Category: Uncategorised

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

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd. Zechariah 13:7

You have just read one of the most remarkable Messianic texts in all of Scripture! It stands in all of its majesty, as proof, of the deity and manhood of Jesus Christ the Messiah. The sword is first mentioned in Genesis 3:24 of a cherubim holding a flaming sword which guards the way to the Tree of Life. But now
Jehovah’s fearful sword of wrath is raised against the Son of His love, as Jesus willingly completes God’s great plan of salvation for you and me. —Arnot P. McIntee

Thy blood the flaming blade must slake, Thy heart its sheath must be;
All for my sake my peace to make, now sleeps that sword for me.   —Anne Ross Cousin

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

But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore. John 21:4
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. John 21:12

As the sun rose over the Sea of Galilee, Jesus stood on the shore calling to His disciples. Morning by morning He stands on the shore of our lives. Morning by morning He invites us to dine with Him. His offer is simple yet sublime. He encourages us to leave the troubled sea of the world and feast in His presence. He provides all that is needed—the fish, the fire, and the friendship. The invitation is open this morning, the Lord entreats you to come and dine. —G. B.

I am waiting for the dawning, of that bright and glorious day,
When the darksome night of sorrow, shall have vanished far away. —Samuel Francis

Genesis 1:1-2:3; Job 1:1-2:10; Matthew 1:1-25

If the household be too little for the lamb. Exodus 12:4

A lamb is small. Some households are big. Is this a mistranslation? No. It is the proclamation of one of the universe’s foundational principles. Christ, our Lamb is enough. In truth, He is more than enough. No matter how deep you have sunk into sin and failure— the Lamb is enough to save you. No matter how great the attacks that Satan makes against you—your Lamb is enough to keep you. No matter how overwhelming the burdens of the day—your Lamb is enough to sustain you. No matter how deep your need—your Lamb is enough to satisfy you. A new year lies ahead. As its days unfold may we never lose faith and believe our household is too big for the Lamb. Our Lamb is enough. —S. McEachern

Lamb of God! Our souls adore Thee, while upon Thy face we gaze;
There the Father’s love and glory, shine in all their brightest rays.—J. Deck

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

You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel. 1 Samuel 15:26, NKJV
I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons. 1 Samuel 16:1, NKJV
He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Rev. 17:14, NKJV

Saul was the rejected king. David was the rightful king. But who was the reigning king? It was the rejected king. Saul. What of our lives? The Saviour is our rightful king. We are the rejected king. Yet more often than not, we insist on being the reigning king. May God help us to surrender the throne of our heart to the rightful king—our Lord Jesus Christ. —S. McEachern

King of my life I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be.
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, lead me to Calvary! —J. Hussey

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

Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. Numbers 24:1, NKJV

Although Balaam was corrupt and still wanted to see Israel cursed, a change in his disposition occurs here. First, he had learned that “it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,” meaning there was no satanic power that could prevent Jehovah from blessing His people. Second, Balaam no longer used sorcery to try to change what he knew he could not. This shows the power of God’s Word to examine, prod, and change the worst of human hearts (Heb. 4:12). It is still able today. —W. A. H.

God’s Word is like a flaming sword, a wedge that cleaves the stone;
Keen as a fire, so burns His Word, and pierces flesh and bone. —C. Grave

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

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalm 11:3

In the light of God’s Word there are many things the righteous can do. Some of them are as follows: 1. Pray (Phil. 4:6-7; Col. 4:2). 2. Read, meditate on, and obey God’s Word (Josh. 1:8; 2 Tim. 2:15). 3. Trust in the Lord (Prov. 3:5-6). 4. Faithfully fellowship with God’s people (Heb. 10:25). 5. Do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5). 6. Do all the good you can (Acts 10:38; Gal. 6:10). 7. Love Christ’s appearing (2 Tim. 4:8). We have plenty to do! —W. Ross Rainey

Keep us, Lord, O keep us cleaving, to Thyself and still believing,
Till the hour of our receiving, promised joys with Thee. —Thomas Kelly

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

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2

Driving home from my grandparents’ home one winter evening, we began to look up through the sunroof at the night sky. My wife explained to the children that somewhere beyond the twinkling stars, was the home of the Lord Jesus. Gazing steadfastly upwards, my three year old son announced, “Let’s just keep looking up till we see Him.” Whatever circumstances or situation facing you today, I encourage you to do just that—keep looking up until you see Him. —Matthew Butler

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 Cemmel

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

This shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke 2:12
And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. Luke 23:53

Luke gives us the sign of our Lord’s birth and shows us its fulfillment at His death. As a baby, the Lord was wrapped in swaddle (strips of cloth) and laid in a manger (which would have been hewn in stone). Similarly, our Lord’s body was wrapped in strips of linen and laid in a tomb, hewn in stone. “Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matt. 28:6b). —Rex Trogdon

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord. —John Francis Wade

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

In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11, NKJV

Despite yesterday’s feasting, I’m hungry again. That book from my wishlist is less than compelling and the eggnog is gone. The temporal will never satisfy. The much-celebrated Marie Kondo asked her spring cleaning participants to only keep items that “sparked joy.” There are certainly items in my house that I’m fond of, but true and lasting joy is not found in purchasable items like candy or clothes. True, vibrant life is not found in experiences. The joy-filled life is only found in one place; the person of Jesus Christ. May we never seek joy anywhere but in Him. —J. D. Fraser

My worth is not in what I won, not in the strength of flesh and bone.
But in the costly wounds of love, at the cross. —Graham Kendrick

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. Isaiah 9:6
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

This Christmas morning, think back to when He came “when the fulness of the time was come” (Gal. 4:4). Ponder Who came—a child, so perfect; a Son, so beloved; a Saviour, so gracious. Marvel for whom He came—for me, for you! Consider why He came—to save sinners “from their sins” (Matt. 1:21) and “That ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Surely we can say like Paul today, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). —Pete Smith

The great God of Heaven is come down to earth,
His mother a virgin and sinless His birth. —Henry Bramley