Tuesday, December 19, 2017

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 6:1-19; Zechariah 1:1-21; Revelation 11:1-19

And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off. 1 Kings 20:11

Prior to battle, the Syrian king boasted of his martial prowess. However, making grand claims as if he had already won was foolish. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Christ promised beforehand to die as a redemptive sacrifice on the cross and rise again (Matt. 16:21). This was no idle boast, for He did exactly what He said He would. He has also promised to take believers to heaven’s glory. —Keith Keyser

To gladdest day, from saddest night,
From deepest shame to glory bright,
From depths of death, to life’s fair height,
From darkness to the joy of light. —Horatius Bonar