1
| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| 16| 17| 18| 19| 20| 21| 22| 23| 24| 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 30| 31A sign is a tool that brings information from those who are not with you to speak to you. The sign on the building stating that it is for sale tells you what those who own it say, while they are not there to do it with their mouths.
Thus also in Isaiah 7:14 we read, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Our God is here speaking to us through a work which He performs, so that we might have this truth and enjoy its blessedness. This work is a sign through which He speaks to us.
There is a very important truth here that we must believe. Our God has done for us that which no creature can do. A virgin cannot bring forth a son. Yet God did this humanly impossible work, causing a child to be born by a virgin and bringing us salvation through that Son.
We cannot save ourselves, because we are spiritually dead; and our sin calls for an everlasting punishment. Our Savior must be the eternal Son of God, Who never sinned and Whose work has everlasting value.
Our God did for us what we do not deserve, and saved us from what we do deserve. In that virgin birth we have a divine sign which tells us that we owe Him everlasting thanks for this gift of His grace. We should bear this in mind when in a few days we celebrate that birth of Christ.
God Himself came into our flesh by a virgin birth so that we might become His spiritual sons and daughters. And when Christ returns pretty soon we are going to have an everlasting day of celebrating this wonder work of God's grace, this mighty work whereby He has changed us.
Read the sign and rejoice in the truth that He saves us by a wonder work of His sovereign grace.
Read: Luke 1:26-35 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Zechariah 1:1-21
Revelation 12:1-17
Psalm 140:1-13
Proverbs 30:17
****
Quote for Reflection:
"The point that ought to be understood is that this changed law is made necessary by the change of the priesthood. As the priesthood is, so is the law! For the law is based upon the priesthood! This is a matter of necessity. The term necessity means in the Latin: that which cannot cease. It is from ‘ne-cesso’: that which has in it a quality which cannot be stopped. The term in the Greek language is ‘anagkees’ which is derived from the verb ‘anaykizoo’ to force, to demonstrate, to prove. And thus is the case here. The law must be changed when the priesthood is changed, because upon this priesthood the people receive the law. The entire legality and sanction of the law rested upon this Levitical-Aaronitic priesthood. This is not a mere logical necessity, based upon logical demonstration of a man-made premise. On the contrary, this is a necessity which follows from the God-ordained connection between priesthood and law as revealed by God Himself concerning the Mystery of salvation. One has but to study carefully this matter in the Old Testament to see that this is implied in the very structure of the law-giving itself through Moses" George Lubbers (The Glory of the True Tabernacle, p. 190).
In the wonder of God's grace a virgin brought forth the Christ-child. Our salvation became possible because of what our God did in His grace. Mary brought forth this Child, but she did so because God worked upon her and through her. The praise and thanksgiving must be given to God.
Our God made Mary a devout believer. In Luke 1:38 we read, "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." We ought to consider how wonderfully God worked. As hard as it was for Mary's flesh to do what would rule her in the eyes of mankind as an harlot, she bowed before God and believed that this humanly impossible birth of the Savior would take place. She would suffer shame before men, but she would walk in a way pleasing in God's eyes.
Note the statement, "Be it unto me according to thy word." Note also that she called herself God's hand-maid, that is, servant. Although we cannot perform the work which Mary accomplished, we can and must say to our God, "I am Thy servant. Do unto me what pleases Thee. Give me grace and ability to do Thy will in all my walk of life." How much of that did you do today?
Let us therefore also, with a view to the observance of the day when we celebrate Christ's birth, serve God by thanking Him for this gift of His Son. Let us enter Christmas not only seeing it as the day of God's almighty power and infinite wisdom displaying themselves, but also as the day of His love and grace to send His own Son into our flesh to die for us that we may live with Him in everlasting blessedness.
Christ's coming in our flesh opens the way for us to come into sweet communion with God through blotted out sins, and by a new life given us by His Spirit. Christmas must be a thanksgiving day that moves us to daily thanks- giving for salvation as the gift of His grace.
