of Peace with God, Jesus said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

Then there is peace of God. Paul explains this kind of peace when he said, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). This peace is available outside of an intensive care room, or by a casket at the funeral home.

Then, there is a place. Heaven. We have an inheritance, Incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for us. Again, we have a promise. I will come again. This is called the blessed hope of the believer. That thought turns mountains into molehills.

Then the person. Jesus is the only person qualified to get us into heaven He is not a best way, or one of the ways, He is the way and also the only way.

JANUARY 17

Jesus—Judas

When Leonardo DaVinci painted the Last Supper, he used live models. It is said that he literally interviewed hundreds of young men before choosing an innocent looking nineteen year old to model Christ. He spent months perfecting Christ on canvas then seven additional years on the remaining apostles.

A search for a hard calloused face that would represent Judas seemed impossible. At last in a dungeon in Rome, a man with all the marks of sin was found waiting on death row for a life of crime. The king granted permission for the shaggy character to pose for the famous artist.

Each day for months he was brought to the studio. DaVinci kept noticing a strange familiarity about the hardened prisoner. As they talked, the man stated, you should remember me, I posed for you seven years ago. You painted me as Christ.

Sin has done that to many a man. The sins of immorality, drunkenness, living in the drug culture, lying, killing, and stealing, develops hatred, malice, greed, selfishness and corruption. These things turn a beautiful smile to an ugly frown. This is followed by bitterness, anger, and disappointment.

There are enemies out there bent on luring us to a life centered around the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Bible points out that these ideologies and philosophies manifest themselves in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life."

Those who wander down the broad road lose freedom, health, peace, and their life. The prophet Isaiah stated it well, There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked (Isaiah 57:21).

With Christ that story can be reversed. He said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth. . . (John 14:27).

JANUARY 18

A Man With A Problem

A man went to a psychologist with his problem.

All right, what is your problem? asked the psychologist.

Well, said the man, I am married, I have three children, I have two houses, one in the city and one on the shore, two cars and a big boat.

You don’t seem to have much of a problem, interrupted the psychologist.

Oh yes I have, explained the patient. I only make $40.00 a week. His problem was very simple. The solution was a bit more of a problem. His income just did not reach.

This clearly illustrates a spiritual problem very common to a lot of people. Their spirituality just doesn’t reach. The questions and problems that mounted up while the spiritual income has steadily declined.

Our nation, our communities and our homes are speeding downhill morally. Each month we have an increase in crime, unwed mothers, alcoholism, riots, strikes, confusion, corruption in government and society in general. At the same time there is less concern for church attendance and prayer, revival efforts and recognition of God’s promises and claims in the Bible. Our problem is evident. Our spirituality doesn’t reach.

What shall we do about it? There seems to be two recommendation. Take some LSD and ignore the whole thing or repent and turn to Christ. We have freedom here. We are free to choose our pill but we are not free to choose the results of that choice.

Solomon said, There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12). The Bible promises a home in Heaven but it is contingent upon accepting Jesus as our Saviour. Then we are promised abundant life, and that is contingent upon putting our lives in His hands.

JANUARY 19

Good Out Of Bad

Traveling across the country in meetings has it blessings and benefits but sometimes it has drawbacks. Going to new places and meeting new people can add so much to a person's life.

After being out on the road for six weeks we returned home to find our house had been burglarized. We lost watches, rings, small radios, a few coins, and numerous other things. The Rolex watches that we paid only thirty five dollars in Indonesia and another in Tijuana, Mexico were snatched up by the bugler thinking he had struck gold.

Some of the items were special to us because of sentimental reasons, but not of much value at the pawn shop. We asked ourselves the age old question, Why do bad things happen to good people?

We made a list of the missing items and turned it in to our insurance company. The total was estimated at something near $1800.00. The insurance company paid in full.

If we had sold all those things at a yard sale we probably would not have received even one hundred dollars. I jokingly told my wife that we should arrange another break in for next year. What