Month: December 2019

Nehemiah 8:1-18; Zechariah 4:1-14; Revelation 13:1-18

And thou shalt call his name Jesus. Matthew 1:21
And they shall call his name Emmanuel…God with us. Matthew 1:23

Over several years, our children listed more than fifty ways that our family surname was incorrectly spelled. Regardless of its spelling, so far as we know, our name bears no special significance. However, the names referring to our Lord Jesus Christ in the above texts are most meaningful. Jesus (Jehovah is salvation) indicates the mission of His first advent. Emmanuel (God with us) refers to His intimacy with those He came to save. He came to be both a Saviour and a Shepherd. —Curtis Thigpen

There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in mine ear, the sweetest name on earth. —Frederick Whitfield

Nehemiah 7:1-73; Zechariah 2:1-3:10; Revelation 12:1-17

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Acts 28:31

This closing verse of Acts summarizes the faithfulness of Paul. There is no mention of him being under Roman arrest or that he would eventually be executed. Until he finished his course, he was resolved and enabled to further the gospel of Christ. On the day Luke concluded this book, the final ending was already known to God. For every believer who sets their face as a flint to fulfill God’s will, there will always be a most blessed “happily ever after” ending to our story. —Rick Morse

In Him I stand unfearing, in everlasting bliss;
Christ is my boast and glory, all wrath for me is o’er. —Paul Gerhardt

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

For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? Psalm 6:5

You never can be thankful too soon. You never know when it will be too late. Of the lost we read they, “neither were thankful” (Rom. 1:21). Theirs is a short life and ingratitude is a tenacious habit that is hard to break. But given a choice, what could be a happier urgency than to spend this brief life showing gratitude? —J. A. Bjorlie

Come ye thankful people come, raise the song of harvest home,
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin;
God our Maker doth provide, for our wants to be supplied;
Come ye thankful people come; raise the song of harvest home. —Henry Alford

Nehemiah 5:1-19; Haggai 2:1-23; Revelation 10:1-11

The sting of death is sin. 1 Corinthians 15:56, NKJV
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8, NKJV

The process of dying can be traumatic. The anticipated parting from family and friends can create agonizing moments of sorrow. As difficult as these circumstances are, the real “sting of death” is sin. God’s Word says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement” (Heb. 9:27). Have you believed what Christ did for you on the cross? Or, will you choose to refuse God’s gift of eternal life through His Son and face the “wrath of God upon [you]” (Eph. 5:6)? —Bob Cretney

If in sin you longer wait, you may find no open gate,
And your cry be just too late: be in time! —Charles Mason

Nehemiah 4:1-23; Haggai 1:1-15; Revelation 9:1-21

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me. Psalm 138:7
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness. Psalm 112:4

No matter how dark the situation, the Lord provides the resources needed to sustain us. The promises of His Word, the help of the Holy Spirit, the fellowship of like-minded believers—all these and more provide the balm to revive our hearts and renew our spirits as we make our way toward heaven. Don’t linger under the juniper tree (1 Kgs. 19). Help is on the way! —Mark Kolchin

His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. —E. Mote

Nehemiah 3:1-32; Daniel 12:1-13; Revelation 8:1-13

Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 15:25-26

Barnabas and Paul had been opposed by witchcraft at Paphos; driven out of Antioch by a city-wide persecution; assaulted and threatened with stoning at Iconium. Finally Paul was stoned and left for dead at Lystra! Yet in spite of all this, they returned to Lystra—the place of stoning—in order to strengthen the brethren. They were like the Old Testament saints, who suffered gravely for God—“Of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38). Can others say that of me? —David Croudace

Oh Jesus, If I die upon a foreign field some day,
‘Twould be no more than love demands, no less could I repay;
And if by death to living they can Thy Glory see,
I’ll take my cross and follow close to Thee. —Ira Stamphill

Nehemiah 1:1-2:20; Daniel 11:21-45; Revelation 7:1-17

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. Psalm 22:10

Only the incarnate Son loved God the Father with His entire being and life. From Bethlehem’s manger to Calvary’s cross, Christ glorified Him with every thought, word and deed. Never was God more honoured than when Christ sacrificed His life on the cross. As Romans 15:3 says: “Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me”. Only by abiding in Him can we love the Father as we should. —Keith Keyser

O Thou who this world as a lone pilgrim trod,
Thy Father our Father, Thy God is our God;
To Thee we behold the bright seraphim bow:
Lord Jesus, what glory doth rest on Thee now! —Ira Sankey

Ezra 10:1-44; Daniel 11:1-20; Revelation 6:1-17

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2

One of the challenges of leadership in assembly life is to know when it is time to pass on the baton! Christian testimony is illustrated by the long-distance relay race. Crucial to the success and victory of the team is the careful passing of the baton from one runner to the next. Sometimes elders are afraid or reluctant to relinquish the baton of responsibility to the next generation. One of the greatest sources of encouragement comes from remembering it’s the Lord’s work not mine! —Sid Halsband

Channels only, blessed Master, but with all Thy wondrous power,
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us every day and every hour. —M. E. Maxwell

Ezra 9:1-15; Daniel 10:1-21; Revelation 5:1-14

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. Ephesians 4:4

True believers may differ in personal viewpoints and also in minor doctrinal issues. But these all pale in comparison to the oneness we have in Christ. We all have a Son to worship, a Lord to serve, a Saviour to anticipate. Practically we demonstrate this by showing humility, forbearing love, and patience, striving for unity in the local church. Depending upon the indwelling Spirit enables success. Christ is our peace. In Him we have much to agree upon. —George Ferrier

Christian hearts, in love united, seek alone in Jesus rest;
Has He not your love excited?
Then let love inspire each breast.
Members on our Head depending, His commands attending. —Nicolas Graf von Zinzendorf

Ezra 8:1-36; Daniel 9:1-27; Revelation 4:1-11

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Acts 12:6

David and Peter, found themselves suffering trials that might well have robbed them of sleep, yet they were able to “put their heads on the pillow,” and sink into slumber. David tells us why. He says, “thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety”. There are times when trials in our lives would drive sleep far from our eyes, however, if like David and Peter, we rest in the confidence, that even in adversity, God’s perfect plan is unfolding for our lives, we will rest securely under His watchful eye. —W. H. Burnett

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom, nought but calm is found. —G. T. Caldbeck