Daily Devotionals. Church Growth. Daily and Personal Devotionals. ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears

Transcription

1

2 Daily Devotionals Church Growth Daily and Personal Devotionals Written by Marc Shultz Beverly Barnett Gene Smith EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sally McInvale ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase Jeff Allen Greg Hilterbrand Blake Tilton LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Kyle Elkins Cindy Butler, Ashley Elkins CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar Carolyn Burks Deby Turrentine Joni Curtis PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley COVER DESIGN: Jeff Allen Copyright 2012 Vol. 23, No. 1 Bogard Press 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX

3 About the Writers Gene C. Smith was saved when he was twelve years old. He was baptized by the authority of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Alex, OK. He surrendered to the call of God in the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Pueblo, CO. He was ordained by the Calvary Baptist Church in Henderson, TX. During his ministry, he has served as pastor of churches in Texas and Arkansas. He attended college at Cameron State University in Lawton, OK, the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR and the Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary in Henderson, TX. He graduated from this Seminary with the Doctor of Theology degree. He also taught in this school for several years. Brother Smith has served as VBS Editor and Publicity Director for the Baptist Sunday School Committee and the clerk of the American Baptist Association. He has also served as clerk of the Texas State Association and as moderator of the Arkansas State Association. He has been the speaker in many VBS workshops and seminars. He also writes the Adult VBS Quarterly. He has written various other studies for about fifty years. He may be contacted at Brother Marc Shultz was born July 2, 1957, to pastor Don and Julia Shultz. He has spent the majority of his life in Texas except for seven years in Bossier City, LA. He was saved while his father was pastor of Greenacres Missionary Baptist Church of Bossier City, LA. He is a 1975 graduate of White Oak High School in White Oak, TX. He is a 1979 graduate of Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary of Henderson, TX. He is past moderator of the Salem Missionary Baptist Association, past moderator of the Pastor s and Layman s Council of the Missionary Baptist Association of Texas. He is married to the former Becky Sellers of Atlanta, TX. He is presently pastor of the Eastfield Missionary Baptist Church of Mesquite, TX. He may be contacted at preachermarc@gmail.com. Beverly Barnett grew up in a Missionary Baptist deacon s home, was saved at the age of nine and joined Hatley MBC, Hatley, MS. She married Nicky Barnett in Bro. Barnett has pastored in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Florida for the past twenty-eight years. In each of Brother Barnett s pastorates, Beverly has taught children in Sunday School or children s church. Beverly returned to school in 1985 and graduated with honors as an Licensed Practical Nurse. In 1991, she graduated from Northwest Alabama Community College with an associate degree then she became a registered nurse. She has been a guest writer for Women of the Harvest magazine, her hometown newspaper and writes a monthly newsletter. She continues to study the art of writing. She may be contacted at nanb542000@yahoo.com. 2

4 , December Scripture Readings, DATE DAILY DEVOTIONALS DAILY READINGS November 26 Joel 2:28, 29 1 John 5:1-10, 11-19, 21 November 27 Psalm 98:2, 3 2 John November 28 Luke 24: John November 29 Hebrews 4:14-16 Jude 2-25 November 30 Zechariah 14:1-5 Revelation 1:1-16, 19, 20 December 1 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 Revelation 2:1-7 December 2 Mark 16:15 Revelation 2:8-17 December 3 John 16:7-11 Revelation 2:18-29 December 4 Matthew 16:18 Revelation 3:1-6 December 5 Acts 11:14-18 Revelation 3:7-13 December 6 Romans 14:8-12 Revelation 3:14-22 December 7 Psalm 16:8-11 Revelation 4 December 8 Philippians 2:9-11 Revelation 5 December 9 John 14:16-18, 26 Revelation 6 December 10 1 Timothy 1:12-14 Revelation 7 December 11 Acts 26:16-20 Revelation 8:1-5 December 12 Psalm 32:1-5 Revelation 8:6-13 December 13 Isaiah 44:22 Revelation 9 December 14 1 Peter 1:3-5 Revelation 10 December 15 Micah 7:18, 19 Revelation 11:1-14 December 16 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Revelation 11:15-19 December 17 Philippians 1:12-14 Revelation 12:1-9 December 18 Psalm 118:22-24 Revelation 12:10-17 December 19 John 14:6 Revelation 13:1-10 December 20 1 Peter 2:7, 8 Revelation 13:11-18 December 21 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 Revelation 14:1-13 December 22 1 John 5:11, 12 Revelation 14:14-20 December 23 Galatians 4:4-7 Revelation 15 December 24 Matthew 1:18-25 Revelation 16 December 25 Luke 2:25-33 Revelation 17 December 26 Psalm 2:1-12 Revelation 18 December 27 2 Timothy 3:10-12 Revelation 19:1-10 December 28 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 Revelation 19:11-21 December 29 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 Revelation 20 December 30 John 16:33 Revelation 21 December 31 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 Revelation 22 3

