December, 2009 Devotions
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20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Psalm 23:1-6
Tuesday, December 1
The Care of the Good Shepherd
KEY VERSE: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want," Psalm 23:1.
A Christian writer once told of visiting Israel and talking to an old shepherd. With Psalm 23 on his mind, the writer asked the shepherd how he used his staff to comfort and guide the sheep.
The shepherd replied that in the daylight he always carried it across his shoulders so the sheep could see it. Somehow this reassured them of his presence and protection. If darkness overtook him before he had brought the sheep to a safe resting place for the night, he would walk slowly while tapping his staff on the ground. The sheep could hear the tapping and would follow the sound knowing that their shepherd was just ahead.
In the same way Jesus, our Good Shepherd, takes care of our physical and emotional needs. He also guides us in paths of righteousness. If we submit ourselves to Him, He leads us by the hand through life and manages our affairs. It is a comfort to know that the Lord is right in front of us, removing obstacles and making the way plain for us.
Today, God's Word serves as the staff which leads us and guides us as we move through life. It is important that we always keep it in our vision knowing it will lead us into all truth. And, even if the way seems dark or stormy, quoting passages we have put to memory will help us make our way to the light.
LIVING IT: Welcome Jesus as the Good Shepherd who was willing to give His life for you.
Mary McCalister
Isaiah 11:11-16
Wednesday, December 2
God Recovers the Remnant
KEY VERSE: "And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth," Isaiah 11:12.
There was no moon, but the stars were bright. A mother and her two children sat on the dock, listening as the little waves made soft, chuckling sounds on the sand.
"There's the Big Dipper and the North Star," the mother said as she pointed to the sky. "If you are ever lost at night and can find that star you will know which direction is north. Face it. East will be to your right, west to your left, south behind you."
The mother said, "We can look in the almanac and find just what time the sun will rise on both your birthdays and whether the moon will be shining on that night."
"How can anyone tell?" the boy asked.
"Men who have studied astronomy know that the sun and moon have regular schedules," the mother replied.
"Has it always been that way?" the daughter asked.
''Yes,'' the mother answered. "God is utterly dependable. In one of his sermons Paul said that God's promise which was made unto the fathers was fulfilled unto us their children. You can count on it. God keeps His promises."
That is the lesson of this devotional. The day will come when the remnant of Judah and Israel shall be gathered together by God, and His promises to Israel will be fulfilled.
LIVING IT: Trust in God. He keeps His promises.
Mary McCalister
John 10:9-11
Thursday, December 3
The Good Shepherd Gives His Life
KEY VERSE: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep," John 10:11.
God has always given us His voice. Before Bethlehem, He gave His messengers, His teachers, His words. But in the manger God gave us Himself
Many people reject this truth. Islam sees God as one who sends others. He sends angels, prophets and books, but to them God is too holy to come to us Himself In their belief, for God to touch the earth would be called a "shirk." They believe that people who claim that God has touched the earth shirk God's holiness; they make Him gross. They blaspheme Him.
The truth is Christianity celebrates God's great descent. His nature does not trap Him in Heaven, but leads Him to earth. In God's great gospel, He not only sent, but He became. He not only looked down, He lived among. He not only talked to us, He lived with us as one of us. He not only lived among us, He died to redeem us and save us.
This should be a matter of rejoicing. Long before you knew you needed grace, God took care of your need. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Before we knew we needed a Savior, we had one. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).
BELIEVE IT: Christ died for you! What a great sacrifice that was!
Mary McCalister
Isaiah 43:2, 3
Friday, December 4
He Will Be with Thee
KEY VERSE: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee," Isaiah 43:2.
God was speaking to the nation of Israel—God's peculiar people in Old Testament times—through His prophet, but as His peculiar people in the church age, we can claim the promises He gives.
What are these promises? We are His by redemption. He bought us and we belong to Him. He promised that we could count on Him. He created and redeemed us. He has called us by name and we are His.
This being true, what are we to do? God told the people of Israel, ''Ye are my witnesses" (lsa. 43:10). We, too, are His witnesses. We need to live, to speak, to share, to walk our faith before a sinful world that needs to know the reality of our faith, our concern, our redemption and their need of redemption.
This passage reveals God's mercy in the light of the people of Israel's unfaithfulness. We are so unworthy, yet, He loves us with an everlasting love. He has delivered us in spite of our sinfulness and failures.
