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.
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Hebrews 11:31
Rahab protected the spies and that was a great act of faith. Had she been caught she may have been executed for high treason. Why did she do this? Firstly, she and her people had heard of the miracle of Israel’s Red Sea crossing. It had happened 40 years before (maybe before Rahab was born) and was still talked about. They had also heard of the recent victories of Israel on the East Bank. All the people of Jericho lived in fear and Rahab knew that Israel was powerful because of their God. She had come to recognise the glory of the God of Israel and had trusted Him. Her faith pleased God. —Paul Young
I believe there is a God in heaven who paid the price for all my sin; Shed His blood to open up the way, for me to walk with Him. —Bilbrough
Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Daniel 5:27 The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:3
What a sobering thought to have our lives weighed in God’s balance and then to be found that we do not measure up to His standard. What might be causing this imbalance? Perhaps unconfessed sin or neglect of God’s Word and prayer are to blame. Only by giving God first priority in our lives can this imbalance be corrected. —E. V.
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word. —William D. Longstaff
We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:2
These may have been the wisest men that ever lived because they were seeking Jesus just to worship Him! They weren’t looking for blessings or miracles or the granting of three wishes—but to worship and adore Him. When they found Him, they fell to their knees in reverence and adoration. They brought gifts worthy of His kingly status. Their desire was to see Him, bless Him, and tell others they had found the Christ! Let’s be wise like them and do the same! —Deborah Manera
Now wise men still seek His face, as they did in days of old, To give the Lord their hearts, more precious than silver and gold. —Julie Carro
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Isaiah 9:6
Today we remember the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord. He came into this world as a babe and being “made in the likeness of men…he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death” (Phil. 2:7-8) that He might save us from our sins. Jesus was the Son given by God to demonstrate how much He loved the world. “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV). Our best response is to accept Him as our Saviour and to rejoice in God’s unspeakable gift to us! —K. C. Ung
To us a child of hope is born, to us a Son is giv’n, Him shall the tribes of earth obey, Him all the hosts of heav’n. His name shall be the Prince of Peace, forevermore adored, The Wonderful, the Counselor, the great and mighty Lord. —J. Morrison
Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh. 1 Timothy 3:16
Two thousand years ago, a baby was lying in a manger in Bethlehem. Wrapped in swaddling clothes, He was in that manger because there was no room for Him in the inn. Yet this babe, despite His humble surroundings, was utterly wondrous and unique! He was the Creator of this vast universe and had come to redeem us from our sins! We cannot fully comprehend this, but by faith we believe it. We have to say, great is the mystery of Godliness! —John M. Clegg
God manifest in flesh! Oh wonder to behold, Creative power within the breast, that felt the blast of cold; God in our likeness made, O may we understand, The One who made the universe, appears as lonely man. —Author Unknown
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not. Luke 2:9-10
“O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie,” depicts a quiet town scene of tranquility. But this was far from the case. A cruel tyrant governed the world. He imposed heavy taxes. Fear gripped people’s hearts. Yet behind it all, a sovereign God was at work. An angel bursts from heaven telling poor shepherds to “Fear not”, and that “a Saviour (Deliverer), which is Christ the Lord” (v. 11) had been born. The long promised Messiah had finally come. During this Christmas season there is still hope. He is coming again! —Jim Comte
Yet in thy dark street shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight. —P. Brooks
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. Galatians 4:4
A grandfather clock was being examined by a potential buyer impressed by its brass mechanism and the gold numerals on the clock face. What caught my eye was the carved nativity scene above the clock face and lettering which said, “When the fulness of the time was come.” The timing of the coming of Christ was so precise—the stage for His arrival was set, the characters that would interact with Him were in place. What is also amazing is that His decease was equally timely—”In due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). Perhaps for you “It is time to seek the Lord” (Hos. 10:12)? —Brian Powlesland
Soon, as I journey on, I’ll find time gone. May Christ have saved my soul, by then, Amen. —H. Twells, G. Pentreath
Three little words: “…in the highest.” What do they mean? Upon reflection we discover they are not little words at all, but lofty ones and full of meaning. In exchange for His abject lowliness we ought to give Him the highest, fullest, greatest praise we can muster.
There are three ways we can understand the words “in the highest.” First, it might mean that God received glory in
the highest realm, the heavenly realm, as opposed to the earthly, on that night of His coming into the world. Note
that “a multitude of the heavenly host” (Luke 2:13), not just a few, but a multitude, arrived to give Him glory that first
Christmas night. Cherubim, seraphim, angels, archangels, principalities, powers, all were in attendance to witness and announce the incarnation of the Christ. In every neighbourhood, down every street, in every abode, the birth of Christ was heralded in the heavens. With a little imagination we can hear over the intercom throughout the golden street the announcement resounding: “Hallelujah! Christ is born in the city of David tonight! Go quickly! Tell the shepherds, redemption has begun!” Up to that point, the pinnacle of all angelic experience was to witness the birth of Christ. If they sang at creation (Job 38:7), surely they must have danced with joy over the incarnation.
Yet the angelic proclamation could be taken in another sense. The idea could be bound up in the degree of glory the
Lord achieved through the Incarnation, which was the highest. Never before in the history of earth, nor in the history of angels, had God so humbled Himself. The furthest He had gone in humbling Himself was “to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” (Ps. 113:6). If it was humbling to the Lord to concern Himself with the events of heaven and earth, how much more humbling must it have been to become one of its citizens?
Imagine what it would be like to be the CEO of a global company. It would be an act of humiliation just to visit and
oversee the workers who swept the floors of the factories of your corporation. Now imagine yourself becoming that
sweeper! Imagine cleaning the floors and ministering in the lunchroom to the tired, aching workers, and at the same time being treated with contempt. Such is the story of Christmas. Men and angels, let us marvel at the One who crouched so low! “Let loving hearts enthrone Him” (What Child is This, William C. Dix).
But perhaps we are to understand the angelic proclamation in yet another sense. Perhaps the idea is “Glory to God to
the highest degree.” In this sense, the angels are commanding all mankind to give God their “utmost for His highest”
(to borrow a phrase from Oswald Chambers). Yet, in the light of the humble circumstances of our Saviour’s birth, perhaps we should give our “utmost for His lowest.” Loud should be our singing. With all our might we should serve Him. Generous should be our giving. Droplets of praise are a poor exchange for rivers of blessing. Likewise, crumbs of gratitude, dispensed on Sundays only in the form of singing, are an insult to the One who daily spreads a feast for us.
Glory to God in the highest means God should get every ounce of praise due to His name. Fully God gave Himself to us; fully we should give ourselves to Him.
Let the cherubim and the flies
Let all the earth and purple skies
Let all creation’s symphony
Peacock the glory of God.