5 , January Scripture Readings, DATE DAILY DEVOTIONALS DAILY READINGS January 1 Psalm 90:10-12 Genesis 1; 2:1-22, 25; 3:1-16, January 2 1 John 5:16, 17 Genesis 4 6 January 3 Matthew 4:6, 7 Genesis 7 9 January 4 1 Peter 4:12-16 Genesis January 5 Philippians 2:5-8 Genesis January 6 Ephesians 5:24-27 Genesis January 7 John 15:7 Genesis January 8 2 Timothy 2:8-10 Genesis January 9 Philippians 1:1 Genesis January 10 Daniel 7:13, 14 Genesis January 11 Acts 22:20 Genesis January 12 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 Genesis January 13 1 Timothy 3:8-15 Genesis January 14 Philippians 1:15-18 Genesis January 15 Romans 8:28 Genesis January 16 1 Thessalonians 2:2 Genesis January 17 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4 Genesis 49:1-9, 11-33; 50 January 18 Psalm 126:5, 6 Exodus 1 3 January 19 Isaiah 53:3-12 Exodus 4 6 January 20 John 15:18-21 Exodus 7 9 January 21 1 Timothy 1:15, 16 Exodus January 22 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 Exodus January 23 Galatians 1:11-17 Exodus January 24 Romans 15:15, 16 Exodus January 25 Galatians 2:6-9 Exodus January 26 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 Exodus January 27 Acts 26:9-20 Exodus January 28 Acts 15:5-11 Exodus 32 34:1-4, 8-35 January 29 John 7:17 Exodus January 30 Mark 7:14-23 Exodus January 31 1 Timothy 4:4, 5 Leviticus 1 3 4

6 , February Scripture Readings, DATE DAILY DEVOTIONALS DAILY READING February 1 Ephesians 6:5-9 Leviticus 4 6 February 2 Matthew 8:5-13 Leviticus 7 9 February 3 James 2:1-9 Leviticus February 4 John 21:18, 19 Leviticus February 5 1 Peter 2:21-24 Leviticus February 6 James 5:16 Leviticus February 7 Matthew 7:7-11 Leviticus February 8 Hebrews 13:1-3 Leviticus February 9 Ephesians 6:18-20 Numbers 1 3 February 10 Luke 18:1-8 Numbers 4 6 February 11 Isaiah 49:6 Numbers 7 9 February 12 2 Corinthians 5:21 Numbers February 13 John 1:29 Numbers February 14 Ephesians 1:7 Numbers February 15 1 John 2:1, 2 Numbers February 16 Psalm 130:3-7 Numbers 22; 23:1-18, 20-30; 24 February 17 Matthew 28:19, 20 Numbers February 18 Luke 12:51-53 Numbers February 19 Colossians 1:27, 28 Numbers February 20 1 Corinthians 2:1, 2 Numbers February 21 Galatians 6:14 Deuteronomy 1 3 February 22 Matthew 13:54-58 Deuteronomy 4; 5; 6:1-3, 10-17, February 23 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Deuteronomy 7:1-5, 12-26; 8; 9 February 24 1 Corinthians 1:17-24 Deuteronomy 10; 11:1-18, 22-32; 12 5

7 Monday, November 26 The Promise of the Spirit Joel 2:28, 29 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions, Joel 2:28. Allied soldiers had freed a small town in France from the enemy in World War II. The soldiers were tired, hungry and homesick. When not on duty, soldiers were urged to go to the local church to pray. When they entered the house of worship, their demeanor changed. They were acting less like soldiers and more like worshipers. When a child of God is controlled by the Spirit of God, his demeanor changes. Children of God are less affected by the influences of the flesh and more by the will of God. The Spirit s influence distinguishes a saved person from a lost person. It also shows the difference between a faithful saved person and one who is not following the leadership of the Spirit. What are the distinctions of individuals being led of the Spirit of God? They trust God with every aspect of their lives. They seek to do the will of God rather than their own selfish wills. They have a greater desire to serve the Lord than their own self-interests. They are more excited by the blessings of God than the temptations of the flesh. Their desire is to portray Christ in everything they say, in every place they go and in everything they do. The Spirit leads a person s desire to please God. Marc Shultz 6

8 Tuesday, November 27 To the Ends of the Earth Psalm 98:2, 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God, Psalm 98:3. When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, it was over a month before everyone in the country heard the news. When John F. Kennedy was assassinated, by nightfall everyone had heard the news. When an assassin attempted to kill Ronald Reagan, everyone knew about the attempted assassination within a couple of hours. Today news travels fast. The mercy of God is made known to everyone who receives it. His power is so great that His works are impossible to keep secret. A missionary shares the gospel to the poor citizens of a third world nation, and souls are saved. Those whom the missionary led to know the Lord as Savior begin to tell their friends and loved ones about their experience of grace and more souls are saved. One of these people travels to another country and shares his gospel witness, and even more souls are saved. It all began with one missionary sharing the good news of the gospel. If every person who accepts Christ as Savior would win one other person to the Lord, it would not take long to lead the world to Christ. Most saved people have never experienced the glorious privilege of leading another person to Christ. Ask God to open a door of opportunity to share the gospel with a lost person this week. Everyone needs to hear the gospel message. Marc Shultz 7

