Month: December 2022

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

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23

As Christmas approaches, I have been reflecting on the glory of God. I think of men like Job, Moses, Isaiah and Daniel, who all received a vision of God in His glory, and were prostrated by it. Faces were averted, lips were unclean, virtues were as corrupt as vices. But in His grace, the fullness of God’s glory became flesh. Our longing to know God was satisfied as, He “dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” (John 1:14, NKJV). How precious to us is Jesus who was born in Bethelehem so long ago, our glorious Lord. —Cathy Oriold

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. —Helen Howarth Lemmel

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

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:31-33

In this angelic announcement are seven “shalls”, revealing the divine certainties that came with our Saviour’s birth. They are the miracle of His birth, the meaning of His Name, the magnitude of His work, the majesty of His Person, the moment of His glory, the manner of His rule and the magnificence of His kingdom. Perfect Person! Perfect work! —Mark Kolchin

Oh, what a Saviour that He died for me!
From condemnation He hath made me free. —James McGranahan

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

Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! Isaiah 42:1, NKJV

God calls us to look at and consider His Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who delights the Father’s soul and fully finished the ministry He was sent to fulfill. This verse tells us that the perfect Servant was upheld by God. As we serve, how much more do we need to be upheld by God? We need to be completely dependent upon Him, looking to Him for every need and having no confidence in ourselves. May we allow our God to uphold us in every area of our life. —Jennifer Flokstra

Looking into Jesus, wond’ringly we trace
Heights of power and glory, depths of love and grace.
Vistas far unfolding, ever stretch before,
As we gaze, beholding, ever more and more. —Frances R. Havergal

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

They…fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11, NKJV

The Magi, with great purpose of heart, pursued Him until they found Him. Then they fell down and worshiped Him. Worship goes deep—right to our core. It is so much more than effervescent excitement and emotional music. Authentic worship causes us to literally open the treasures of our heart and present them to Him without reserve. He is worthy of the very best that we possess. As a worshiper, am I holding back something from Him today? —P. Ramsay

All to Jesus I surrender, humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, take me Jesus take me now.  —Judson W. Van DeVenter

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

And the way of peace have they not known. Romans 3:17
To guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:79b

One of the descriptions of unrighteous sinners—all of us—in Romans 3 is that they have not known the way of peace. But there is One who can guide our feet into the way of peace. The incarnate Word is “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation and peace with God. —Warren Hagey

Would you have this peace forever?
Rest in Jesus Christ, the Giver,
He will bless you,
With the fullness of His light.  —E. C. Henninges

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

For he remembered that they were but flesh. Psalm 78:39
They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. Psalm 78:42
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:14

Memory is one of the remarkable gifts given to the human race by the Creator. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “This do in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:24). He knew they (and we) would be prone to forget. Thankfully He will never forget us. “Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee” (Isa. 49:15). —Wm. H. Gustafson

This do, remember Me—O blessed living Lord,
What depths of grace we now can trace,
In that most precious word! —James G. Deck

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

That the Lord thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. Jeremiah 42:3
And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah. Jeremiah 42:7

As Christians when we face crises we turn to God which is good and right. However, oftentimes we must exercise the discipline of waiting on Him, to hear His answer to our predicament. In our instant culture, patience is not a virtue that is cultivated or prized. The answer will come. As we wait, may He help us to sense and enjoy His compassion and protection. —Glenda Paquette

I will wait for You, I will wait for You,
Through the storm and through the night;
I will wait for You, surely wait for You,
For Your love is my delight. —K. Getty, J. Kauflin, M. Merker, S. Townend

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

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2, NKJV

When John wrote to his friend, Gaius, he gave a glimpse into his prayer on his behalf. Would we like someone to pray this for us? We spend so much time on physical fitness—jogging, walking, and exercising. But what about our spiritual exercise: reading the Word, praying, and serving? We might rather people pray that our soul may prosper, just as our body prospers. It’s time to reset our focus. —Rex Trogdon

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children; help those who are weak;
Forgetting in nothing, His blessing to seek.  —William D. Longstaff

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

And everyone who was in distress…in debt…discontented gathered to him. 1 Samuel 22:2, NKJV

Saul’s army was composed of men who were strong, chosen for their bravery and skill. David’s army, during this time, was made up of the distressed, the indebted, the disgruntled. Saul’s army followed a king who was in pursuit of his own glory and power. David’s men followed a man who passionately sought God’s glory. Some of them became “mighty men of valour”. Sometimes we may feel that we have been given discontented, disillusioned people to be responsible for. As we follow David’s example of devotion to God’s glory, may we too expect to see them become mighty men and women, valiant for truth. —M. MacMullen

God, my King, Thy might confessing, ever will I bless Thy name;
Day by day Thy throne addressing, still will I Thy praise proclaim.—R. Mant

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

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind… Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed. Jeremiah 17:9-10, 14, NKJV
The word of God is living and powerful…and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12, NKJV

Never underestimate the power of the Scriptures! Through them the true condition of our hearts is revealed. They discern the thoughts and intents of our heart better than we do ourself. Our daily time in God’s Word will help us to see our flaws and transgressions. With repentance and confession, the Lord will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —E. C. B.

Like a mighty rock undaunted ’mid the raging storms of time,
The Bible stands eternal, and it glows with a light sublime.—R. Hamilton