Everything comes from God and exists for Him. We exist to exhibit God, to display His glory. We serve as canvases for His brushstroke, papers for His pen, soil for His seeds and glimpses of His image. The Lord Himself is the Way, and all we have to do is follow.
LIVING IT: Live your life knowing the presence of God.
Mary McCalister
Psalm 95:1-7
Saturday, December 5
The Sheep of His Hand
KEY VERSES: "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker ... we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand," Psalm 95:6, 7.
Many years ago, Thomas K. Beecher once substituted for his famous brother, Henry Ward Beecher, at the Plymouth church in Brooklyn, New York. Many curiosity seekers had come to hear the renowned Henry Beecher speak. When Thomas Beecher appeared in the pulpit instead, some people got up and started for the doors. Thomas raised his hand for silence and announced, "All those who came here this morning to worship Henry Ward Beecher may withdraw from the church; all who came to worship God may remain."
How is your worship quotient? If you need help, meditate on this psalm, which is an invitation to praise. William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury wrote, "To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, and to devote the will to the purpose of God."
Not only does this psalm extol the blessings of worship, it is a warning against neglect of worship which leads to disobedience and the neglect of God.
The psalmist refers to Meribah and Massah, when rebellious Israel pushed the Lord to the limits of His patience. He warns the reader to obey and follow God without complaint.
LIVING IT: Ask God to soften your heart and turn your murmurings into a melody of praise.
Mary McCalister
Jeremiah 23:3-8
Sunday, December 6
The Lord Will Gather the Remnant
KEY VERSE: "And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase," Jeremiah 23:3.
It is difficult to gain a proper perspective on the position of Israel in world events. The late I. K. Cross, who was a student of prophecy regarding Israel, wrote this in his book, 0 Israel, published in 1992, page 236, "While the political pundits, as well as those of the major news media, give no credence to Israel's appearance on the world scene as having any prophetic significance, the fact remains, ... that this young nation exists only by divine decree. The nations of the world . . . consider Israel a liability." Not much has changed, and it is difficult to accept what is happening in Gaza as part of Israel's effort to protect its own people. Although Hamas launches thousands of rockets into Israel, the liberal media does not tell you this. They tell only of the suffering of a few Palestinians caused by Israel's war effort.
No doubt Jews reading this promise find it difficult to believe, but, it is going to happen, and all the signs point to soon!
It is helpful to read and reread this promise from God for His nation, Israel, that the remnant of Israel, scattered throughout the world, will be gathered by God and brought back to its own nation. In the light of current events, this seems almost impossible, but rest assured, God is able to do what He promises.
BELIEVE IT: Every promise in the book is mine!
Mary McCalister
Leviticus 18:24-28
Monday, December 7
Defiling the Land
KEY VERSE: "Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you," Leviticus 18:24.
Going green is all the rage these days. There are countless organizations you can join who state their position will save the planet, promote safety to animals and make life easier for generations to come.
Is this the kind of defilement the Lord talked about in this passage? No, defiling the land was not what He was referring to. Instead, He referred to sacrifices and offerings which were not done properly; sexual sins of every nature, including homosexuality and sodomy; the eating of blood; consulting wizards and spiritists; all the kinds of crimes which did not honor God.
There is no true stability in what man does. The citizens of South Padre Island trusted the stability of Queen Isabella Causeway, the longest bridge in Texas. But on September 15, 2001, four barges crashed into the support system and brought the bridge down.
What Israel needed to realize, and we, too, need to realize, is that God's view of right and wrong is the same today as it was with Adam and Eve. Your outlook might change, and Israel's often did, but God's truth will never waver and His ways will never alter.
God will always hate sin and love sinners. He never changes direction midstream, recalibrates the course midway home or amends the heavenly constitution. God will always be the same. As James said, there is "no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17).
LIVING IT: God's plan and purpose will stand forever.
Mary McCalister
2 Chronicles 36:14-21
Tuesday, December 8
Reasons for the Diaspora
KEY VERSE: "Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem," 2 Chronicles 36:14.
Did you raise your eyebrows, thinking, diaspora? What is that? It certainly is not a commonly used word but is used most often with reference to the people of Israel and their being scattered among the nations of the world. We have already looked at God's promise to restore a remnant, which in itself reflects there must have been a diaspora, or scattering, leaving only a remnant behind.