9 Wednesday, November 28 Preached Among All Nations Luke 24:46-49 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, Luke 24:47. The history of your family tree reveals many ethnic branches. Your family has come from people of varied cultures as it grew. Ethnic diversity is also seen in the American culture. Most neighborhoods are composed of people from many diverse backgrounds. All people, regardless of where they come from, have one thing in common. They need the Lord. The first church was at Jerusalem. The Jerusalem church grew from the evangelistic fervor of its members toward its community. At first, the members of the Jerusalem church were hesitant to proclaim the gospel beyond their own community. When persecution came to the Jerusalem church, they fled in fear of their lives. As they fled Jerusalem, they proclaimed the gospel wherever they were. There was a great awakening among the Gentiles, and many of them were saved. A good place to begin reaching the world for Christ is near your home. The college campuses across America are filled with international people who came to our country to get an education. Once they complete their academic work, they will return to their homelands. If we could win them to the Lord, they could go back to their own people and countries and share the gospel with them. All citizens of the world have two things in common. They are sinners, and they need to be saved. The gospel is the plan of salvation in whatever language it is spoken. Marc Shultz 8

10 Thursday, November 29 What Jesus Is Doing in Heaven Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession, Hebrews 4:14. When I entered the first grade, it was the first time I had spent much time away from my parents. While in class, I remember often wondering what they were doing at that moment. Even though I was not with them, they were busy doing things to make my life better. They were involved in worthwhile activities. After Jesus arose from the grave, He appeared to many witnesses so they could verify His resurrection. The Lord having completed His mission on earth ascended back into Heaven. He is our advocate before God the Father. He asks for mercy on our behalf because of the blood He shed on the cross. Because of what Jesus has done for us we can have confidence our sins are forgiven and we will have eternal life in Heaven. Another good question to ask is: what are we doing for Jesus? During the Lord s time on earth, He did the will of the Father. As children of God, we should follow the Lord s example. We should keep busy serving the Lord with a sense of urgency. There may not be too much time left to do His will. There is nothing better we can do with our time than serve the Lord. Children of God should continue to serve the Lord until they enter their Heavenly rest. The Lord is doing much for you. What are you doing for Him? Marc Shultz 9

11 Friday, November 30 In Like Manner He Will Return Zechariah 14:1-5 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee, Zechariah 14:1. During World War II, General Douglas McArthur was ordered to leave his base in the Philippines and establish his headquarters in Australia. This would mean leaving his troops behind where they likely would be captured by the enemy. General McArthur promised to return to the Philippines to free the beleaguered nation. General Douglas McArthur kept his promise. Before ascending into Heaven, Jesus promised to return one day. The Lord will not return in defeat but will return in triumph. He will establish His kingdom and will judge those who stand in opposition to His reign. Unlike the kingdoms that came before Him, the Lord will reign forever. His justice will be seen throughout the earth. The child of God should never doubt that Jesus is coming again. We do not know the exact time or hour, but we can know the season. Each day of time brings us one day closer to that glorious day. The child of God has nothing to fear in Jesus return. Think of seeing Jesus through eyes of the glorified body and being able to enjoy His grandeur. Imagine living in perfect bliss free from the sin and weaknesses of the flesh. This present world cannot begin to compare with the world that is to come. Only the child of God will enjoy the new Heaven and earth. Will the Lord receive you into His kingdom? Marc Shultz 10

12 He Is Coming Again 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 Saturday, December 1 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 2 Thessalonians 1:7. A young soldier visits his terminally ill father. What makes the visit more difficult is that the soldier is about to be deployed overseas for several months. He does not know whether he will see his father alive again. The father tells his son not to worry. He is going to a better place but to be sure and look out for his own safety. This world is filled with sorrow and trouble. Circumstances will not improve but will get worse. The financial stability of the world is on the verge of faltering. Many of the governments of the world are on the brink of collapse. Every day there are renewed threats of violence and terrorism. There does not seem to be a solution to these problems. In the midst of worldwide despair, there is a light of hope at the end of the tunnel. Jesus Christ is coming again. We do not know exactly when, but signs indicate His return is near. For the child of God, the return of the Lord will bring peace and joy that is not present in the world as it is. Unsaved people should fear the return of Christ because it will bring a time of judgment. Now is the time to make peace with God because Jesus could return at any time. Does the promise of the return of Christ cause you excitement or terror? Marc Shultz 11

