Victory in Christ

When the angel Gabriel foretold the birth of Jesus, Mary questioned how it would be possible. The angel’s answer was fitting then and is still fitting today. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37 KJV) Later in this book Jesus makes a similar statement when asked about being saved. “And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (Luke 18:26-27 KJV) When we consider this power that our Heavenly Father has, it should give us comfort in any situation. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 KJV)

Today’s reading: Luke 1; John 1

Malachi brought words from God of punishment that was coming for some.  “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” (Malachi 4:1)  But those who feared God were promised something much better.  “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 4:2)  Fear of God does not mean to be scared of Him, but to honor and give the proper reverence to Him and to His word.  The Psalmist also talks about blessings that are received by those who fear God.  “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:10-13)

Today’s reading: Malachi 1-4

Many of the Psalms make statements that are very fitting for us to repeat even today. One is found in Psalms 126:3 “The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad.” (NKJV) These words should be on our mind and lips continually as we count our blessings and remember that every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17).

Today’s reading: Nehemiah 11-13; Psalm 126

Nehemiah was working to straighten out some wrongs that the people had been doing.  One of these wrongs was who they were marrying.  “Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?” (Nehemiah 13:27)  God had given strict commands about who they could marry and why.  “You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.” (Deuteronomy 7:3-4)  God’s reason for not marrying people from other nations had nothing to do with the way they looked or the color of their skin.  His reason had to do with the negative influence that this spouse would have on His people serving Him.  Paul reminds us that this negative influence can come from any type of relationship if we are not careful.  “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Today’s reading: Nehemiah 8-10

God’s people began showing an attitude of gratefulness to Him and listing some of the great things He had done.  “You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.” (Nehemiah 9:6)  Their attitude at this time also included humbleness and acknowledgement of the wrong that they had done.  “Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.” (Nehemiah 9:33)  As God’s people today we also are at times guilty of disappointing our Heavenly Father, but He gives us ample opportunity to make things right.  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Today’s reading: Nehemiah 6-7

As the Jews were rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, some opposition arose against them.  “And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.” (Nehemiah 4:8)  In the next verse we read of the two things the Jews did as soon as they found out about the opposition to their work.  “And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.” (Nehemiah 4:9)  This is a great example to us all.  When trouble arose, they prayed and they also put forth the effort to try and protect themselves.  We must have faith in God’s ability to answer our prayers, but we also must be willing to put in the work that needs to be done.  If we are striving to do His will, those prayers will be answered with what He knows is best.  “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” (1 John 5:14)

Today’s reading: Nehemiah 1-5

As we learn God’s Word, we should be like Ezra and have a zeal to share with others.  “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10)  In his letter to the Colossians, Paul talks about the change in us that happens as we put off the old man and become Christians.  Having a desire to teach others like Ezra did is one of those Christian traits that Paul talks about.  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

Today’s reading: Ezra 7-10

Mordecai became honored and loved because he unselfishly used what he had to help all Jews.  “For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.” (Esther 10:3)  Paul tells us to also live unselfishly and strive to be like the greatest Servant that man has ever known.  “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” (Philippians 2:3-9)

Today’s reading: Esther 6-10

Esther was about to risk her life and go before the king to beg for safety of the Jews.  She gave Mordecai orders on what to do first.  “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16)  Esther had the right attitude; stand up for what you know is right, pray diligently to God, and let whatever happens be His will.  Similarly, Paul said that our lives should be spent striving to serve and that if we are in Christ, dying is not the worst thing that can happen to us.  “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.” (Philippians 1:21-24)

Today’s reading: Esther 1-5

We have a proverb that reminds us where we can find protection.  “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5)  There is a psalm that makes a very similar statement.  “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” (Psalms 18:30)  Jesus tells us that for that true and perfect word of God to be of any benefit to us, we must live by it completely.  “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Today’s reading: Zechariah 10-14