So, why would God allow such a thing to happen to His chosen nation? The Key Verse reveals that the people of Israel "transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD." This was not something that happened overnight. God had sent His prophets to them to lead them back to Him, but they mocked God's messengers and misused them until they stirred up the wrath of God and there was no remedy.
If you have been participating in a known sin and shrugged it off thinking everybody is doing it, do not fool yourself. The day of reckoning will come. If we persist in sinful acts, we can be sure God's judgment will come. It is far better to give heed to the warnings God gives us, repent of our sins and turn back to Him.
LIVING IT: Be sure your sins will find you out.
Mary McCalister
Deuteronomy 7:7, 8
Wednesday, December 9
Because of Love
KEY VERSE: "But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt," Deuteronomy 7:8.
Did the people of Israel ever really stop to think about how much God loved them? Do you? His love is marvelous. He loves you simply because He has chosen to do so. He loves you when you do not feel loved. Others may abandon you, divorce you and ignore you, but God will love you always, no matter what.
Think of it. We are unalterably His. He loves us undyingly. Nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38, 39).
In your meditation have you ever wondered why God gives so much? Think of the orange of the sunrise. The blue of the midday sky. The birds that sing. The fragrance of a flower. The taste of good food. If we give gifts to show our love, how much more would He? Think of His promise: "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" (Jer. 31:3).
Do you know what else it means? "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17). You have a deep aquifer of love from which to draw. When you find it difficult to love, then, you need a drink. Drink deeply. Drink daily.
LIVING IT: For God so loved the world, He gave ...
Mary McCalister
Deuteronomy 30 :3-5
Thursday, December 10
He Will Gather Thee
KEY VERSE: "That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee," Deuteronomy 30:3.
It is difficult for much of the religious world to comprehend the scope of the promise made in this passage. Some years ago a special service was scheduled at Saint Paul's Cathedral. Many clerics of that day found it difficult to believe in the possibility of Jews coming to faith, while, knowingly or unknowingly, they had been in a church dedicated to the memory of a Jewish believer, attending a service in honor of the Jew's acceptance of the Messiah, and had been listening to music composed by Mendelssohn, a Jewish believer.
When we look at the chaos rampaging the small country of Palestine today, we must feel that the restoration of Israel is indeed a mystery and difficult for us to believe. We must come to the conclusion that God's mysteries defy human explanation and go beyond human intellect and wisdom.
So, how do we handle God's truths that seem beyond our belief? We simply believe God and trust Him to bring about His plans and promises. We must realize that some things are in the hands of God and accept that He will bring them about in His own time.
LIVING IT: God will care for Israel, and He will care for you.
Mary McCalister
Jeremiah 50:17-20
Friday, December 11
Israel Brought to His Habitation
KEY VERSE: "In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I reserve," Jeremiah 50:20.
So much of Jeremiah is in a negative context, negative because of the sinfulness of Israel. So, when you read this passage, do you shake your head in wonderment? Is this truly the writing of Jeremiah? It is difficult to believe.
But, just think about it. Iniquity sought for but not found? Sins not found? What a great promise! Sounds a lot like what happens when a sinner is saved. How glad we are that as children of God there is no iniquity found in us, and our sins have been pardoned all because of what Jesus did for us.
The reliability of God to do what He has promised brings us strength and solace. In the midst of utter human loneliness and loss, in darkness and human despair Jeremiah lamented on the condition of Israel. Yet, he was able to praise God: ''It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him" (Lam. 3:22-25).
Paul wrote similar words to encourage the members at Thessalonica: "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil" (2 Thess. 3:3).
LIVING IT: We can learn from these writings that God will take good care of us.
Mary McCalister
Ephesians 1:13, 14
Saturday, December 12
Sealed with the Holy Spirit
KEY VERSE: "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory," Ephesians 1 :14.
Not too long before the book of Ephesians was written, the most famous "sealing" of New Testament times occurred. Roman soldiers rolled a rock over the entrance to the tomb of Jesus and set a seal on the stone. Archeologists tell us this was two ribbons stretched in front of the entrance, glued together with hardened wax that bore the imprimatur of the Roman government—SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus)—that was possibly a warning to stay away because the contents of the tomb belonged to Rome.
Of course, their efforts were futile. Far different is the sealing of the Holy Spirit. Be comforted. When hell's interlopers come seeking to snatch you from God, the seal turns them away. He bought you, owns you and protects you. God paid too high a price to leave you unguarded.