Read: Matthew 1:18-25 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Zechariah 2;
Zechariah 3:1-10
Revelation 13:1-18
Psalm 141:1-10
Proverbs 30:18-20
****
Quote for Reflection:
"Any person who would function as a priest in the line of Melchizedek could not assume the priestly office according to the order of Levi, for the simple reason that he was not a Levite. So if Psalm 110 anticipates the appearance of a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, then a whole new legal structure would have to be put into effect. This new law of the new priestly order would presumably make ‘perfection’ possible for the people of God in a way in which it was not possible under the old law and the Levitical priesthood. This change of the priestly order has significant implications for the worship practices of the people of the new covenant. The laws of the Levitical priesthood involved the continual offering of sacrifices in association with specified festivals and holy days. The ritual of these cultic celebrations was not complete without the accompanying sacrifices. But if a new priestly order supersedes the Levitical order, then the framework for the offering of the required sacrifices has come to an end. As a consequence, the festivals and holy days cannot be carried out according to the law of the Levitical priesthood. The entire manner of worship must be changed when the priestly order changes" O. Palmer Robertson (The Israel of God, p. 68).
On Christmas Day it is a custom to give enjoyable presents to loved ones. But it is a blessing which God gives us in order that we may be with Him in His house of many mansions. And the blessedness of Christmas is also that which God takes away from us. For what He takes from us, namely, our guilt, makes that dwelling with Him in glory possible.
We need to have our guilt removed by the blotting out of our sins. Therefore our Christmas must be a day wherein we praise God's name and thank Him for the work of His grace that sent His Son to be our Savior. It must also be a day wherein we do this for His mercy, as Mary said to Elisabeth when she visited her, "And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation."
Now mercy is kindness, compassion, pity, tenderness. We sinners certainly need that, because Adam, the first man in the human race, brought guilt upon the whole human race. From Adam we received those totally depraved natures that add sin to sin all the days of our lives.
On Christmas we must remember how guilty we are in Adam, and because of our own sinful walk of life. Our guilt must be taken from us in order that blessings may be given unto us.
At Christmas, but also every day in our lives, we must come to God with thankfulness for His mercy as well as for the gifts of His grace. Take note of the fact that God's mercy is "on them that fear Him." This means that it is only on the believers. For to fear God is to believe that He alone is God, and that Christ is His Son come into our flesh.
If you have that fear, that awesome respect and trust in God, you may be sure that He sent His Son to take away your guilt, and to bring you to everlasting blessedness in His kingdom of heaven. His sending of His Son opened the way for His blotting out of our guilt. Christ's coming in our flesh made it possible for us to come with Him into heavenly glory.
Read: Luke 1:46-56 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Zechariah 4;
Zechariah 5:1-11
Revelation 14:1-20
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 30:21-23
****
Quote for Reflection:
Belgic Confession, 25, "Of the abolishing of the Ceremonial Law:" "We believe, that the ceremonies and figures of the law ceased at the coming of Christ, and that all the shadows are accomplished; so that the use of them must be abolished amongst Christians; yet the truth and substance of them remain with us in Jesus Christ, in whom they have their completion. In the meantime, we still use the testimonies taken out of the law and the prophets, to confirm us in the doctrine of the gospel, and to regulate our life in all honesty, to the glory of God, according to his will."
Two women were informed by our God that our Savior was going to be born in the line of David. But He also informed a man, and even told him what name should be given to the Son of God in our flesh. In Matthew 1:21 we read that to Joseph it was said, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins...."
This man, engaged to become the husband of Mary, had first thought that she had sinned. He intended therefore to put her away. In verse 19 we read that he, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
To this Joseph was given the wonderful truth that we should take hold of, and hold on to with all our spiritual strength, namely, "He shall save his people from their sins." By all means take hold of that truth on Christmas Day. That forgiveness of our sins is a most wonderful gift of God's grace. Worldly gifts and presents do not even stand in the shade of that gift of God's grace.