13 Sunday, December 2 The Church s Great Mandate Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, Mark 16:15. A certain local church purchased an ad in the local newspaper detailing its Easter Sunday services. The elementary age children would have an Easter egg hunt. The teens would perform a dramatic reading of the resurrection story. The adult choir would sing The Messiah. There was no mention of a gospel sermon. The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures. The gospel defines the need for salvation and what a person must do to be saved. The mandate to preach the gospel is given to the local church. No other body has the Lord s authority to preach the gospel. The mandate is not only to the local congregation but to the entire world. The impoverished fisherman living on a Pacific island needs to hear what he must do to be saved. The farmer in a third world nation needs to hear what he must do to be saved. The prisoner in an American prison needs to hear what he must do to be saved. A soldier in the European army needs to know what he must do to be saved. If the local church does not do its duty to preach the gospel, people may never hear what they must do to be saved. We do not need a new message, but we need a commitment to preach the ageless message. The Lord s churches should preach His message. Marc Shultz 12

14 Monday, December 3 The Holy Spirit s Work John 16:7-11 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, John 16:8. You are watching your favorite game show on television when suddenly the program is interrupted. After a loud, earshattering sound that lasts for several seconds, the voice of an announcer says, This has been a test of the emergency broadcast system. The emergency broadcast system gives instructions on what to do in case of an emergency. The Holy Spirit is the Christian s warning system. The child of God continues to be tempted to sin after salvation. The Holy Spirit warns him of God s displeasure toward sin, the consequences that sin brings and the possibility of divine judgment without repentance of sin. The child of God should never become comfortable with sin. He should recognize that God hates sin and will not tolerate continual, sinful behavior. The Holy Spirit convicts the child of God when he sins and leads him toward repentance. If repentance is not forthcoming, the Holy Spirit warns that divine judgment will come. Consider the consequences that would happen if it were not for the work of the Holy Spirit. The child of God would continue to sin without realizing God s displeasure. He would not realize that he has fallen short of the standards of God. He would continue to sin without fear of divine judgment and, therefore, would see no need for repentance. The Holy Spirit keeps the Christian in line with God s will. The Holy Spirit always leads in the path of righteousness. 13 Marc Shultz

15 Tuesday, December 4 Jesus Builds His Church Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, Matthew 16:18. The average person on an automobile assembly line does not know how to build the entire vehicle. All he knows how to do is perform his individual task on the assembly line. There are a few people in the factory who would know how to build an entire vehicle. They are the ones who designed the car in the first place. Jesus is the Head of the local New Testament church. Churches are His instrument for preaching the gospel to a lost and dying world. Each local church should seek the Lord s will in all the ministerial decisions it makes. The local church is established to do the will of the Lord and not its own desires. The Lord will build His church according to His plan. Members of a local church are like workers on the assembly line. They are to follow the Lord s instructions. The result is a church that glorifies the Lord. A local church needs people with varied talents in its ministry. God does not call every man to preach the gospel. Not everyone has the ability to teach a class. There is something each person can do in the church s ministry, and it is an important task. When each member uses his God-given talent or talents in the local church ministry, he helps the Lord build His churches. The Lord builds His churches His way. Marc Shultz 14

16 Wednesday, December 5 Baptism of the Holy Spirit Acts 11:14-18 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning, Acts 11:15. The voice of a local pastor echoed across the football stadium as he voiced the pregame prayer. The fans in the stands stood in reverent silence as they listened to the words the pastor spoke. At the conclusion of the prayer, amens could be heard across the stadium. For that moment, the focus was not on the football game but upon God. After the opening kickoff, that moment of spirituality was replaced by the cheers for the football players. The presence and influence of the Holy Spirit brings a focus on spiritual matters. A pastor is led by the Holy Spirit in deciding the content of his gospel sermon. The listener in the pew is led by the Holy Spirit to listen to the message and to apply its instructions to his life. The Holy Spirit convicts the lost person hearing the sermon of his need to accept the Lord as Savior. The Holy Spirit has a vital role in worship. The Holy Spirit indwells believers at the moment of salvation. The influence the Holy Spirit has in their lives depends upon their willingness to follow the Spirit s leadership. The influence of the Holy Spirit upon believers helps them to place emphasis on spiritual matters. The Holy Spirit s leadership is clear. The conviction of the Holy Spirit will not cease until they obey the will of God. Following the Holy Spirit means denying self. Marc Shultz 15

17 Thursday, December 6 He Is Lord of All Romans 14:8-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, Romans 14:10. If a candidate for President of the United States receives fifty-five percent of the vote, it is considered a landslide victory. When he takes the oath of office, he is president not only of the fifty-five percent of the electorate who voted for him, but also the forty-five percent who did not vote for him as well as those who did not vote. Only a tiny percentage of the world s seven billion people have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave so they could be saved. Every person who repents of his sins and confesses Jesus as Savior will be saved. The only reason a lost person is not saved is because he has refused to accept Jesus as Savior. There is coming a time when every knee will bow in reverence to the Lord, and every tongue will confess Him as Lord. The sad reality will be for many of them is that it will be too late. Once life has given way to eternity, it is too late to accept Jesus as Savior. The longer a lost person puts off being saved; the more likely he will never accept Jesus as Savior. Lost people should have a sense of urgency in accepting Christ as Savior. Jesus is Lord. Are you His child? Marc Shultz 16