Think about it. Chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, enlightened, and last but not least, sealed. We are the property of the Master for all eternity, based on the finished work at Calvary. Knowing this, we should live like we believe it, fulfilling God's will for us to be holy.
God has purchased the right of redemption for us and that time is yet to come. The token of our redemption, the sealing of the Holy Spirit, lets us know this redemption is yet to come but is sure.
LIVING IT: We are not redeemed by anything we can do but by the gift of God's love, His Son.
Mary McCalister
Amos 9:8-15
Sunday, December 13
Scattered and Regathered
KEY VERSE: "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old," Amos 9:11.
How many times have you read the book of Amos? How much do you know about him? I have several reference books but not one of them mentions Amos. He says of himself that he was a simple shepherd with no ties to the family of prophets. Most of his book deals with God's judgment on various nations, but this devotional focuses on words he ended with, the restoration of Israel in its completeness.
What a great time that will be! "The plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; ... they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them .... they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God" (verses 13-15).
When we hear of what is going on in the land of Palestine today, we have to be careful not to think that we do not believe the prophecy of Amos. Rest assured, however, that this prophecy will come true. The people of Israel will be restored to their land, and God will pour out His blessings upon them.
LIVING IT: God can accomplish what man cannot do.
Mary McCalister
Psalm 126:1-3
Monday, December 14
Restoration of Israel
KEY VERSE: "The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad," Psalm 126:3.
We need to picture the suffering of Israel through long years of burden bearing and captivity. The psalmist in this verse is referring to the time immediately after the return of the nation of Israel from its exile in Babylon. Happiness and exuberance reign supreme. It is easy to imagine that God's people feel they have to pinch themselves to believe they are really free. Laughter comes easily. Jubilant shouting is heard often. The Israelites release their pent-up feelings in a flood of healing, restorative praise.
It is easy to imagine their Gentile neighbors looking on in amazement and thinking that the Lord has done great things for Israel! No nation had ever been restored after deportation.
Anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a loved one, financial reverses, serious illness or any kind of imprisonment can find much comfort in this psalm.
The same sensation of delight and joy should seize us every time we meditate on all the great things the Lord has done for us. Do you need to be delivered from the minor irritations and frustrations of life? Spend more time dwelling on God's great things, and you will truly be delivered.
LIVING IT: Praise God for all He has done for you.
Mary McCalister
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Tuesday, December 15
A Name and a Praise
KEY VERSE: "At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD" Zephaniah 3:20.
What a time, what a day that will be! With all the negative things that are going on with Israel today, it is difficult to imagine how this prophecy can come true. And, yet, it will come true. You can believe it because God has promised it. God asks, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee" (lsa. 49:15).
Israel should remember, and you should remember, too, that God is for you. Think of all the ways He takes care of you and ministers to you. Trials will come, but He will be with you in them and will ultimately bring you through them.
There is coming a day which will be glorious for Israel. There is coming a day which will be glorious for God's faithful servants as well. God might be putting us through trials, but the glory day will come. For us, the glorious things about Heaven will not be the golden streets, or the gates of pearl, or even the fact that He is going to wipe away all tears. It will be that we are going to thank Him for the glorious way in which He kept us through every trial and tribulation in this life. We will rejoice in being able to lay our crowns at His feet. We will worship Him in glorious praise.
LIVING IT: To him that overcometh will I give ... a new name (Rev. 2:17).
Mary McCalister
Romans 11:25, 26
Wednesday, December 16
Israel Will Be Saved
KEY VERSE: "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob," Romans 11 :26.
If you have a problem having the right attitude toward Israel, it is nothing new. In New Testament times the roles were reversed. The church called a council in Jerusalem to discuss the problem of the Gentiles being saved. I say problem because there were those among the Jewish members who thought the Gentiles had to submit to Mosaic Law to be saved. The final conclusion was that this restriction was not necessary and that faith in Christ was all that was needed.
In this promise for the salvation of Israel as a nation, God will display Himself as the One who always keeps His promises and fulfills His covenants. The ultimate salvation of Israel is one more evidence that God can be believed and trusted.
Because of Israel's transgression in rejecting its Messiah, it was set aside for a time, and the Gentiles were brought into the fold. But the ultimate salvation of Israel is a foreordained promise sure to be fulfilled.
God's sovereign grace and election cannot be earned. Neither can it be rejected or thwarted. Nothing can prevent Israel's being saved and restored—not even its own rebellion and unbelief God will remove its ungodliness and sin.