Tomorrow we celebrate Christ's birth, and the chief attraction of that day is not what men or women give us, not what human brothers and sisters do for us, but what Christ, the Son of God in our flesh, did for us and is doing daily for us.
Let us tomorrow sing God's praises. Let us thank Him for what He took from us, and for what He gave us in its place. Let us before the world testify that Christ is the Savior. For that name "Jesus" means "Jehovah Saves." Let us tomorrow, and every day, rejoice that our guilt has been taken away, and that we are given righteousness and holiness as a free gift of God's grace. Let us sing a new song to Jehovah for the wonders He has wrought.
Read: Psalm 98 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Zechariah 6;
Zechariah 7:1-14
Revelation 15:1-8
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 30:24-28
****
Quote for Reflection:
What a glorious and significant festival is the feast of Pentecost! It is the feast of the union of heaven and earth, the feast of God’s betrothal with redeemed man, the birthday feast of the New Testament Church, the harvest home of those who have been “brought nigh by the blood of Christ.” What would all the other festivals of our Church be without this one? They would be only messengers extolling acts of beneficence in which we ourselves might never hope to share; heralds, inviting us to a marriage supper, the entrance to which we could never find. Whitsuntide (Pentecost!) enables us to enjoy those splendors which the other feasts have disclosed to our view. Whitsuntide brings to us the cupbearer, as it were, who first crushes the divine grapes of Christ’s merits in the goblet, and presents it to us as a restorative draught. Let us therefore congratulate ourselves upon the joyous harvest-day of the new covenant, and may the Lord attune our souls to higher songs of gratitude and praise! F.W. Krummacher, “The Risen Redeemer”
A blessed Christmas to you. For what our God through an angel declared in Luke 2:10 presents to us a most blessed truth. Through an angel our covenant God says to us, "Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great jay, which shall be to all people." And these good tidings are that unto us a Savior has been born, which is Christ the Lord.
It is true that His name "Jesus" means "Jehovah saves," for He is the Son of God, the First Person in the Holy Trinity, come into our flesh. But that He is Christ means that He is in our flesh the anointed one, anointed by God to represent and bless us. And that He is Lord means that He rules over us, but also over all creation with its creatures for our good.
What more precious gift could be given us on Christmas Day? What more powerful and sure Savior can there be than one Who is rightly by God called Christ and Lord? For He is God's anointed Head of His church. And as Lord He can and does bring to us the most precious gifts that there are and will be in the new creation.
He is not a lord, but The Lord Who has complete control over all creation. That He is Christ means that He is God's choice for the position of representing us on the cross in order to open the door for us to enter everlasting blessedness.
Take hold of that truth! His gift to us will never, no never, wear out. His gift is not something we outgrow, like toys given us at Christmas when we were little children. No, this day speaks to us of the good tidings of great joy that will never end, and that are so rich that we will never become weary of them. Our joy in them will everlastingly increase.
Rejoice then today, but also all the rest of the days of your life here below. Thank Him for this gift which is an everlasting blessedness wrought for us through Christ, the eternal Son of God.
Read: Isaiah 40:1-11 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Zechariah 8:1-23
Revelation 16:1-21
Psalm 144:1-15
Proverbs 30:29-31
****
Quote for Reflection:
“The same Spirit, therefore, Who has spoken through the mouths of the prophets, must penetrate into our hearts to persuade us that they faithfully proclaim what has been divinely commanded… By this power we are drawn and inflamed, knowingly and willingly, to obey Him, yet also more vitally and more effectively than by mere human willing or knowing.” -John Calvin
Although they were shepherds watching their flock of sheep by night, they did not yet know and understand the message of the angel that this child Who was born in Bethlehem is The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. But they did believe what the angel told them, and they went to "see this thing which had come to pass." They were believers and revealed strong faith in Him as their Savior.
