Month: December 2013

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 9-10; Malachi 3:7 to 4:6; Rev. 22:6-21

 

Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh … and sat down.     Exodus 2:15
But Moses stood up to help them.     Exodus 2:17

 

Sometimes life overwhelms. Oh to sit and never get up. Perhaps that is your mind today. Well sit awhile then. It is not a shame to need respite—sometimes it is a necessity. But the true measure of a man or woman of God is their readiness to stand again. Life had been harsh to Moses. How good it must have been to finally sit. But before long a need arose. Perhaps Moses longed to stay at rest and wait for another to step forward. But he stood. Needs still abound—prayer to be made; justice to be done; souls to win; sheep to shepherd. Eternal rest will come. But it has not come yet. Stand up.    —S. McEachern

 

Now let my soul arise, and tread the tempter down;
My Captain leads me forth, to conquest and a crown.
—Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 7-8; Malachi 2:10 to 3:6; Rev. 21:9 to 22:5

 

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?    Micah 6:8

 

Increased revelation from God brings added responsibility to man. Micah’s words illustrate the point. The Lord, having “shown what is good,” declares His requirements. He looks for a three-fold response, in which personal integrity, “do justly;” social justice, “love mercy;” and, fellowship with  Himself, “walk humbly with thy God,” are key features. The question today is: Does every part of my life show a genuine response to God’s revelation of Himself in His Son?    —George Hall

Thou my everlasting portion, more than friend, or life, to me;
All along my pilgrim journey, Saviour, I would walk with Thee.
—Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 5-6; Malachi 1 to 2:9; Rev. 20:7 to 21:8

 

Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.    Acts 20:7

 

Paul waited in Troas for this event on the first day of the week and then he left on Monday. To “break bread” every day would be a burden, once a year is almost never, once a month is hardly worthy of Him, but once a week perfectly suits the time we have to prepare to gather around His table. How is it, then? When we come together, does everyone have a psalm, a doctrine, a word to offer up in thanksgiving to God for His unspeakable gift?    —Tom Steere

 

We come, our gracious Father, with many hearts as one,
And here we only gather, in mem’ry of Thy Son.
We prize each happy token of peace with Thee, our God!
The bread—His body given; the wine—His precious blood.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 3-4; Zech. 13:7 to 14:21; Rev. 19:11 to 20:6

 

And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not.    Jeremiah 7:13

 

The Hebrew verb translated “rising up early” figuratively showed God’s eager desire for Israel’s repentance. He beseeched them earnestly and urgently, early and often. Friend, today God is tenderly pleading with you to repent and put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He earnestly implores you because He loves you. He urgently appeals to you because the alternative is a lost eternity. He pleads with you early and often because time is short. Will you trust Him today?   
—George Ferrier

Come and He will give you rest; trust Him, for His word is plain;
He will take the sinfulest; Christ receiveth sinful men. —E. Neumeister

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 2; Zechariah 12 to 13:6; Revelation 19:1-10

 

David therefore besought God for the child,… And it came to pass that on the seventh day, that the child died.    2 Samuel 12:16-18

 

As young parents we grieved when our newborn baby lived only a few hours. A friend offered comfort by referring us to King David’s example. When David and Bathsheba’s baby became ill, he fasted and wept. But when the child died he changed from mourning to worshipping saying, “Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he cannot return to me” (2 Sam. 12:23). If David was confident that his child was in heaven, we could be assured as well. Our spirits calmed and were glad that our baby girl had been spared earth’s trials and instead was eternally blessed.    —E. Dyck

 

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’er shadowed, sweetly my soul shall rest.
—Fanny J. Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 1; Zechariah 11; Revelation 18

 

How shall I know this?    Luke 1:18 (NKJV)
How can this be?    Luke 1:34 (NKJV)

 

At first these questions seem to be quite alike, but they are not. The angel, Gabriel, brought the message of the birth of John the Baptist to Zecharias and of the birth of the Lord Jesus to Mary. Their responses teach us an important lesson. Zecharias questioned the credibility of the messenger saying, “How shall I know this?” and was dumbstruck. Mary, on the other hand, responded in faith and was awestruck by the wonder of it all. How does the celebration of our Saviour’s birth strike you? Be careful how you answer.    —Rex Trogdon

 

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply, echo back their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 13; Zechariah 9-10; Revelation 17

 

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass.    Luke 2:15

What a remarkable beginning it was! A poor carpenter from Nazareth, a lowly maiden and a crowded Inn in Bethlehem. Angels filled the sky while the Lord of the angels was wrapped in swaddling clothes.  The glory of the Lord came upon them while the Lord of glory slept in His manger bed. Well might we say with the shepherds, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass.”    —Jim Flanigan

Who is He in yonder stall, at whose feet the shepherds fall?
Tis the Lord, O wondrous story, tis the Lord, the King of Glory.
At His feet we humbly fall; Crown Him! Crown Him Lord of all!
—B. R. Hanby

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 12; Zechariah 8; Revelation 16

 

It came to pass in those days that there went out a decree.   Luke 2:1
For unto you is born this day … a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11

 

“In those days,” (Luke 2:1) Caesar Augustus ruled and in an outpost of his vast empire, two insignificant people: one a carpenter and the other a peasant girl, were on their way to Bethlehem because of His decree. In Mary’s womb, she carried the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Was Augustus really in control? He did not know the promise of Micah 5:2, “But thou Bethlehem Ephratah … out of thee shall He come forth … to be ruler in Israel.” Yes, “in those days” a sovereign God was at work and Mary brought forth the Saviour!    —Jim Comte

 

Born among cattle in poverty sore, living in meekness by Galilee’s shore,
Dying the death as the wicked ones swore, Jesus, wonderful Lord.
—Paul White

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 10-11; Zechariah 7; Revelation 15

 

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.    Luke 2:11

 

From a human standpoint it was not Joseph and Mary that planned the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. It was the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus who organised it by arranging a census. He had no idea that he would set in motion history’s most significant life story. Son of Abraham, Son of David, Son of Mary, Son of God! His birth in Bethlehem established His claim to be the long promised Messiah—Saviour of the world. And in a coming day, King of kings and Lord of lords.    —Drew Craig

 

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. —F. Oakley

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 9; Zechariah 5-6; Revelation 14

 

Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.    Isaiah 9:6

 

Isaiah’s statement refers to the incarnation of our Saviour. Here we have confirmation of the eternal Sonship of the Lord Jesus. Note that while a child is born, this is not said concerning the Son. No! He is “given.” For Christ to be given implies that He must of necessity had a being prior to Bethlehem. The Sonship of Christ did not begin at Bethlehem, nor did it ever have a beginning, because He is eternal. Concerning Melchisedec it is said “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God” (Heb. 7:3). We bow in worship as we think of Him, the Eternal Son of the Eternal God.    —W. H. Burnett

 

Thou art the Everlasting Word, the Father’s only Son,
God manifestly seen and heard, and heaven’s beloved one. —J. Conder