December 21

John 20:10-18

[10] Then the disciples went back to their homes.

[11] But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. [15] Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” [16] Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [17] Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” [18] Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Revelation 18

[1] After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. [2] And he called out with a mighty voice, 

    “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

        She has become a dwelling place for demons,

    a haunt for every unclean spirit,

        a haunt for every unclean bird,

        a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. 

    [3] For all nations have drunk

        the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,

    and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,

        and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

    [4] Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, 

    “Come out of her, my people,

        lest you take part in her sins,

    lest you share in her plagues; 

    [5] for her sins are heaped high as heaven,

        and God has remembered her iniquities. 

    [6] Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,

        and repay her double for her deeds;

        mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. 

    [7] As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,

        so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,

    since in her heart she says,

        ‘I sit as a queen,

    I am no widow,

        and mourning I shall never see.’ 

    [8] For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,

        death and mourning and famine,

    and she will be burned up with fire;

        for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

    [9] And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. [10] They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, 

    “Alas! Alas! You great city,

        you mighty city, Babylon!

    For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

    [11] And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, [12] cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, [13] cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.

    [14] “The fruit for which your soul longed

        has gone from you,

    and all your delicacies and your splendors

        are lost to you,

        never to be found again!”

    [15] The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

    [16] “Alas, alas, for the great city

        that was clothed in fine linen,

    in purple and scarlet,

        adorned with gold,

    with jewels, and with pearls! 

    [17] For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”

    And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off  [18] and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, 

    “What city was like the great city?”

    [19] And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, 

    “Alas, alas, for the great city

        where all who had ships at sea

        grew rich by her wealth!

    For in a single hour she has been laid waste. 

    [20] Rejoice over her, O heaven,

        and you saints and apostles and prophets,

    for God has given judgment for you against her!”

    [21] Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, 

    “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,

        and will be found no more; 

    [22] and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,

        will be heard in you no more,

    and a craftsman of any craft

        will be found in you no more,

    and the sound of the mill

        will be heard in you no more, 

    [23] and the light of a lamp

        will shine in you no more,

    and the voice of bridegroom and bride

        will be heard in you no more,

    for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,

        and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. 

    [24] And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,

        and of all who have been slain on earth.”

Job 39

    [1] “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?

        Do you observe the calving of the does? 

    [2] 

    Can you number the months that they fulfill,

        and do you know the time when they give birth, 

    [3] 

    when they crouch, bring forth their offspring,

        and are delivered of their young? 

    [4] 

    Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open;

        they go out and do not return to them.

    [5] 

    “Who has let the wild donkey go free?

        Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey, 

    [6] 

    to whom I have given the arid plain for his home

        and the salt land for his dwelling place? 

    [7] 

    He scorns the tumult of the city;

        he hears not the shouts of the driver. 

    [8] 

    He ranges the mountains as his pasture,

        and he searches after every green thing.

    [9] 

    “Is the wild ox willing to serve you?

        Will he spend the night at your manger? 

    [10] 

    Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes,

        or will he harrow the valleys after you? 

    [11] 

    Will you depend on him because his strength is great,

        and will you leave to him your labor? 

    [12] 

    Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain

        and gather it to your threshing floor?

    [13] 

    “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,

        but are they the pinions and plumage of love? 

    [14] 

    For she leaves her eggs to the earth

        and lets them be warmed on the ground, 

    [15] 

    forgetting that a foot may crush them

        and that the wild beast may trample them. 

    [16] 

    She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers;

        though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear, 

    [17] 

    because God has made her forget wisdom

        and given her no share in understanding. 

    [18] 

    When she rouses herself to flee,

        she laughs at the horse and his rider.

    [19] 

    “Do you give the horse his might?

        Do you clothe his neck with a mane? 

    [20] 

    Do you make him leap like the locust?

        His majestic snorting is terrifying. 

    [21] 

    He paws in the valley and exults in his strength;

        he goes out to meet the weapons. 