LIVING IT: Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (1 Thess. 5:24).
Mary McCalister
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Thursday, December 17
When Israel Will Be Saved
KEY VERSE: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah," Jeremiah 33:14.
We have spent most of this quarter studying Jeremiah. He was called as a young man to be God's prophet, but he demurred, "I cannot speak" (Jer. 1:6). So God told him he would put words in his mouth. For over forty years Jeremiah ministered to the Jews, chastising them for their sins and comforting them with the assurance that God still loved them. Notice how often these sentence starters appear in the book: "The word of the LORD came to me"; "Thus saith the LORD"; "The LORD said unto me" and "At that time, saith the LORD."
Never does Jeremiah speak his own words, but only the words God gives him to speak. He was often discouraged, but he never turned away from God's promises. God promised, and fields were bought and sold. God promised, and kings did as Jeremiah said; God promised, and sons and daughters finally returned to Palestine.
Today we read of God's greatest promise, "The days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth" (Jer. 23:5).
Somehow, when we look at current conditions in the Middle East, we may waver in our faith that this promise will come to pass. With conditions as they are now, it will take the power of God to bring about the peace which will be needed. We must, like Jeremiah, trust in that power.
LIVING IT: Have confidence in God and look hopefully toward a future peace for Israel.
Mary McCalister
Matthew 24:29-31
Friday, December 18
Christ Will Establish His Kingdom
KEY VERSE: "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory," Matthew 24:30.
Read verse 27 of this chapter to find the subject of these verses: "so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." To the believer this event will be glorious, but to the unbelieving world it will be a time of great mourning. As Matthew said, this will happen "immediately after the tribulation" (verse 29).
This refers to a climactic time throughout the earth when the anti-Christ has prevailed by means of deceit and force, enslaving the major portion of the world and violating every natural and spiritual law. However, worldly people will offer what they think are rational explanations for what is transpiring and logical excuses for their not taking heed.
When God is finally ready to refine and restore the earth, everyone in Heaven, on earth and in hell will know that no human laboratory could compound the fire that will be poured out on the earth. God will not withhold His wrath forever. When He does act, men will know that human scientists and technologists could not produce the woes the earth will feel.
But, for the believer, it will be a time of great rejoicing. Paul described what will happen at the last trump in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57. He rejoiced that at last the victory will be ours.
LIVING IT: Look forward to Christ's coming and rejoice in it.
Mary McCalister
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Saturday, December 19
The New Covenant
KEY VERSE: "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people," Jeremiah 31:33.
Since this passage deals with God's final treatment of Israel, what is in it for us? It gives a picture of the loving forgetfulness of God. He says He will not remember Israel's sin. In other words, He will forget it. Forgetting is an important part of forgiving.
God is able to forget our past. Why can we not? God throws our sins into the depths of the sea and remembers them no more.
In ancient times, the depths of the sea were completely inaccessible to man. The limits were how far a man could dive with one lungful of air. In modern times we have submarines that can go anywhere on or below the sea's surface, so we do not fully appreciate this figure of speech. Perhaps the inaccessible aspect would be clearer if we would think about the statement as saying that God has cast all of our sins into a nuclear waste dump. That is truly inaccessible! And that is forgiveness!
Yes, God will bring the people of Israel into the position He had planned for them. He will forget their sins. God does the same for us, praise His name!
LIVING IT: An unmarked tombstone has one word on it—Forgiven. That should be our testimony.
Mary McCalister
Jeremiah 32:37-42
Sunday, December 20
The Everlasting Covenant
KEY VERSE: "And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me," Jeremiah 32:40.
There are conflicting emotions when one hears the news of turmoil in the Middle East? Many are being killed. It is not always easy to maintain the proper perspective with slanted journalism coloring what is really happening.
Always remember that mankind can do many wrong things, but, in the final analysis, God is in control, and what He promises He brings about.
We need to hear often that God is in control. We need to hear that it is not over until He says it is over. We need to hear that life's mishaps and tragedies are not a reason to bailout. They are simply a reason to sit tight. Remember, you are not the first person to weep. You are not the first who needed help.
Jeremiah spoke the words in this passage to bring comfort to the people of Israel and Judah. Through him, God said that He would do them good and would not turn away from them.
