Month: December 2018

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 7:1-28; Daniel 8:1-27; Revelation 3:7-22

That they may set their hope in God. Psalm 78:7, NKJV

Bible history is interesting, informative, and important. Why do we need to study this history? There are lessons to be learned (see 1 Cor. 10:1-12), and illustrations to be grasped. Jesus Himself constantly quoted Old Testament history. This chapter provides another reason. It is an overview of Israel’s history. It emphasizes how much we need to know how God worked in the past. By doing so, we learn to “set [our] hope [on] God,” the one behind all history. —N. C. Funston

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home. —Isaac Watt

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 6:1-22; Daniel 7:1-28; Revelation 2:18-3:6

Fret not thyself because of evildoers. Psalm 37:1
Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way. Psalm 37:7
Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Psalm 37:8

One of Satan’s clever devices is to get people to fret (see Hannah in 1 Sam. 1:6). King David tells us rather to: trust (v. 3), delight (v. 4), commit (v. 5), rest and wait patiently (v. 7). If these terms are characteristics of the believer’s life, there will be neither the time nor the inclination to fret. The decision is up to us. He promises His peace to those who trust Him. —Wm. H. Gustafson

God’s almighty arms are round me; peace, peace is mine!
Judgment scenes need not confound me, peace, peace is mine! —J. Denham Smith

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 5:1-17; Daniel 6:1-28; Revelation 2:1-17

And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. 2 Samuel 12:30

When Rabbat was conquered, the defeated king’s glorious crown was placed on David’s head, manifesting his victory and supremacy. But, what is that compared to the conquest of our Lord? Revelation 11:15 announces, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” “And on his head were many crowns” (Rev. 19:12). All praise to Him who
reigns on high. —Carl Knott

Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is king of all. —Matthew Bridges

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 3:1-4:24; Daniel 5:1-31; Revelation 1:1-20

Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. John 1:38-39
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. John 1:46

Have you ever had an experience so magnificent that words alone could not possibly adequately describe the event. Sometimes it’s better to just say, “You’ve got to come and see this!”. Philip was a great evangelist bringing many people to Christ. His words were few, simply “Come and see.” If you are still not saved, there is an invitation that comes from the Lord Himself. Come and see! —Sid Halsband

Come and see, what Jesus did—when who I was, met who He is.
Come and behold, so you’ll believe, don’t take my word, just come and see. —Rodney Birch

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 1:1-2; Daniel 4:1-37; 3 John

He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

I like to ask the Lord to wake me each day with a verse from His Word. This morning the verse was the one above. What a promise! As I meditated, my heart focused on the words “He” and “never.” He has committed Himself to keeping me. He is the One to whom all power has been given. If He says it, that is enough for me. Never! There will never be a single moment when He fails in His work. He will never
leave or forsake me. If He says never, it cannot be changed and I can fully rest in Him and His promise. —C. Watson

Till then, ’tis the path Thou hast trod,
My delight and my comfort shall be,
I’m content with Thy staff and Thy rod,
Till with Thee all Thy glory I see. —J. N. D.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 36:1-23; Daniel 3:1-30; 2 John

And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 1 Kings 17:4
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are. James 5:17

Elijah was hiding from Ahab. But, what was he doing? Nothing! Yet Elijah was just as much in the will of God during that period of seeming idleness as when he confronted Ahab on Mt. Carmel. Are some of us enduring forced inactivity of various types? What lessons in faith, obedience, humility, guidance and trust, to mention but a few, can we learn at this time for God’s glory and our comfort? —Vernon Markle

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus,
Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone. — E. S. Lorenz

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 35:1-27; Daniel 2:24-49; 1 John 5:1-21

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God. 1 Peter 2:10 

Christians are a spiritual race of humans which never existed before Pentecost. Planet Earth never before had residents who were not its citizens and never before had official ambassadors who weren’t of an earthly nationality. Christians have a better city, with better foundations, built upon a better hope. We shouldn’t get comfortable here; we’re only occupying until He comes. —Rick Morse

This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through;
My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. —Jim Reeves

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 34:1-33; Daniel 2:1-23; 1 John 4:1-21

Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. Isaiah 19:25

Isaiah was told of the great day when two of Israel’s perennial enemies would convert to the Lord. Egypt was a proud superpower who tyrannically enslaved many people. Assyria’s name was synonymous with cruelty and violence. But God specializes in graciously turning His enemies from opposition to salvation. Many nations shall be added to the Lord Jesus’ kingdom when He comes to reign on earth (Zech. 2:11). They will be transformed in the same way that every sinner is—by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. —K. R. Keyser

Come then to this Physician, His help He’ll freely give,
He makes no hard condition, ’tis only—look and live. —John Newton

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 33:1-25; Daniel 1:1-21; 1 John 3:1-24

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Psalm 107:15-16

We may not live in the times of the apostles, when miracles were common place, as a sign of a new beginning. However never forget that God is still the God of the impossible. Where problems arise, like a great wall of iron in your pathway, he can break through. When God performs the impossible make sure you praise him with all your heart and never forget those benefits. —Brian Russell

Praise ye the Lord again again
The spirit strikes the chord
Nor touches He our hearts in vain
We praise we praise the Lord. —Mrs. Peters

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 32:1-33; Ezekiel 48:1-35; 1 John 2:12-29

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1
And he (Peter) said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things. John 21:17

Wise King Solomon would remind us that we are creatures of ignorance. We do not know what will happen from the sunrise to the sunset. Yet with our Lord it is different. He is omniscient. He knows all things. How we marvel as we consider that our Lord knowing full well what lay before Him, went all the way to the cross for you and me. Hallelulah what a Saviour! —John M. Clegg

Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow. —Elvina Hall