    [22] 

    He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;

        he does not turn back from the sword. 

    [23] 

    Upon him rattle the quiver,

        the flashing spear, and the javelin. 

    [24] 

    With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground;

        he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. 

    [25] 

    When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’

        He smells the battle from afar,

        the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

    [26] 

    “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars

        and spreads his wings toward the south? 

    [27] 

    Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up

        and makes his nest on high? 

    [28] 

    On the rock he dwells and makes his home,

        on the rocky crag and stronghold. 

    [29] 

    From there he spies out the prey;

        his eyes behold it from far away. 

    [30] 

    His young ones suck up blood,

        and where the slain are, there is he.”

Haggai 1

[1] In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: [2] “Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” [3] Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, [4] “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? [5] Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. [6] You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

[7] “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. [8] Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. [9] You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. [10] Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. [11] And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

[12] Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. [13] Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” [14] And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, [15] on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Haggai 2

[1] In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: [2] “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, [3] ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? [4] Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, [5] according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. [6] For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. [7] And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. [8] The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. [9] The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.’”

[10] On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, [11] “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: [12] ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’” The priests answered and said, “No.” [13] Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” [14] Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. [15] Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the LORD, [16] how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. [17] I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the LORD. [18] Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider: [19] Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

[20] The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, [21] “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, [22] and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. [23] On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.”

The Grave of God’s Forgetfulness

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.’”

ROMANS 4:5-8

 

PONDER THIS

You cannot work your way to Heaven. There’s nothing you can do, big or small, that’ll save you. You must put your faith in the Son of God, and when you do, God says, “I count you righteous.” That word impute means to put it on your account. God imputes righteousness. He simply puts that righteousness on your account.

But it gets better. “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven.’” But He does more than that: “And whose sins are covered.” Hallelujah! They’re buried in the grave of God’s forgetfulness, never to be brought up again.

You don’t understand sin if you think you can live well enough to get to Heaven. I wouldn’t trust the best fifteen minutes I’ve ever lived to get me to Heaven. But “Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” You see, you can’t have sin imputed to you if you’re in Jesus. We have the riches from Jesus when we are in Him, both now and for eternity. So, it is time to stop striving to be better and surrender to Christ; He will transform you.

What are the sins God has forgiven that you have had a hard time forgiving yourself for?

What does it look like to live based on the reality of the righteousness Jesus has given to you?

PRACTICE THIS

Discuss with a friend where you struggle to forgive yourself. Ask your friend to pray for you to receive Christ’s gift.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Birth of the Ancient of Days

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world — to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37)

This is a great Christmas text even though it comes from the very end of Jesus’s life on earth, not the beginning.

Notice: Jesus says not only that he was born, but that he “came into the world.” The uniqueness of his birth is that he did not originate at his birth. He existed before he was born in a manger. The personhood, the character, the personality of Jesus of Nazareth existed before the man Jesus of Nazareth was born.

The theological word to describe this mystery is not creation, but incarnation. The person, not the body, but the essential personhood of Jesus existed before he was born as man. His birth was not a coming into being of a new person, but a coming into the world of an infinitely old person.

Micah 5:2 puts it like this, 700 years before Jesus was born:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

The mystery of the birth of Jesus is not merely that he was born of a virgin. That miracle was intended by God to witness to an even greater one; namely, that the child born at Christmas was a person who existed “from of old, from ancient days.”

And, therefore, his birth was purposeful. Before he was born he thought about being born. Together with his Father there was a plan. And part of that great plan he spoke in the last hours of his life on earth: “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world — to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37).

He was the eternal Truth. He spoke only the truth. He acted out the greatest truth of love. And he is gathering into his eternal family all those who are born of the truth. This was the plan from ancient days.