As believers we have similar promises from God: eternal life (John 3:16), abiding peace (John 16:33), comfort (John 14:16) and leadership (John 16:13).
LIVING IT: Always believe and trust God to do what He says.
Mary McCalister
Matthew 25:31
Monday, December 21
Jesus Will Sit on His Throne
KEY VERSE: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory," Matthew 25:31.
What does the picture of Jesus sitting on His throne of glory proclaim to all? Jesus is victor! Praise God!
This generation, which glamorizes the competitive world and our selfish society, has also brought many fears to the human race. Unbelievers fear the possible destruction of the human race through the use of nuclear weapons or some similar, man-made catastrophe.
But God's plan is different. He gives the believer the assurance and faith to know that He is in charge and He has given His angels charge over us (Psalm 91:11).
Today, there is little recognition of God's plan for His redeemed people and the enthroning of His Son. Go into the marketplace, into our educational institutions and yes—even into popular religious circles, and you will find a growing tendency to make mankind large and to make God small.
Believers are the true realists. They believe in the certainty of Jesus Christ's ultimate victory and His thousand years reign on the earth.
Believers can derive great comfort, knowing that the time is coming when our Lord and Savior, coming to sit on His throne, is universally acknowledged to be King of kings and Lord of lords. All will acclaim Him victor.
LIVING IT: This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4). Rejoice!
Mary McCalister
Psalm 24:7-10
Tuesday, December 22
The King of Glory
KEY VERSE: "Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle," Psalm 24:8.
Processionals were very much a part of life in Israel in Old Testament times. The closest we can come today to that kind of pomp and circumstance is the inauguration of a president.
Most Americans do not have a deep respect for royalty. We always seem to enjoy it when the foibles (shortcomings) of English royalty are exposed. In fact, an internet search of the word king most likely lists "Burger King," "B.B. King," "Martin Luther King," Stephen King," "The Lion King," and even "Elvis Presley," but certainly not Jesus Christ, who is the true King of Glory.
What does it mean to call Christ the Lord and King of Glory? It means that we have not only accepted Christ as our Savior, but we also make Him the Lord of our lives. Ask yourself, is He my Lord? Is He Lord of my body, my thoughts, my tongue, my temper, my spare time, my life plans, my pocketbook, my church life, my recreation, what I listen to on the radio and look at on television?
Christ instructed His followers to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done" (Matt. 6:10). To pray this prayer is to acknowledge that Christ is not only Lord, He is the coming King of Glory. Jesus Christ, the Lord, the King of Glory is the first and last, author and finisher, beginning and end, Alpha and Omega and our all in all.
LIVING IT: Be preoccupied with Jesus in every part of your life.
Mary McCalister
Matthew 1:18-25
Wednesday, December 23
Call His Name Jesus
KEY VERSE: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins," Matthew 1:21.
We commonly read this passage every Christmas season, but do we really think about what it means? Our Savior was not called Jesus because His mother had a relative named Jesus, but He was called that because of who He is. The name Jesus or Joshua means "savior." And that is what He is.
There are many names in the Bible that refer to Christ: Son of God, the Lamb of God, the Light of the world, the Resurrection and the Life, the Bright and Morning Star, the Lily of the Valley, Alpha and Omega.
All these are names which show how the boundaries of human language are stretched in an effort to capture the greatness and grandeur of God and His Son. They might help us to draw near to knowing the totality of God but they all fall short. Their message is so majestic we often fail to grasp it. Of course, the shortcoming is in us and the limitations of our human nature.
Not only is He Jesus, our Savior, but He is Immanuel, God with us. Not God with the rich, God with the powerful, God with the religious, but God with us, all of us. white or black, Jew or Gentile, brown or yellow, bondman or free.
Rejoice anew during this season that Jesus is indeed our Savior. Give Him homage and praise for what He has done for you.
LIVING IT: Proclaim to the world that Jesus is indeed Savior, not just a babe in a manger.
Mary McCalister
Luke 2:1-20
Thursday, December 24
Good Tidings of Great Joy
KEY VERSE: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord," Luke 2:11.
On this Christmas Eve, it would be most fitting to gather your family together and read Luke's account of the birth of Christ and the announcement of the angel to the shepherds. The angel's message was "good tidings of great joy" (verse 10). The message was to be for all people. It is a message which resounds today. In a time when there are many negatives, we can rejoice as we reread this positive message—a Savior is born.
