by Oswald Chambers
. . . All my springs are in you —Psalm 87:7
Our Lord never “patches up” our natural virtues, that is, our natural traits, qualities, or characteristics. He completely remakes a person on the inside— “. . . put on the new man . . .” (Ephesians 4:24). In other words, see that your natural human life is putting on all that is in keeping with the new life. The life God places within us develops its own new virtues, not the virtues of the seed of Adam, but of Jesus Christ. Once God has begun the process of sanctification in your life, watch and see how God causes your confidence in your own natural virtues and power to wither away. He will continue until you learn to draw your life from the reservoir of the resurrection life of Jesus. Thank God if you are going through this drying-up experience!
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by J.C. Ryle
Look around the world, and see how failure is written on all of people’s schemes. Count up the partings, separations, disappointments, and bereavements which have happened under your own knowledge. Think what a privilege it is that there is One at least who never fails, and in whom no one was ever disappointed! Never, never was there so unfailing a friend as Jesus Christ!
by J.C. Ryle
by Vance Havner
“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherin dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:13
The year ends with a world in turmoil, sudden destruction possible. Peter tells us of a coming catastrophe that sounds like an atomic holocaust. How up-to-date, “…the elements shall melt with fervent heat…”(3:10)! But the Christian is looking tonight not just for a new year but a new age – heavens and earth where righteousness dwells.
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be…diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (3:11,14).
While the world drinks and dances into the New Year to spend tomorrow with a hangover, let the Christian meet it on his knees and meet tomorrow with a hallelujah!
by Vance Havner
by A.B. Simpson
That our God would . . . fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power—2 Thessalonians 1:11
Our God is looking today for pattern persons. When He gets a true sample, it is very easy to reproduce him or her in other lives without limitation.
All the experiences of life come to us as tests, and as we meet them our loving Father is watching with intense and jealous love to see us overcome. If we fail He is deeply disappointed, and our adversary is filled with joy. We are being watched continually by angels and principalities, and every step we take is critical and decisive for something in our eternal future.
When Abraham went out that morning to Mount Moriah, it was an hour of solemn probation; when he came back he was one of God’s tested men, with the stamp of His eternal approval. God could say, I know him, that he will . . . do justice and judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken (Genesis 18:19).
God is looking for such men and women today. Lord, help me to be such a one.
by A.B. Simpson
by A.W. Tozer
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
We have little sympathy for the psychology expressed in the various "Back To" movements among Christians today. Our direction is not back, but forward. Few acts are as futile as sitting down and singing "Backward, turn backward, O Time, in thy flight." We cannot turn the clock back. We cannot bring back better days. And it is not necessary or desirable that we should. If by means of some fantastic "time machine" one of us were permitted to go backward and visit some favorite period of the past, he would in all probability find the experience extremely disappointing. He would find himself a kind of anachronism, wholly out of place and thoroughly unhappy. To each one it is given to occupy his own spot in history. He must, like David, do the will of God by serving his own generation. It is in his own day that he must meet God in satisfying encounter.
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by Hal Lindsey
On this week’s edition of "The Hal Lindsey Report," I address a subject that has loomed in the thinking of American Christians only as a hazy shadow in the far-off future. Well, that hazy shadow is beginning to come into sharp relief. That shadow is the specter of persecution.
Of all nations on earth, the United States of America seemed to be the last place where the persecution of Christians would be a problem. But it’s no longer such a far-fetched idea.
I believe we are seeing a crescendo of events and changing attitudes — political, cultural, spiritual, and economic — that will soon coalesce to put evangelical Christians in the cross-hairs of our society. Many of you are already facing some of these challenges at work, at school (or your child’s school), or among your neighbors or family members. "Political correctness" is even now a problem, but I don’t believe it will be too long before being "politically incorrect" will land you a fine or a jail term. When that happens, we will be faced with a choice: be "politically correct" or stand boldly and speak out for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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by Jimmy DeYoung
The geopolitical events of 2011 like the United States military pullout from Iraq, Iran’s continued development of a nuclear weapon of mass destruction, the Afghan War, and the continuation of the Arab Spring have a connection to the prewritten history that can be found in Bible prophecy. However, the most significant indicator that we are entering the times of the end is what has unfolded in the Middle East in 2011 and what 2012 seems to hold for our world. This is dramatic evidence of the soon fulfillment of all of Bible prophecy that can be found in God’s Word.
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