We read that they came with haste and found the babe lying in a manger. Of all places for a newborn child to be born! What humility it showed for one Who the angel said was their Savior! What is so revealing, and what is evidence that He is our Savior, is the fact that He, as the Son of God in our flesh, caused the shepherds to make "known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child" ( Luke 2:17 ).
Here, indeed, is instruction and exhortation to us. Christmas is past. But is its truth past as far as your life is concerned? You still have the gifts your loved ones gave you yesterday. But do you cherish and appreciate more today than you did a year ago the gift of God's Son, after celebrating the birth of Christ?
Since last year we added a load of sin to our sins of the past. These sins made necessary not only the coming of our Savior, but also His dying on the cross to save us from their punishment. Since these sins increased, did His birth as Savior have richer meaning yesterday than a year ago? Do you more enthusiastically sing with the angels, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will to men"?
Seeing His cross, we ought to be far more thankful this year than last year, understanding more clearly what He did for us, and that He is the Lamb of God Who removed our guilt.
Read: Luke 2:8-20 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Zechariah 9:1-17
Revelation 17:1-18
Psalm 145:1-21
Proverbs 30:32
****
Quote for Reflection:
“Young men and women, and especially those who have been brought up in religious families, I fear much for you. I fear lest you get a habit of giving way to every temptation. I fear lest you be afraid of saying "No!" to the world and the devil,—and when sinners entice you, think it least trouble to consent. Beware, I do beseech you, of giving way. Every concession will make you weaker. Go into the world resolved to fight Christ's battle,—and fight your way on.” - J. Ryle
Forty days after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary brought Him to the temple to be presented to God. Of the necessity of this we read in Leviticus 12:1-4 . When they brought Him there an amazing event took place.
An elderly man, named Simeon, had been informed that he would not die until he had seen "the Lord's Christ." And when Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple "to present Him to the Lord" Simeon took the babe, Jesus, up in his arms and, among other things, said, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against."
It may seem strange that a Savior is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel. Yet, not so, if we recall Genesis 3:15 where God told Satan that the human race will be divided into seed of the woman and seed of the serpent, these seeds hating each other, the head of the serpent's seed being crushed, and the heel of the woman's seed being crushed. This is a very important truth, for the whole human race fell into sin. But God is pleased to save some, causing these to hate Satan and sin. A promise is given that He will nullify some of Satan's work and his temporary victory, and will work faith and love of God in some whom He eternally chose in Christ.
In Christ, Who is God's work of grace, will Satan's work be defeated in as many members of the human race as it pleases God to realize this. What we have manifested to us, then, concerning this Child in Simeon's arms, is a most beautiful and comforting truth about God's grace and love for His elect.
God promised to save us not only from our punishment, but also from the power and control of Satan. That newborn babe, Christ, manifests God's love that will implant the love of Him in our hearts. What a blessed gift which we considered on the day we celebrated Christ's birth. How wonderful that this enmity is realized in us against Satan and sin.
Read: I John 3:1-17 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Zechariah 10;
Zechariah 11:1-17
Revelation 18:1-24
Psalm 146:1-10
Proverbs 30:33
****
Quote for Reflection:
“Worldliness is the lust of the flesh (a passion for sensual satisfaction), the lust of the eyes (an inordinate desire for the finer things of life), and the pride of life (self-satisfaction in who we are, what we have, and what we have done). Worldliness, then, is a preoccupation with ease and affluence. It elevates creature comfort to the point of idolatry; large salaries and comfortable life-styles become necessities of life. Worldliness is reading magazines about people who live hedonistic lives and spend too much money on themselves and wanting to be like them. But more importantly, worldliness is simply pride and selfishness in disguises. It’s being resentful when someone snubs us or patronizes us or shows off. It means smarting under every slight, challenging every word spoken against us, cringing when another is preferred before us. Worldliness is harboring grudges, nursing grievances, and wallowing in self-pity. These are the ways in which we are most like the world.” -D. Roper
It was the hand of our God that brought Simeon to the temple the hour that Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to be presented unto the Lord, as was required. But it was also the mercy of our God that caused a believing woman named Anna to be in the temple to see Simeon holding the Christ Child.
