From: December 2, 2020
From: December 2, 2020
From: December 2, 2019
From: December 2, 2018
From: December 2, 2017
From: December 2, 2016
Many start life’s race well, but finish poorly. But I want to finish this life well for Christ. Don’t you? What is the secret to finishing well? “Abide” in Christ. Stay close. If you wander, come back. If you stray, return. If you sin, repent. Keep short accounts. “Abide.” Which is to stay, to live and walk in constant fellowship with Jesus. This is not working or earning. It is remaining. It is clinging continuously to the One who saves and keeps us. It is depending on Him for all things and being satisfied in Him at all times. If we stay in constant fellowship with Him, we won’t be ashamed when He returns. He has done the heavy lifting, declaring, “It is finished!” There is no earning, nor striving for us to do. Yet, we must continually abide in Him to finish well.
From: December 2, 2015
Do you ever ask questions of God like, “Why is this happening to me?” The apostle John answers saying not everything has been “revealed” yet, but one thing we can be sure of is that “we are children of God” and we shall “be like” Jesus. That’s God’s goal for us as believers. He is making us like Jesus. “Beloved,” whatever suffering or difficulty you may be going through today may be endured by keeping this end in sight. God is at work in His children, conforming them to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).
From: December 2, 2014
Determine to finish well. How? “Remain in fellowship with Christ.” Stay close. If you wander, come back. If you stray, return. If you sin, repent. Keep short accounts. “Remain.” Which is to abide, to stay, to live and walk in constant “fellowship” with Jesus. This is not work or earning. It is remaining. It is clinging continuously to the One who saves us. If we stay in constant fellowship with Him, we won’t be ashamed when He returns. He has done all the work. He declared, “It is finished” on the cross. There is no work for us to do. It is done. Yet, we must remain in Him to finish well ourselves.
From: December 2, 2013
This is one of the 15 “Psalms of Ascent.” Psalms 120 through 134 were written for pilgrims to sing as they ascended towards the holy city, Jerusalem and the temple mount. Today, many pilgrims, both Jew and Christian alike, read these psalms on the Southern steps approaching the Huldah or Triple Gate to the temple mount. But we don’t have to go to Israel to be inspired and encouraged by these psalms. Who will help me climb out of this valley? Who will answer my cry and need? My Helper is the Creator. He is the Lord!
From: December 2, 2012
The One speaking to Daniel had a similar appearance and effect as Christ did on John in Rev. 1. When we encounter God’s holiness (His wholly otherness and righteousness), it causes fear. Yet, Christ says, “Fear not. For you are very precious to God.” What joy! This is the message of Christmas: “Peace. Fear not. Be encouraged.” For Christ has come and is coming again!
From: December 2, 2011
This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus came exactly 483 years (62×7+7×7) after the temple was rebuilt. Yet, one ‘seven’ remains to complete the prophecy of the 70 weeks of years.