18 Friday, December 7 The Flesh Rests in Hope Psalm 16:8-11 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope, Psalm 16:9. Every four years, the United States conducts a presidential election. The candidates make great promises about what they will do if elected president. Voters trust the candidates to keep their promises. There is the hope their lives will be better if their preferred candidate becomes president. When the Bible speaks of hope, it is an assurance and not a wish. The person who accepts Jesus as Savior in repentance and faith is assured of salvation. He is assured of eternal life in Heaven. He is assured that he is eternally saved and will never be lost again and, therefore, will not face condemnation. He is assured Jesus will return for His saints. The assurances granted the child of God should cause him to rejoice in the Lord. He should never worry about life after death because of the assurance of eternal life in Heaven. He should rejoice that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). He should anxiously await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The hope of mankind is not in governments, political leaders or mankind. Mankind s hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ who can save when one calls on Him in repentance and faith. The hope of the child of God is in the coming King of kings and Lord of lords. Marc Shultz 17

19 Saturday, December 8 Resurrected and Exalted Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, Philippians 2:9. Think about all the people you considered your heroes throughout your life. Most of these people were worthy of whatever honor you bestowed upon them. There might have been a few of them who proved unworthy of the honor you gave them. People often disappoint us. There is a person who will never disappoint us. His name is Jesus. He has proven Himself worthy of our honor and worship. During the Lord s time in human flesh, He conducted Himself with integrity and honor. Many people did not believe that He was the Messiah. Despite their doubts, He continued to seek the salvation of the lost. Some people attempted to trick Him to cast doubt on His message. He retained His honor despite their insensitivity. Jesus had a duty to fulfill. Jesus knew there would be skeptics over His resurrection. He appeared before witnesses. There was now proof that Jesus was risen from the dead. Doubting Thomas believed after having seen the resurrected Lord. The faith of those who believed in the resurrection was now verified. There are many who consider Jesus one of many religious personalities. None of these other religious personalities have risen from the dead. Only Jesus tomb is empty. Jesus must be worshiped as the One and only Savior. Accept Him as your personal Savior. Make Him the Lord of your life. Give Jesus the glory due the Son of God. Marc Shultz 18

20 Sunday, December 9 The Promised Comforter John 14:16-18, 26 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, John 14:16. For thirty-three years Jesus walked among men. He had the appearance of flesh but not the fleshly nature. Not only did Jesus profess to be the Messiah, He proved the claim by His words and deeds. Jesus drew a crowd wherever He went. Some of them had come to see Him perform a miracle. Others came to hear His teachings. For whatever reason they came to Jesus, they heard the gospel message. It was an amazing time to live. After the Lord s death, burial and resurrection, His duty on earth was completed. After He rose from the grave, He ascended into Heaven where He is our intercessor. Many of the Lord s followers did not want Him to leave. Jesus promised that, though He would not be with them in bodily presence, they would have the presence of God through the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. God would be with them in another form. The Holy Spirit indwells believers at the moment of salvation. The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers of sin, stresses the need for repentance and leads them in the paths of righteousness. The Holy Spirit does not dwell within unbelievers because they are not of God. The child of God must follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the will of God. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is an assurance of salvation. Marc Shultz 19

21 Monday, December 10 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 1:14. Ignorance Corrected By Grace 1 Timothy 1:12-14 Billy was born in Louisiana and lived there all of his life. One day his father announced that they would be moving to Texas. Billy thought Texas was the worst state and was distressed about having to move there. After the family made the move, he began to see that his opinion of Texas was wrong and enjoyed living there. Saul of Tarsus hated Christians and Christianity. He spent his time persecuting Christians and churches. One day Saul accepted Jesus as his Savior and his attitude changed. He loved Christianity and Christians because he was a child of God. He was called of God into the ministry and put his full attention into preaching the gospel. His name change to Paul reflected how much his attitude changed. Those who are ignorant of the gospel message cannot fully appreciate its power to change lives. They cannot fully appreciate the power of the gospel until they accept Jesus as their Savior. Studying the Word of God and accepting its teachings changes ignorance to knowledge. The only reason a person is ignorant of the teachings in God s Word is they have not studied it. Faithfulness to studying the Word of God brings enlightenment to the will of God. Applying scriptural principles to one s life leads to the abundant life. Living in harmony with God s Word brings blessings. Do not be satisfied with ignorance to God s Word. Marc Shultz 20

