Month: December 2024

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

He sought to see Jesus who he was. Luke 19:3

Millions lined the streets to see the Queen’s funeral. A similar outpouring of grief was seen for the funeral of Queen Victoria. One difference between the two funerals was that whereas nobody was allowed to get a vantage by climbing trees that lined the streets to see the recent procession, there were many adventurous people who scaled trees for
a better view during Victoria’s procession. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to avoid the crowds. But since he wanted to get a better idea as to “who Jesus really was”, he needed a closer meeting and had to come down to earth. If you are a seeking soul, best to come down and show humility and respect and thereby get a blessing. —Brian Powlesland

Zacchaeus went a very little way, and a very little way went he;
And when he welcomed Jesus in, some changes they would see.  —Christopher Idle

Ezra 6:1-22; Daniel :1-287; Revelation 2:18-3:6

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. Job 10:2
God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. Job 33:12-13

Job learned this truth—God does not have to answer our “whys”. We too need to trust Him fully when we pass through dark times, whether we understand the reason for them or not. Then we’ll say with Job, “he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). – Elizabeth C. Bishop

God never moves without purpose or plan,
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the Lord, though your testing seems long;
In the depths of the darkness, He gives us a song. —Ron Hamilton

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

Please, show me Your glory. Exodus 33:18 NKJV

In making this request, Moses wanted to know more of God’s person. The Lord revealed Himself in visual glory that was veiled, but He made a further verbal revelation of His name. He declared something of His character and conduct toward humanity. He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Ex. 34:6). He forgives sinners but executes justice on the guilty. We will have to wait until heaven to see the full visible expression of glory but in the interval, we can see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth, as revealed in the Word of God. —Gary McBride

What grace, O Lord, and beauty shone around Thy steps below!
What patient love was seen in all Thy life and death of woe!  —E. Denny

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

And he…began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Matthew 26:37-38

Matthew tells us our blessed Saviour fell on His face in Gethsemane.  Luke says He was in agony and His sweat became like great drops of blood. Although others prostrated themselves before the Lord, the weight of His burden was unlike any other. No scales could weigh the heaviness of His holy heart that night. The compression of His soul
as He anticipated infinite suffering could only be appreciated by His Father as they communed together in the Garden. —Peter Ramsay

Gethsemane can I forget? Or there Thy conflict see,
Thine agony and blood-like sweat, and not remember Thee?  —James Montgomery

Ezra 1:1-2:70; Daniel 4:1-37; 3 John 1:1-14

I have called by name Bezalel…of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom…and in all manner or workmanship, to design artistic works. Exodus 31:2-4 NKJV

Bezalel was chosen by God to make all the complex parts of the tabernacle. He was of the tribe of Judah. With Spirit wisdom Bezalel took the raw materials given to him and crafted things of beauty. There is another master Craftsman from the tribe of Judah. He takes the raw material of our lives and crafts something beautiful out of them, something that will glorify God. Sometimes we may wonder what He is doing. But trust and rest in Him. He is accomplishing His work in you, even today. —Annette Baal

Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim! —Fanny J. Crosby

2 Chronicles 36:1-23; Daniel 3:1-30; 2 John 1:1-13

And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord. Ex. 16:7
In the morning you shall be filled with bread. Ex. 16:12 NKJV

The glory of the Lord is an overwhelming subject and manifested in so many different ways. Here it is associated with God’s provision to His people in the wilderness with bread. It is a beautiful picture of the Son of God who said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger” (John 6:35). If you have taken that step and come to Him, you will never go unsatisfied again. Also, through Him you are going to see and share in His glories for all
eternity. What a prospect! —Jim Paul

The brightness of God’s glory, and the image of God’s being,
The heir of richest majesty, the arm of regal might;
Creator of the universe, all-knowing and all-seeing;
Is Christ who brings forgiveness and the lifting of our night. —M. Perry

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

I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou has given me, for they are thine. John 17:9
Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost. John 17:12

How wonderful that our Lord Jesus Christ considers every believer a special gift from the Father. How unique and precious we all are to Him. This certainly lifts our spirits to greater heights and helps us rise out of any feelings of depression and worthlessness. John 3:16 tells us what He has done for us. 1 John 3:16 tells us what we now need to do for one another. Let’s look at all believers as special gifts straight from the heart of God to the Lord Jesus Christ.
—Eleanor Isaacson

Once more to tell it, would I embrace;
I’m only a sinner saved by grace! —James M. Gray

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

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. John 11:15

Consider our Emmanuel’s emotions. The Man of Sorrows (Isa. 53:3) wept with Mary and Martha over their sorrow at the death of Lazarus (John 11:35), and over Jerusalem because of the city’s impending judgment (Luke 19:41). We read of His “strong crying and tears” in Gethsemane (Heb. 5:7). But in our text He was glad. Also, He “rejoiced in spirit” and said, “even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Luke 10:21) We see pictured the glad Saviour’s
rejoicing in His parable of the Shepherd (Luke 15:3-7). —L. Cain

But all thro’ the mountains,
Thunder-riv’n, and up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of heav’n,
“Rejoice! I have found my sheep!” —E. Clephane

2 Chronicles 33:1-25; Daniel 1:1-21; 1 John 3L1-24

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. Ephesians 6:7

We speak of the “missionary call” as a prerequisite to overseas service. But what of the faithful Christian working at his secular job? Every believer in every job, regardless how laborious, and difficult, has a divine calling. Whether a clerk at the store, the mother of a young family or a school teacher. We are all called to be faithful in fulfilling our duties. Perhaps our vocation does not attract much notice from the world but remember God notices! Being
called and being faithful in performing secular work is as important as faithfulness in overseas missionary work. —Sid Halsband

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, by the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine.  —Fanny J Crosby

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

What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? Genesis 24:65

Abraham’s servant was returning from Mesopotamia with Rebecca, the future bride of Isaac. The long weary days of travel in the wilderness were about to end, and Rebecca sees her bridegroom coming to meet her, and to escort her to his home. So it will be with ourselves as the Bride of Christ. Soon the weary days of wilderness travel will end, and our beloved will meet us in the air, and escort us to our heavenly home. —Willie H. Burnett

O the blessed joy of meeting, all the desert past,
O the wondrous words of greeting, He shall speak at last!
He and I together ent’ring those fair courts above;
He and I together sharing, all the Father’s love. —Gerhardt Tersteegen