John Piper 

December 20

John 20:1-9

[1] Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. [2] So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” [3] So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. [4] Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. [5] And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. [6] Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, [7] and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. [8] Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; [9] for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Revelation 17

[1] Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, [2] with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” [3] And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. [4] The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. [5] And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” [6] And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. 

When I saw her, I marveled greatly.  [7] But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. [8] The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. [9] This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; [10] they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. [11] As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. [12] And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. [13] These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. [14] They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

[15] And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. [16] And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, [17] for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. [18] And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

Job 38:22-41

    [22] “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,

        or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, 

    [23] which I have reserved for the time of trouble,

        for the day of battle and war? 

    [24] What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,

        or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?

    [25] “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain

        and a way for the thunderbolt, 

    [26] to bring rain on a land where no man is,

        on the desert in which there is no man, 

    [27] to satisfy the waste and desolate land,

        and to make the ground sprout with grass?

    [28] “Has the rain a father,

        or who has begotten the drops of dew? 

    [29] From whose womb did the ice come forth,

        and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? 

    [30] The waters become hard like stone,

        and the face of the deep is frozen.

    [31] “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades

        or loose the cords of Orion? 

    [32] Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season,

        or can you guide the Bear with its children? 

    [33] Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?

        Can you establish their rule on the earth?

    [34] “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,

        that a flood of waters may cover you? 

    [35] Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go

        and say to you, ‘Here we are’? 

    [36] Who has put wisdom in the inward parts

        or given understanding to the mind? 

    [37] Who can number the clouds by wisdom?

        Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, 

    [38] when the dust runs into a mass

        and the clods stick fast together?

    [39] “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,

        or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 

    [40] when they crouch in their dens

        or lie in wait in their thicket? 

    [41] Who provides for the raven its prey,

        when its young ones cry to God for help,

        and wander about for lack of food?

Zephaniah 3

    [1] Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,

        the oppressing city! 

    [2] She listens to no voice;

        she accepts no correction.

    She does not trust in the LORD;

        she does not draw near to her God.

    [3] Her officials within her

        are roaring lions;

    her judges are evening wolves

        that leave nothing till the morning. 

    [4] Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;

    her priests profane what is holy;

        they do violence to the law. 

    [5] The LORD within her is righteous;

        he does no injustice;

    every morning he shows forth his justice;

        each dawn he does not fail;

        but the unjust knows no shame.

    [6] “I have cut off nations;

        their battlements are in ruins;

    I have laid waste their streets

        so that no one walks in them;

    their cities have been made desolate,

        without a man, without an inhabitant. 

    [7] I said, ‘Surely you will fear me;

        you will accept correction.

    Then your dwelling would not be cut off

        according to all that I have appointed against you.’

    But all the more they were eager

        to make all their deeds corrupt.

    [8] “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,

        “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.

    For my decision is to gather nations,

        to assemble kingdoms,

    to pour out upon them my indignation,

        all my burning anger;

    for in the fire of my jealousy

        all the earth shall be consumed.

    [9] “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples

        to a pure speech,

    that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD

        and serve him with one accord. 

    [10] From beyond the rivers of Cush

        my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,

        shall bring my offering.

    [11] “On that day you shall not be put to shame

        because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;

    for then I will remove from your midst

        your proudly exultant ones,

    and you shall no longer be haughty

        in my holy mountain. 

    [12] But I will leave in your midst

        a people humble and lowly.

    They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, 

    [13]     those who are left in Israel;

    they shall do no injustice

        and speak no lies,

    nor shall there be found in their mouth

        a deceitful tongue.

    For they shall graze and lie down,

        and none shall make them afraid.”

    [14] Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

        shout, O Israel!

    Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

        O daughter of Jerusalem! 

    [15] The LORD has taken away the judgments against you;

        he has cleared away your enemies.

    The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;

        you shall never again fear evil. 

    [16] On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

    “Fear not, O Zion;

        let not your hands grow weak. 

    [17] The LORD your God is in your midst,

        a mighty one who will save;

    he will rejoice over you with gladness;

        he will quiet you by his love;

    he will exult over you with loud singing. 