22 Tuesday, December 11 Repent and Turn to God Acts 26:16-20 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me, Acts 26:18. A pastor was asked to speak at the graduation of a local high school. Before he agreed to speak, he was given some guidelines as to what he could and could not say. He could not mention the name of God or Jesus Christ. He could not quote the Bible or refer to its teachings. He was told if he violated any of the guidelines a security guard would immediately escort him from the stage. The pastor was puzzled why he was invited to speak and declined the invitation. The apostle Paul was given the right to speak to King Agrippa. His fate was in question. He was expected to beg the king for his release from his bonds. Instead, Paul shared his testimony of grace with the king. Agrippa did not accept Paul s invitation to accept Christ as his Savior. It is the duty of Christians to share the gospel message with the lost. The social gospel of the modern religious world ignores the need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. There is no salvation apart from repentance and faith. The world may bristle at the preaching of repentance and faith, but it is the message they need to hear. The social gospel appeases the mind. The true gospel convicts the soul. Marc Shultz 21

23 Wednesday, December 12 The Blessedness of Forgiveness Psalm 32:1-5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah, Psalm 32:5. A young man returned to the scene of a crime he had committed as an adolescent. He had been caught attempting to steal a candy bar from a local store. Having matured with age, he decided he needed to apologize to the store manager. The manager readily accepted the young man s apology and told him he was proud of the character he showed in making the apology. At least two people know the sins you have committed, you and God. God sees every evil deed man has done. It is His law that has been violated. The natural tendency is to cover up sinful activity. The proper thing to do is to repent and ask for divine forgiveness. God will always forgive repentant sinners. Since God is anxious to forgive sins, why is it so difficult for sinners to repent? Pride makes it difficult to repent. A person must admit his sins to repent of them. Human nature hinders repentance. The natural mind does not believe that sin is all that bad. Stubbornness prevents repentance. We do not like to be told what we must do. There is no reason not to repent. Repentance leads to forgiveness. Forgiveness leads to peace with God. Peace with God leads to abundant living and joy. Be as anxious to repent as God is to forgive. Marc Shultz 22

24 Blotting Out Sins Isaiah 44:22 Thursday, December 13 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee, Isaiah 44:22. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was forced to make public certain documents because of the Freedom of Information Act. In the documents, the names of the people allegedly involved in crimes were blotted out so as not to reveal whom they had under investigation. Only their alleged crimes were revealed. Every sin committed is known to God. His desire is to forgive sin. Not only does God forgive repentant sinners, but He also blots out their transgressions. Though they are guilty of sin in God s eyes, it is as though the sin had not been committed. The blood of Jesus Christ washes sin as white as snow. The desire of God to forgive sin does not mean it is okay to continue sinful activity. Jesus told the woman taken in adultery to go and sin no more (John 8:11). Repentance is caused by sorrow over sin. The sorrow over sin should lead to a change from sinful behavior. The person who does not turn from sinful activity has not truly repented. God does not hold a grudge. He will not say He has forgiven our sins and continue to hold them against us. Divine forgiveness is complete and eternal. It is as much in God s nature to forgive sins as it is for Him to love the sinner. God loves you enough to forgive you. Do you love Him enough to repent? Marc Shultz 23

25 Friday, December 14 Living Hope by the Resurrection 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3. When the government of the Soviet Union fell in the early 1990 s, the new Russian government had a problem on its hands. Across the country were thousands of statues dedicated to the leaders of the Communist movement. All of the people memorialized on the statues were dead. Their promise of a utopia on earth was also dead. Over time, these statues were destroyed. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ are proclaimed throughout the Scriptures. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Scripture. He was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. He lived a sinless life among men. He was crucified on the cross. If the story of Jesus ends here, He is not the fulfillment of Scriptures. Jesus completed the prophetic picture by rising from the grave on the third day. Without the resurrection of Christ, there is no salvation or eternal life in Heaven. The total story of Jesus should be told. We should not leave Him in the manger after His birth in Bethlehem. We should not leave Him on the cross after His death. We should not leave Him in the tomb after His burial. Jesus fulfilled all the prophecy of the Scriptures according to His death, burial and resurrection. Our salvation depends not only on the Lord s virgin birth and death on the cross, but also on His resurrection from the dead. Marc Shultz 24

26 Saturday, December 15 How God Deals with Sins Micah 7:18, 19 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy, Micah 7:18. A husband forgets his wife s birthday. He does not give her flowers, candy or even a gift. Needless to say, she is not pleased. For several hours she gives her husband the cold shoulder. In time, she forgives her husband because she loves him. God hates sin. Sin is abhorrent to Him. God finds nothing good about sin. He loves sinners as much as He hates sin. God does not want His children to suffer the consequences of sin. He leads His children to follow the path of righteousness and not the lusts of the flesh. God knows people are not perfect. When people sin, His desire is to show mercy. Sinners are called to repentance. When they repent, God will forgive their sins and pardon their iniquities. What should a sinner s response be toward God s forgiveness? They should be thankful that God has forgiven their sins. They should turn away from the sins they have confessed. They should change their attitudes toward sin, so they can resist the temptation to sin. They should not think that divine forgiveness of sin is God s permission to continue to sin. We should not become so comfortable with sin that there is no regret when we do sin. God expects us to do better. We should expect better of ourselves. Love God and hate sin. Marc Shultz 25