We may think times are difficult, but they were difficult then as well. The Jews were in bondage to Rome. There seemed to be little or no hope for a solution to their problems. Yet, the shepherds rejoiced and hurried to see the newborn babe in the manger.
A once well-known preacher used this passage in his message to show how the message of the angels required a response from the hearers. Hypothetically, he imagined some of the shepherds simply sitting around discussing the great event. Some forty years later one of the shepherds might have told his small grandson about that eventful night. The grandson might have asked whether what the angel said was really true. The elderly shepherd may have said that he did not know. He never went to see.
How many people are like that today? They have heard the good news, but they have never accepted it for themselves. How sad!
LIVING IT: Has the angel's message changed your life?
Mary McCalister
Galatians 4:4-7
Friday, December 25
Born To Redeem
KEY VERSES: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons," Galatians 4:4, 5.
There is a current religious song popular at this time of year, titled "Mary, Did You Know?" It causes us to stop for a moment and think, as Mary held her infant son, did she really know what was in store?
Paul had learned of the purpose of Christ's birth, but did Mary know? Paul knew that Christ, virgin born of a woman, yet, the Son of God, came to redeem a lost world.
A story from an old book illustrates redemption.
There was a young boy who lived on a seaport and loved to watch the boats come in from their daily fishing trips. One day he decided to build a little sailboat all his own. He worked for weeks, making sure each detail was just right. Finally, the day came when he went down to the wharf and put his boat in the water. As he was watching his new sailboat, the wind suddenly changed, and the tiny boat was swept out of sight. The boy was heartbroken. For a month he went back every day to see whether his boat had been washed up on shore.
Surprisingly, one day he saw his boat in a store window. He ran into the store and told the owner that was his boat. The woman only responded by saying that the boat would cost him two dollars. He finally came up with the money and gave it to the owner. As he left the store, he was heard to say, "Little boat, you are twice mine. You are mine because I made you, and now you are mine because I bought you."
LIVING IT: God made us, then, redeemed us. What love!
Mary McCalister
Luke 2:25-33
Saturday, December 26
Salvation in a Person
KEY VERSES: "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel," Luke 2:30-32.
Watching the late night news does not lift your spirits or give you hope. Perhaps it was hearing of the two youngsters shot in a drive-by shooting or the non-reassuring announcement that twenty-six thousand highway bridges in America are near collapse or of a senator tampering with election procedures. We are told the national debt grows deeper each day. Our taxes are higher and the pollen count is up. Not much to smile about, is there?
And, yet, as we learned earlier, the angel brought glad tidings of great joy. Some eight days later, Simeon rejoiced, saying, "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation" (Luke 2:30). A prophetess Anna gave thanks for the coming of One who would bring redemption to Israel.
Earlier, Mary had visited her cousin Elisabeth, rejoicing in being chosen to bear the child who would be the Savior of the world.
It is time for us to rejoice as well, knowing a Savior has been prepared for all the people, a Light for the Gentiles and salvation for Israel. Praise God!
LIVING IT: How great is the love of God that He should give us salvation!
Mary McCalister
Psalm 2:1-12
Sunday, December 27
The King on His Holy Hill
KEY VERSES: "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee," Psalm 2:6, 7.
The caretaker of the home where Beethoven spent his final years led a group of tourists to the room that housed a stately old piano. Lifting the cover, he said, "This was Beethoven's piano!" A young woman stepped forward, sat down on the music stool, and began playing one of Beethoven's sonatas. Concluding, she spun around and said to the shocked caretaker, "I suppose many people who visit here like to play Beethoven's piano." "Well, Miss," he replied, "last summer the world famous Paderewski was here and some of his friends wanted him to play, but he said, 'No, I am not worthy.' "
God chose David, the chief musician, to be the greatest king in Israel's history. But, a far greater choice was David's great Son the King of kings. His kingdom will be established, and His reign will be forever.
If we enter God's throne room through this psalm, the nations of the world come into focus and perspective. We find we are overwhelmed by the dignity, solemnity and majesty of this King of all the universe. We should give Him full allegiance and loyalty. We need to worship Him, adore Him, glorify Him, and enjoy Him! Yet, we can come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace for we have a High Priest who can be touched by our infirmities.
LIVING IT: Thank you, Lord, for being my High Priest.
Mary McCalister
Psalm 46:1-5
Monday, December 28
There Is a River!
KEY VERSE: "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High," Psalm 46:4.
