Category: Uncategorised

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

But rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

At the top of the tallest tree in the UK there is a visitor’s book. Climbers who manage to scale over 200 feet to the top can record their names as a record of their achievement. This reminds me of the tree (as Peter calls it) at the top of Calvary’s hill. As a sinner I came to that tree and it was there that I found forgiveness of sin and peace with God. It was at the cross of Christ that my soul was saved, and my name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Is your name written there? —G. B.

His voice I hear, His love I know,
I worship at His feet.
And kneeling there at Calvary’s cross,
Redemption is complete. —Charles Austin Miles

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

What lack I yet? Matthew 19:20

Nobody needs more information to become a Christian. None of us need more reasoning, more philosophy, more knowledge, more history or more evidence. The one thing lacking for all who refuse the Saviour is a true vision of themselves as God sees them. Once that pivotal day comes, we then know we need saving and cannot save ourselves. Then heaven’s windows open, and the bright light of God’s love shines in our hearts, revealing the perfect Saviour for all. —Rick Morse

My soul is night, my heart is steel—
I cannot see, I cannot feel;
For light, for life, I must appeal,
In simple faith to Jesus. —James Procter

Esther 2:1-23; Zechariah 12:1-13:6; Revelation 19:1-10

And, behold, thou shalt…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

Here are seven “shalls” highlighting the Lord’s birth, life and reign. They are: the miracle of His birth, virgin born; the meaning of His Name, Jesus, the Saviour; the magnitude of His work, great; the majesty of His Person, Son of the Highest; the moment of His glory, given the throne of David; the manner of His rule, reigning over Jacob; the magnificence of His Kingdom, without end. Glorious Lord! —M. Kolchin

O praise our great and gracious Lord, and call upon His name,
To strains of joy, tune every chord, His mighty acts proclaim. —H. Auber

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

And she brought forth her firstborn son. Luke 2:7
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish. John 3:16

What a precious Child was laid in that manger! Mary’s firstborn Son was the Father’s only begotten Son. What a stoop of grace to be born of the virgin! What a gift of love to be given by the Father! What a wonder that He came to be the Saviour of sinners like us! —Pete Smith

The great God of Heaven is come down to earth,
His mother a virgin and sinless His birth;
The Father eternal, His Father alone:
He sleeps in the manger; He reigns on the throne.  —H. R. B.

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

A multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest. Luke 2:13-14
They made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child…And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen. Luke 2:17, 20

The heavens could not contain themselves! The angelic choir burst forth with praise proclaiming, a Saviour had been born! A few humble shepherds upon hearing the choir were the first to gaze upon the Child. Their joy was irrepressible; proclaiming the glorious news, a Saviour had been born. May we too overflow with joy and proclaim this glorious news! —Jim Comte

Joyful, joyful we adore You, God of glory, Lord of light;
Angels lifting praise before You, sing thro’out this holy night.—L. Johnson

Nehemiah 12:1-47; Zechariah 8:1-23; Revelation 16:1-21

They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23

Right from the start of Matthew’s gospel we hear his message— that the Christ who came was to be a king for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews. Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah who not only gives the Messiah’s Hebrew name but provides a translation of that name. Why was a translation needed if the announcement
was for Jews only? No, this Messiah, this King, was for all nations, and would welcome and save all who would come to Him. Precious name. —M. MacMullen

His name shall be called Counsellor, the mighty Prince of Peace,
Of all earth’s kingdoms Conqueror, whose reign shall never cease.  —W. H. Clark

Nehemiah 10:1-11:36; Zechariah 7:1-14; Revelation 15:1-8

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

Here is a great mountain peak verse of Scripture! These are majestic words that remind us the Child born of the virgin, and of the Son given by the Father; uniquely both Man and God, human and divine! The virgin born Child was destined to die. The Son given is destined to reign forever and ever. As we celebrate this blessed season, may our hearts reflect back and at the same time look forward with great anticipation. —Jim Comte

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; hail, th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased, as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.   —Charles Wesley

Nehemiah 9:1-38; Zechariah 5:1-6:15; Revelation 14:1-20

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus…Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Matthew 26:75

In the 14th century, Strasbourg’s cathedral boasted the “Three Kings Clock.” The clock depicted three “rulers” handing over their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrhh to the infant Jesus. On the hour a cockerel crowed to symbolise Peter’s denial of the Lord. A lesson from this old clock is that God’s timing is perfect. It was when the fullness of the time was come that God sent forth His Son and it was “in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6) and Peter’s sad denial was timed precisely. As to the story of our lives, time will tell. —Brian Powlesland

Lord please show me every day,
As You’re teaching me Your way
That You do just what You say, in Your time.—Unknown

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

And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! Genesis 17:18

God made Abraham an amazing promise that he and Sarah would have a son in their old age. While waiting, they decided to “help God out” and Abraham fathered a son through Hagar. When God reiterated His promise, Abraham basically responded “Never mind Lord, I’ve done it myself!” What about us? How
many Ishmaels have we conjured up while waiting for God’s answer? How many times have we hoped God would reward our self-effort? God doesn’t need our help. He wants our faith and trust. That leaves Him free to do the miraculous in providing for what we need. Leave it to God! —Deborah Manera

Anything that is worth having you will get from God.  —A. W. Tozer

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

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV

There are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the world today. How awesome to think that all the combined adverbs and adjectives of all those various tongues and dialects are completely inadequate to describe the gift of God! —Sid Halsband

The love that Jesus had for me,
To suffer on the cruel tree;
That I a ransomed soul might be, 
Is more than tongue can tell!  —J. E. Hall