27 Sunday, December 16 Christ s Resurrection and the Gospel 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand, 1 Corinthians 15:1. What is the definition of the gospel? It is that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. The qualifying phrase according to the scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3) is important. Many claim to believe in the death, burial and resurrection but not as taught in the Word of God. Some people deny the reality of the resurrection from the dead. If Jesus is not risen from the dead, there is no salvation. Without salvation, there is no eternal life in Heaven. The resurrection is not being preached in many pulpits. It is believed that people do not want to hear about the resurrection of Jesus because they have difficulty believing it happened. The resurrection must be accepted by faith. There were scoffers even in the days Jesus walked the earth. Their disbelief did not prevent Him from rising from the tomb the third day. The doubts of modern day intellectuals about the resurrection does not mean it did not happen. The record of Jesus is clear that He arose from the dead. The Lord appeared to many witnesses to prove He arose from the tomb. Those who do not believe in the resurrection do not believe in the Word of God. The Lord s death and burial are meaningless without His resurrection. The resurrection is our hope of salvation. Marc Shultz 26

28 Monday, December 17 The Power of the Word Philippians 1:12-14 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel, Philippians 1:12. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, times looked bleak in America. The country, now at war, was still attempting to come out of the great depression. There was much debate whether or not the United States could emerge victorious in the war. There were three words that kept being repeated that healed the American psyche, Remember Pearl Harbor. Words have power, none more so than the Word of God. Consider what the Word of God is able to do. It shows the way to salvation. It brings peace to the troubled heart. It challenges the child of God to live a godly life. It brings joy to the despondent. It provides hope where none seems to be found. It brings comfort to the grieving heart and sorrowful mind. It brings serenity to the dying and a challenge to the living. It helps the broken life restore order. It details the way to live to please God. No other book has such power. Like another power source, it must be plugged in to be effective. Each person must study the Word of God and apply it to his life so its power can be utilized. The best condition to find a copy of the Bible is not looking as though it recently came off the shelf at the bookstore. A well-worn Bible leads to a well-rounded life. Marc Shultz 27

29 Tuesday, December 18 Head Stone of the Corner Psalm 118:22-24 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner, Psalm 118:22. Imagine in your mind a tower of dominoes. No matter how high it reaches, the weight rests on the corners of the foundation. If you remove one of the corners, the whole tower will fall. Jesus is the foundation of the Christian s life. As long as one depends upon the Lord, all is well. It is the times that the Christian turns away from the Lord that problems come. Any building is only as strong as its foundation. If the foundation crumbles, the building crumbles. There is no stronger foundation upon which a person can build his life than Jesus Christ. He is unmovable, the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the shelter in the midst of the storm. He is the calm in the midst of turmoil. Those who build their lives upon the teachings of Jesus Christ find strength to endure all things. How does a person build his life on Jesus Christ? First, by accepting Him as Savior. Jesus cannot be the Lord of a person s life until He is the Savior of his soul. After salvation, he must apply the principles of God s Word to his life. He must yield to the will of God for him. When a person applies these principles, he will discover a peace and joy he never before experienced. If he does not apply these principles, he will find nothing but sorrow. Jesus is the only foundation you need in life. Marc Shultz 28

30 Wednesday, December 19 Salvation in No Other John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me, John 14:6. One of the closest advisors to the President of the United States is his chief of staff. The chief of staff sets the agenda for the president. No one is able to visit with the president without going through the chief of staff. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He and His Father are One. They are unified in the desire for the salvation of souls. God the Father sent His Son in the form of flesh to be the sin sacrifice for all humanity. Jesus Christ took upon Himself the weight of sin, went to the cross and died for our sins. Through His death, burial and resurrection, whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved. There is a desire in the minds of many people to make Jesus Christ a religious personality but not the Savior of the world. These people make Jesus no different than any other person claiming to be God. Jesus is not a religious personality, but He is the one and only Savior. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. No other person claiming to be God has risen from the dead. No other person claiming to be God has the power to save souls. No other person claiming to be God is worthy to be worshiped. Only those who accept Christ as their Savior have eternal life. There is but one Lord, one gospel and one way to salvation. Marc Shultz 29

