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Genesis 3:1-24; Job 4:1-5:27; Matthew 3:1-17

Be of good cheer… Matthew 9:2

Jesus Christ transforms fear into cheer. He begins with the cheer of God’s pardon: “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you” (Matt. 9:2 NKJV). What relief to be delivered from God’s wrath! But as we navigate the storms of life, the Lord promises the cheer of His presence: “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matt. 14:27 NKJV).
But what about the fear of the unknown future? We experience the cheer of God’s purpose: “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NKJV). Yes, presently, things seem chaotic and evil seems to be unstoppable. But God wins! Be of good cheer, Christian, and share the good news with
those who are still held captive by the “fear of death” (Heb. 2:15).  —Brian Cretney

Thine own dear Presence to cheer and to guide.
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside. —Thomas Chisholm

Genesis 2:4-25; Job 2:11-3:26; Matthew 2:1-23

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. Acts 16:31
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 NKJV

Salvation is the act of a moment (Acts 16:31). Spiritual growth takes a lifetime! (Phil. 1:6). Salvation begins with a lost person being saved for all of eternity – it is a one time act! Spiritual growth begins with a newly “born again” baby in Christ, beginning to grow as the Holy Spirit works in his, or her, life. Many fail to understand the difference between these two wonderful truths and struggle to maintain their salvation, sometimes for a lifetime. But we must
believe the first and settle in and enjoy the second! — Ray Jones

Now my heart’s desire, is to know You more,
To be found in You, and known as Yours.
To possess by faith, what I could not earn,
All-surpassing gift, of righteousness. – Graham Kendrick

Genesis 1:1-2:3; Job 1:1-2:10; Matthew 1:1-24

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1

What a perfect focus for a year’s beginning. Mark’s subject is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As we trace Christ through Mark’s Gospel we say, who else could this Man be, but God’s own Son? Demons tremble. Raging waves still. The dead quicken. Crowds whisper in awe, “He does all things well”. But it is not until His path reaches Calvary that His divine Sonship is finally verbally acknowledged. As the centurion watched Him breathe His last; as he watched Him finish His work, he exclaimed, “Truly this was the Son of God”. The full expression of Christ’s divine Sonship still
shines brightest from Calvary’s gloom. May the year ahead be a journey of enjoying Jesus Christ, the Son of God. —S. McEachern

To Calvary, Lord, in Spirit now, our grateful souls repair,
To dwell upon Thy dying love, and taste its sweetness there. —E. Denny

Esther 9:1-10:3; Malachi 3:7-4:6; Revelation 22:6-21

She hath done what she could. Mark 14:8
Judas…went unto the chief priests, to betray him. Mark 14:10
[Peter] spoke…vehemently…“I will not deny You!” Mk. 14:31, NKJV

Judas did something he should not have done. Peter said he wouldn’t do something, then did. The woman did what she could. She did not try to be more than she was. Nor did she give less than she was able. She fulfilled her full potential. Fragrance filled the room and Christ extolled her actions. As another year slips away and is reviewed, were there things done that shouldn’t have been? Were there commitments made that were not carried through? Or can we look back and say that we have done what we could for Him? By His grace another year beckons. —S. McEachern

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile. —Thomas Chisholm

Esther 7:1-8:17; Malachi 2:10-3:6; Revelation 21:9-22:5

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

What a situation David found himself in! Virtually everyone had turned against him. He felt he could trust no one. But the Lord remained true. It is the same for us today. He will never fail us, even when things go wrong and we seem totally alone, perhaps even feeling like hiding away from those who once supported us. The secret is to continually pray, not only about the situation, but also for those who have turned on us. This is the only way we can
know the peace of God. —G. Frear

There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! no, not one!
No night so dark, but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! no, not one! —Johnson Oatman Jr.

Esther 5:1-6:14; Malachi 1:1-2:9; Revelation 20:7-21:8

Blessed is the man (woman, boy or girl)…whose hope the Lord is. Jeremiah 17:7

About four score and seven years ago a little boy recited this verse, at a Sunday School program, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is” (Jer. 17:7). Having been instructed to speak loudly, I shouted it out. Now, at 94 years of age I would say the same thing, but with more confidence and conviction. —P. W.

Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blessed:
Finding, as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest. —Frances R. Havergal

Esther 3:1-4:17; Zechariah 13:7-14:21; Revelation 19:11-20:6

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. John 6:12

The Lord Jesus told His disciples to gather up the leftover fragments; literally the “broken pieces”. The reason for doing this, was so that “nothing is wasted” as one translation puts it. What a lovely metaphor for what He does for us today! He takes our “broken pieces”—past hurts, grief, pain—and uses them for our good and His glory. Although we may not be able to see it at the time, we can trust that He will use it all. Every “broken piece” will serve a purpose. Nothing will be wasted! —Lynn Shatford

I can’t remember a trial or a pain,
He did not recycle to bring me gain;
He’s always been faithful to me.  —Sara Groves

Esther 2; Zechariah 12 to 13:6; Revelation 19:1-10

For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. Psalm 57:10-11

This psalm emphasizes the trust we can have in the living God. Even when David was in direst danger, his heart was firmly fixed on the things of the Lord. If we would only emulate this when faced with difficult circumstances, how wonderfully it would extract the panic and fearfulness from the situation. God is exalted when His people praise Him. May we, like David, keep ascribing glory to Him in spite of what is going on around us. —G. Frear

In boundless mercy, gracious Lord, appear,
Darkness dispel, the humble mourner cheer;
Vain thoughts remove, melt down the flinty heart,
Draw every soul to choose the better part. —Emanuel Swedenborg

Esther 1:1-22; Zechariah 11:1-17; Revelation 18:1-24

It came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” Ex. 13:17, NKJV

The Lord did not lead the children of Israel in the most direct way to Canaan. We might have opted for the shortest way but the Lord’s ways aren’t our ways. The Lord knew the capacities of His people. He knew that warfare with the Philistines would discourage them. Maybe today you are wondering why the Lord has led you in a certain direction. He knows what you can bear. Trust your tender leader as He goes before you today. One day He’ll tell you why. —Paul Robertson

Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me. —Joseph Gilmore

Nehemiah 13:1-31; Zechariah 9:1-10:12; Revelation 17:1-18

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Entering into time, the eternal Son was given to us. Only an infinite holy God could pay the penalty for sin. Only a human could die as our Kinsmen-Redeemer. Therefore, the Son of God took upon Himself human flesh while remaining God. Christ, the Son of Man died for our sins. Praise God for giving us our Prince of Peace! —George Ferrier

Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face;
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. —Joseph Mohr