Ending with Grace

December 31

Daily Bible Reading: Malachi 1 - 4

Verse of the Day: Malachi 4:6 – “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

What a difference we find at the close of the Old Testament, and of the New Testament. 

The Old Testament closes with the pronouncement of a curse, while the New Testament ends with the grace of Jesus. As we end this past year tonight, consider – are you entering the New Year looking back on a life that was filled with regrets? Are you entering the New Year seeking to find and hold on to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ? As we pass from this old year into the new, may we seek to follow the Lord and be used by Him in His plan. Take time tonight to prepare for a new start, with a clean heart, in a right relationship with the One who gave all, that we might gain all.

Prayer: Lord, we bow humbly before you today, cleanse us, ready us, and use us in the New Year. Amen.

The Coming Kingdom

December 30

Daily Bible Reading: Zechariah 13 – 14

Verse of the Day: Zechariah 14:9 – “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.”

As we are approaching the beginning of a New Year, we need to pause today and consider our reading. It is a reference to the coming Kingdom of our Lord and Savior. God will be the King over all the Earth. 

As this year is coming to a close, spend some time considering where you were victorious in Christ this past year, and where you were defeated. How did you serve your Lord, and how did you betray Him. How did you display God before those in your circle of the world, and how did you deny Him before this circle. Then, ask His forgiveness, and seek His Spirit to direct and guide you this coming year.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I have failed You and I have lived for You. Forgive my failings and help me have more success in living for You. Amen.

Selling out Jesus

December 29

Daily Bible Reading: Zechariah 10 – 12

Verse of the Day: Zechariah 11:12 – “And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.”

This Old Testament prophet carries a number of prophecies that describe the Messiah – Jesus. In today’s reading, we come across the verse that predicts that Judas would sell Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver (read Matthew 27:9). In just a couple of verses later we see the continuation of what took place when Judas’ money was used to buy the Potter’s field.

The price of selling out Jesus. Sometimes today we are guilty of selling our Jesus. We are quick to accept a momentary, temporal item in return for betraying our Savior. Ponder today over anything that you have allowed to replace Jesus as the center of your life. And then, return Jesus to the rightful place in your life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come before You now, confessing that I have “sold You out” for things that are not eternal. Thank You for forgiving me today. Amen. 

Fickle People

December 28

Daily Bible Reading: Zechariah 7 – 9

Verse of the Day: Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

From our reading today, we see a passage of Scripture that is applied to Jesus in the New Testament. It is on the day of what we term His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. This takes place on the Sunday before His crucifixion. On this day (we call it Palm Sunday), the crowds rejoiced and shouted their acceptance of Him. Just days later these same folks shouted – “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

We need to be careful in our walk that we do not do as they did. On Sunday proclaim Him Lord, and later deny who He is.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are a fickle group of people. We worship You and then deny You. We shout your praises one minute and grumble about our circumstances the next. Help us to daily worship You – every day! Amen.

Not by Might or Strength

December 27

Daily Bible Reading: Zechariah 4 – 6

Verse of the Day: Zechariah 4:6 – “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Often we venture into the day and our tasks being confident on how well we can handle things ourselves. Then we hit the obstacle that challenges our thought processes, and our advancement.

We need to start every day recognizing that we can accomplish exactly what God wants us to – through the power of the Holy Spirit. Whatever God has designed for us to accomplish can be accomplished by His Spirit.

Today, as you set out into the world, remember these words – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Prayer: Lord of Hosts, we come before you today seeking to accomplish Your plan for us. Make it happen, not by our strength, but by Your Spirit. Amen.