This woman, more than 84 years as a widow, and about 100 years old, was spiritually as well as physically very spry and active. She thanked God for the gift of His Son; for we read in Luke 2:30 , "And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."
Is it not amazing what control our almighty God has over all things? He preserved Simeon's life till Christ was presented in the temple. He let Anna go far beyond the fourscore years of the strong ( Psalm 90:10 ), so that she might see our Savior, and He also preserved for us what she said about our Savior.
She saw redemption and thanked God for it. She saw our Redeemer. She did not know that Herod would try to kill Him, and that He would die on a cross; but she knew that God keeps His word, and that here was our Savior Who most assuredly would redeem us, that is, take away all our guilt. This in turn meant that she believed that He would bring to us all that God promised in His Word.
And now, as we begin to be farther and farther from the day in which we celebrated Jesus' birth, we have presented here to us our calling to thank God for giving us this Redeemer. It is well that we celebrate that day of the month; but our calling is to thank God every day of every year for this wonderful gift -- or present, if you want to call it that -- of a Redeemer, Who not only died for our sins, but is now at God's right hand preparing places for us in a holy, blessed kingdom. Do that every day, and not only once a year.
Read: Psalm 98 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Zechariah 12;
Zechariah 13:1-9
Revelation 19:1-21
Psalm 147:1-20
Proverbs 31:1-7
****
Quote for Reflection:
… Curiosity doth rise almost always either of idleness or else of distrust; distrust is cured by meditating upon the promises of God. And his commandments do tell us how we ought to occupy ourselves and employ our studies. Therefore, he commandeth his disciples to wait for the promise of God, and to be diligent in executing their office whereunto God had called them. And in the mean season he noteth their great hastiness, in that they did preposterously catch at those gifts which were proper unto the Holy Spirit, when as they were not as yet endued with the same. Neither did they take the right way herein, in that being called to go on warfare, they desire (omitting their labor) to take their ease in their inn. - John Calvin
There are times when an Old Testament verse is quoted in the New Testament. When this happens the Greek word in the New Testament often brings out a new element of truth.
We find this fact in Matthew 2:6 where we find a statement written in Micah 5:2 . This difference we cannot find in the King James Version of the Bible. But the Greek word used by Matthew does enrich what Micah wrote. In Matthew 2:6 we find the chief priests and scribes stating that out of Judah "shall come a Governor, that shall rule the people of Israel." However, the word "rule," which we find here, and which appears also in Micah 5:2 , although it presents the truth literally, means "to shepherd." It means, thus, to rule as a shepherd rules the sheep of his flock. Does not Jesus Himself in John 10:14 say, "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine"? A shepherd loves his sheep and seeks to protect them from all the wolves that would like to kill them. And Christ, as our shepherd, protects the seed of the woman from the attacks of the seed of the serpent. A ruler can be cruel. A shepherd tenderly cares for his sheep, Jesus even laying down His life for His sheep.
Here we have a blessed truth concerning Jesus and His birth, which we should appreciate and hold on to tightly when we celebrate His birth, but also every day of our lives. His birthday is past, but the truth concerning Him is everlasting.
We have a shepherd Who willingly laid down His life to give us an everlasting and wonderful life with God in the new Jerusalem. Let us not set aside our appreciation of His coming in our flesh. Let us not set aside the truth that we have such a wonderful Savior, and think of Him only occasionally. What men call Christmas is past; but let us not set aside the truth of having such a merciful shepherd Who came to save us and bless us.
Read: John 10
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Zechariah 14:1-21
Revelation 20:1-15
Psalm 148:1-14
Proverbs 31:8-9
****
Quote for Reflection:
… Man loves sin, but he dreads hell. And so he makes an attempt to escape the one while continuing in the other. - Herman Hoeksema
Yesterday we took note of the fact that Christ rules us as a shepherd Who is deeply concerned with our well- being as His sheep.
