DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 4:1-5:32; Job 6:1-7:21; Matt. 4:1-25
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3
The motto of the London Stock Exchange is “Dictum Meum Pactum” meaning “my word is my bond.” Founded in 1698, its sentiment goes back to a time when many business deals were confirmed with a handshake. A promise became a contract and the minds of the parties involved were contented. If man’s mind can be at peace on the basis of a verbal promise, how much more peace of mind can be enjoyed by trusting in the word of the Lord. —Brian Powlesland
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord. Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God. —R. K. Carter
DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 3:1-24; Job 4:1-5:27; Matt. 3:1-17
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10
It is a great day when someone puts their trust in the Saviour. There are often tears of joy that accompany that blessed moment of salvation. How wonderful to know that there is joy in heaven too! Are you saved? If not, there can be joy on earth and in heaven if you repent and put your trust in Him today. —John M. Clegg
O happy day, that fixed my choice, On Thee, my Saviour and my God! Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad. Happy day! Happy day! When Jesus washed my sins away. —Philip Doddridge
DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 2:4-25; Job 2:11-3:26; Matt. 2:1-23
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. Matthew 17:8 But we see Jesus… Hebrews 2:9a
The world seems to get busier and more challenging every day. But thankfully, we have the Lord Jesus Christ as an anchor for our soul (Heb. 6:19a). As we keep our eyes solely upon Him, we can rest assured in His perfect peace. He is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2a). We can trust Him completely no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in today. —Annette Baal
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
DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 1:1-2:3; Job 1:1-2:10; Matt. 1:1-25
In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. Genesis 8:13, ESV
This moment marked a new beginning for Noah and his family. For us, today is the beginning of a new year. Today is auspicious, but in truth, each day is a new beginning for us. So as this year unfolds and as each day unfolds, let us keep our focus on the Lord, serve Him more fully, love Him more deeply and learn to rest in His love! —Vickie Gaynier
O, dear Lord, three things I pray: To see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, Follow Thee more nearly, day by day. —Richard de Wych
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Exodus 12:2
What a “Happy New Year” this was to be. Freedom from slavery, poverty and hopelessness. To come under a new head—Moses. To have a new hope—the promised land of Canaan. All this because of the blood of the Passover lamb, which sheltered the people from judgment. Dear reader, would you like to have a Happy New Year? Would you like to receive redemption through the blood of Christ, to be made a new creature in Christ Jesus, to have the sure prospect of heaven’s bliss at the close of this life? Trust Him now. —W. H. Burnett
I will sing of my Redeemer, and His wondrous love to me, On the cruel cross He suffered, from the curse to set me free. —Philip P. Bliss
And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. Numbers 11:1
These complainers, living as far as possible from God, were burnt by fire. To live apart from God is death. God wants us to come near, but the only option is to do so in practical holiness and through His holy Way—Christ. The writer of Hebrews warns us that God has not changed, that “We may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29). —W. A. H.
Adore and tremble, for our God is a consuming fire! His jealous eyes His wrath inflame and raise His vengeance higher. —Isaac Watts
Can we really trust the Bible? In this 50 minute presentation, author and speaker Warren Henderson discusses the internal and external evidences that prove the Bible can be trusted. We would encourage you to listen to this presentation.
For more information and his books that expand on these subjects, check out these titles by Warren Henderson:
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. Psalm 68:5
The God of heaven and earth has His careful watch over the fatherless and the widows; the orphans and the elderly; the needy and often neglected of this world. James reminds us that this is the nature of true religion: “to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (Jas. 1:27). Our God has a heart full of compassion for those in need. Do we? —Sam Thorpe Jr.
Never a heartache, and never a groan, Never a teardrop and never a moan; Never a danger, but there on the throne, Moment by moment, He thinks of His own. —D. W. Whittle
“Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building.” 1 Chronicles 28:2
What should be the attitude of our heart heading into the New Year? May I suggest we adopt the same attitude
as our spiritual father David, who had it in his heart to do something for the God he so loved? Many may have plans
for their finances, their homes or vocations in the coming year, but who among us has planned it in his heart to do
something big for God?
David had big plans for God. After having spent twenty or more years running around the Judean countryside trying to escape the fierce jealousy of Saul, after spending another half a dozen years consolidating the kingdom after Saul’s demise and defending it from imposters to the throne, David did not take up the easy life. He certainly could have. But instead he took up a new project for God and began making preparations for the Temple.
When David’s persecutions were over, when all the running and fighting was done and God had given him rest from
all his enemies, what did David do? Did he relax and enjoy the newly established peace of his kingdom? Did he take a
long sunny vacation or pursue some hobby like hunting or fishing? No, as soon as David’s trials were over, he immediately began the work of building the Temple of God. In one sense, David had already done enough. God had called him to be a king, and that promise, twenty years later, had come to pass. To sit on the throne of Israel was a major accomplishment of faith in and of itself. If anyone had a “right” to sit around and take it easy, it was David.
Even though David was not allowed to build the Temple (for that honour was to be given to his son, Solomon), he
still did not stop making preparations for the building of the Temple. Some of us may be called to be missionaries in
foreign lands. Some of us may be called to be shepherds of churches. Some may be called to be teachers. But that should not stop each and every one of us from making preparations to do the same. Study the Word of God as if you were going to be a teacher or preacher. Sanctify yourself, above reproach, as if you were called to be a shepherd of the flock. And dedicate yourself with all your heart, soul and mind, as if you were going to leave your homeland to be a missionary in a foreign field in the coming year.
Be ready and prepared for what God may call you to do. Seek to live on a higher plane with God. Live simply, and be
ready to relinquish all you own in order to live as a missionary in a foreign land. Be eager, like David, to do something
great for God, not to make a name for ourselves, but to see His name exalted and honoured among the nations.
Build a temple, for God, build a tower,
Each day yield, a brick, a mortared hour
That all who see, the Temple, see
We serve with all our mind, love, power.