Rivers offer many benefits. Rivers provide food. Various types of seafood can be found in the water. Rivers offer transportation. Before the advent of the automobile boats carried passengers to distant places in the shortest amount of time. Rivers provide trade and occupation. Goods for sale and trade are often carried by water to their destination. One of the most important provisions of rivers is protection. Rivers often form the borders between countries. Rivers were the first line of defense against an attacking enemy.
The Tabernacle of ancient Jerusalem offered many of the same benefits as a river. The message proclaimed in the Tabernacle was the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus according to the Scriptures. Sacrifices made within the Tabernacle pictured the sacrifice Jesus would make on behalf of all sinners. The Lord proclaimed in the Tabernacle the Bread of Life, the water leading to eternal life and refuge of the soul.
Jesus is our source of strength, comfort and provision. He brings peace to the troubled soul, comfort to the sorrowful heart and provision to the needy person. His grace is as abundant as water in a river and available to all who will receive it. His mercy is without equal. Christians can look forward to the millennial reign of Christ when the whole world will experience His righteous power.
JUST A THOUGHT: The grace of Jesus flows from Heaven's love.
Marc Shultz
Joel 3:17-21
Tuesday, December 29
Future Fountain and Blessing
KEY VERSE: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim," Joel 3:18.
Imagine you live in the country and the only source of water for your house is from a well. You turn on the kitchen faucet to get a pitcher of water for the coffeemaker and nothing comes out of the faucet. Upon further investigation you determine the well has gone dry. There is no water for drinking, cooking, bathing or any other use. The only way to get more water is to dig a deeper well at considerable cost. Doing without water will make life difficult so you dig the new well. A flowing well is both a necessity and a blessing.
One day the Lord will reign from Jerusalem in perfect righteousness. The enemies of the people of Jerusalem will no longer be able to bring violence against them. They will become a source of blessing to the world much as water is a blessing to the arid desert. Water will flow from the house of God to the valley of Shittim. The people of Jerusalem will dwell in peace from generation to generation.
Jesus is the living water from whence comes salvation. He is a source of blessing to those who know Him as Savior.
JUST A THOUGHT: Jesus is a fountain of blessing that will never run dry.
Marc Shultz
John 4:10-14
Wednesday, December 30
Living Water for Thirsty Souls
KEY VERSE: "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water," John 4:10.
It is a hot, muggy day as you work to clean the yard. Sweat runs down your face and you are extremely thirsty. You go into the house for a few minutes of rest and a cool glass of water. The water quenches your thirst for the moment. You know as soon as you go back to the yard work you will become thirsty again. You think about how nice it would be if one glass of water would permanently quench your thirst.
Jesus met the Samaritan woman when she came to draw water. This was a daily chore for the woman because water was a staple of life. Jesus used the analogy of water to speak to her about salvation. Jesus told her about a well of water from which she would never thirst again. He did not speak of a well of physical water but of spiritual water that would bring eternal life to all who drink from it. Jesus told the woman He was that well of living water. The Samaritan woman accepted Jesus as Savior because she was thirsty for salvation. The well of living water never runs dry. Have you tasted the water from the well that produces eternal life?
JUST A THOUGHT: Everyone may drink from the well of living water.
Marc Shultz
Jeremiah 2:11-13
Thursday, December 31
Do Not Forsake the Fountain!
KEY VERSE: "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water," Jeremiah 2:13.
When I was growing up, our family lived in a house cooled by a water fan. A pump inside the fan unit would circulate water from a reservoir at the bottom of the tank. The fan unit would draw the hot outside air across the streams of water and cool the air which then was blown inside the room. The ability of the fan to cool depended upon keeping water in the reservoir. If the tank ran dry of water, the unit would only blow hot air.
Jeremiah pronounced the wrath of God against the Israelites who refused to accept His only begotten Son as Savior. The well of living water had been made available for them to drink from but they had not come to the well. They sought salvation by keeping the ceremonial law and by worshiping false gods. Jeremiah compared this to broken cisterns that hold no water. There is no other way to salvation other than by repentance and faith in Jesus as Savior.
The Lord wants no one to perish but for everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Everyone who calls upon Jesus as Savior will be saved (Rom. 10:13). Everyone may drink from the well of living water. Those who refuse to do so will not be saved.
JUST A THOUGHT: Salvation satisfies the soul as water satisfies thirst.
Marc Shultz