Let us now take note of the fact that long after His birth wise men came from afar to worship Him. They did this many days before Herod sent out soldiers to kill all the male children two years old and younger. Here then are those that loved Christ, and those who hated Him and wanted Him killed.
Let us also appreciate the fact that they came to worship Jesus long after the day of His birth. This underscores the truth that one day in a year is not the only time when we should reveal our spiritual interest in His coming as our savior and king. Our thankfulness for His coming into our flesh to save us from our sins must be in our hearts every day in every month of every year. Even if we live to be, as Anna was, 100 years old, for us to come before God to thank Him for our Savior 100 times (i.e., once a year) would be, not a worthy thing, but a shame. Every day, in every week, of every year we should come to our God and thank Him for having sent His Son as our Good Shepherd, Who is now watching over us in love, and preparing the way for His return to bring us to heavenly blessedness.
Listen! We read of those wise men, who had true wisdom in their souls, that they wisely went such a great distance, and on a day other than the one on which Jesus was born. They revealed by this that they are wise men.
Go then to God with heart and soul to thank Him for sending His Son for our salvation. Open the Scriptures daily to see more clearly what His Son did for us. Put all your trust in His return to finish His work as our Savior, our kind and tender shepherd. Confess by deeds as well as words, "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want."
Then you will also say that wherewith these devotionals began the first day of this year: "Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Read: Psalm 23 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Malachi 1;
Malachi 2:1-17
Revelation 21:1-27
Psalm 149:1-9
Proverbs 31:10-24
****
Quote for Reflection:
… Man wants to rid himself of the obligation to serve his Creator. He registers a complaint against his divine Employer in order to justify himself in his sin. He tries to justify a strike. His Employer is unjust. The requirements imposed upon him by the Almighty are too severe. The demands of God are far too exacting; they far exceed his capacity; he can never fulfill them. And so he refuses to shoulder his obligation. No one, not even God, has the right to demand of him what he cannot perform! - Herman Hoeksema
Once more we have come to the end of a year. The question may properly be raised, Can you say with the psalmist, what he said in Psalm 119:65 ? There we read, "Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word...."
Looking back on the year that ends today, can you say what the psalmist said in absolute sincerity? Or was your year full of grumbling and complaining, murmuring and expressing disappointments? What happened in your life this year that is coming to its close today?
Indeed, there are events that bring us grief, sadness, and tears. Our Savior Himself wept at the tomb of Lazarus, and groaned when some of the Jews said, "Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?" They did not understand His weeping and groaning. It is not always sinful to weep because a loved one is taken away, or when you are in deep pain.
The big and important question is whether we, because of what happened this year, doubt God's mercy and wisdom. How sincerely can we say, no matter what happens, that God has dealt well with us? How sure are we that all things work together for good to us? Do we agree with what Paul wrote in Romans 8:28 ?
The end of all things is near. And the end of this year reminds us that an end is coming to time, and to this present world in its present form.
Our calling is to believe this truth presented by the psalmist, and to confess this before the world. All is well for God's people. Sing then and rejoice because all that happened and will yet happen was and is God dealing well with His people. The end of this year assures God's people of the beginning of an endless age of covenant fellowship between God and His people. The end of this world reveals the end of a world of sin. Do you want to have sin brought to its end?
Read: Psalm 119:65-80 .
Through
the Bible in One Year
Read
today:
Malachi 3;
Malachi 4:1-6
Revelation 22:1-21
Psalm 150:1-6
Proverbs 31:25-31
****
Quote for Reflection:
… If then we desire to come to Christ, let us not be ashamed to follow those whom the Lord, in order to cast down the pride of the world, has taken, from among the dung of cattle, to be our instructors. – Calvin’s Commentary (Luke 2)
Return
to the list of meditations.