31 Thursday, December 20 Rejected Stone or Corner Stone? 1 Peter 2: 7, 8 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 1 Peter 2:7. A man was attempting to set up his camper on uneven ground. One corner was not quite level with the rest of the structure. He noticed a large rock on the ground and placed it underneath the uneven corner. It was large enough to level the camper. Life is filled with many hills and valleys. There are some pleasant experiences and some unpleasant experiences. When life gets difficult, we need stabilizing forces to help us through the circumstances. Many people will turn to things, such as alcohol and drugs, to help them through the difficult circumstances. These things make matters worse. Where should a person look for stability in life? He should look to the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ. Not only does He save souls, but He also brings peace to the sorrowful and joy to the despondent. He provides sufficient grace to endure the difficult times that life brings. The life built upon the solid foundation of Jesus Christ will not waver when times get tough. Christians must trust God to help them navigate through the obstacles of life. When you trust God, you have no reason to worry. God is greater than your fears. God never fails. He cares for you. We can depend on God because He will always be with us when times are tough. Marc Shultz 30

32 Friday, December 21 One God One Mediator 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5. Two brothers had not spoken for several years. A business deal gone bad had placed a hedge between them. Their father died, and their disagreement had prevented them from consoling each other. Finally, their mother brought them together to settle their differences. The mother used the sad occasion to bring reconciliation to the brothers. There is a schism that exists between sinless God and sinful man. Sinless God cannot tolerate sin. Sinful man cannot escape his sin nature. Jesus Christ is the Mediator who brings sinless God and sinful man together. Man is made righteous in the sight of the Father through Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. The justice of the Father is satisfied in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Though the saved person is still a sinner, he is not condemned because of his repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Consider where you would be if it were not for Jesus Christ. You would not be saved, and you would be facing eternal condemnation. You would not have the promise of eternal life in Heaven after death. You would not have forgiveness of sin. You would not have an opportunity to live an abundant life and be blessed of God. Life would be filled with hopelessness and be void of joy. All these things are possible because of the great Mediator Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus and live victoriously. 31 Marc Shultz

33 Saturday, December 22 Eternal Life Only in the Son 1 John 5:11, 12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son, 1 John 5:11. Soon after the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, the average lifespan of the settlers was barely fifty years. At the turn of the twentieth century, the average lifespan had expanded to over sixty years. Today, the average lifespan is approaching seventy years, and it is not uncommon to hear of someone living to be one hundred years of age. Despite the expanding lifespan, everyone will die. No one will live forever in the mortal body. Methuselah lived to be nine hundred sixty-nine years old but still died. The body dies because of the presence of the sin nature. The soul within the body does not die. When life is separated from the body, the soul goes to its eternal destination. This eternal destination depends on whether or not the person has accepted the Lord as Savior. Death for the lost person brings eternal condemnation (John 3:18). Death for the saved person brings eternal life in Heaven (verse 16). The afterlife does not begin until death comes to the mortal body. A person can accept the Lord as Savior as long as there is life in the body and reason in the mind. Many lost people believe they have plenty of time to accept Christ as Savior. No one can guarantee life beyond the present moment. The uncertainty of continual life should add a sense of urgency in accepting the Lord as Savior. Marc Shultz 32

34 Sunday, December 23 Jesus Was Born To Redeem Galatians 4:4-7 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons, Galatians 4:5. Adoption is one of the greatest gifts parents can give a child. Though the child did not come to them through birth, they have chosen to make the child a part of their family. When the adoption is complete, they promise to raise the child as though he were one of their own. Christians are brought into the family of God through the process of spiritual adoption. They are born with the sin nature and alienated from God. They are made heirs to God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Being adopted into the family of God does not come without a price. Our redemption is made possible through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus did not deserve to die because He was not a sinner. He died on the cross not for Himself but for sinners. Through His death, they can have eternal life. Christians have a spiritual relationship as children of God. They are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ because they have accepted Him as their Savior. They call God their Father because they are His children because of repentance and faith. Because God is their Father, they seek to honor Him through their lives. They serve God because they love Him. They do not consider themselves slaves to God but sons of God. God wants you to be His child. Do you want Him to be your Father? Marc Shultz 33

35 Monday, December 24 Call His Name Jesus Matthew 1:18-25 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins, Matthew 1:21. One of the exciting things that expectant parents go through is thinking of names for their yet to be born child. Sometimes, they will name the child after a favorite person who greatly influenced them. Other times, they might take one of the popular names at the time of the child s birth. The name will be the child s identity for the rest of his life. The baby within Mary s womb was not an ordinary child, but the Son of God. Jesus was not conceived of human seed but was conceived by the Holy Ghost. This birth was not planned by Mary and Joseph but by God. Every detail concerning Jesus birth was according to the prophecy of the Scriptures. Mary and Joseph named their firstborn child Jesus as they were instructed. Jesus birth was miraculous because He was born of a virgin. His mission on earth was given by God. Jesus was not born to fulfill His own purpose but to seek and save the lost. If Jesus birth was not according to the prophecy of the Scriptures, He is not the Savior. Since Jesus fulfilled all scriptural prophecy, we can have confidence He is the Savior. There is no reason to doubt that Jesus is the Son of God. Seek Jesus as Savior. Worship Jesus as God. Follow Jesus as Lord. Proclaim Jesus to the lost. A savior by any other name is not God. Marc Shultz 34