    [18] I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,

        so that you will no longer suffer reproach. 

    [19] Behold, at that time I will deal

        with all your oppressors.

    And I will save the lame

        and gather the outcast,

    and I will change their shame into praise

        and renown in all the earth. 

    [20] At that time I will bring you in,

        at the time when I gather you together;

    for I will make you renowned and praised

        among all the peoples of the earth,

    when I restore your fortunes

        before your eyes,” says the LORD.

Christmas Solidarity

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

The assembly line of Satan turns out millions of sins every day. He packs them into huge cargo planes and flies them to heaven and spreads them out before God and laughs and laughs and laughs.

Some people work full-time on the assembly line. Others have quit their jobs there and only now and then return.

Every minute of work on the assembly line makes God the laughingstock of Satan. Sin is Satan’s business because he hates the light and beauty and purity and glory of God. Nothing pleases him more than when creatures distrust and disobey their Maker.

Therefore, Christmas is good news for man and good news for God.

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). That’s good news for us.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). That is also good news for God.

Christmas is good news for God because Jesus has come to lead a strike at Satan’s assembly plant. He has walked right into the plant, called for the Solidarity of the faithful, and begun a massive walkout.

Christmas is a call to go on strike at the assembly plant of sin. No negotiations with the management. No bargaining. Just single-minded, unswerving opposition to the product. We won’t be a part of making it anymore.

Christmas Solidarity aims to ground the cargo planes. It will not use force or violence, but with relentless devotion to Truth it will expose the life-destroying conditions of the devil’s industry.

Christmas Solidarity will not give up until a complete shutdown has been achieved.

When sin has been destroyed, God’s name will be wholly exonerated. No one will be laughing anymore.

If you want to give a gift to God this Christmas, walk off the assembly line of sin and don’t go back. Take up your place in the picket line of love. Join Christmas Solidarity until the majestic name of God is cleared, and he stands glorious amid the accolades of the righteous.

John Piper 

The Greatest Gift

 “But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.”

ROMANS 5:15

 

PONDER THIS

When Jesus died on the cross, He gave Himself for us. But then, when He sent the Holy Spirit, He gave Himself to us. And now we have that fellowship with God that was severed when Adam sinned. We’re reconciled. It is not God that is reconciled. God doesn’t need to be reconciled. We’re the ones who are reconciled with God. Adam walked with God in the garden, but I have the Holy Spirit within me. In Christ, through the Holy Spirit, we have much more than what Adam had. We have God’s presence in us, and we have restoration in Him.

The grace of God means God has regenerated us. He’s not simply saved us from wrath. He has come into our hearts and given us life. Jesus said, “I’ve come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” The gift of regeneration is that we are not only created by God but saved by Him and empowered through His Spirit to live life with Him.

How have you experienced God’s gift of Himself to you? How does that change your relationship with Him?

How have you seen the Holy Spirit at work in your life? How does it encourage you to remember God’s presence is accessible wherever you are?

PRACTICE THIS

Praise God for the gift of His presence through the Holy Spirit. Share with someone else how you have experienced the Holy Spirit.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

December 19

John 19:38-42

[38] After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. [39] Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. [40] So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. [41] Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. [42] So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Revelation 16

[1] Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

[2] So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

[3] The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

[4] The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. [5] And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, 

    “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,

        for you brought these judgments. 

    [6] For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

        and you have given them blood to drink.

    It is what they deserve!”

    [7] And I heard the altar saying, 

    “Yes, Lord God the Almighty,

        true and just are your judgments!”

    [8] The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. [9] They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

[10] The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish [11] and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

[12] The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. [13] And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. [14] For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. [15] (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) [16] And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

[17] The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” [18] And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. [19] The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. [20] And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. [21] And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

Job 38:1-21

[1] Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

    [2] “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 

    [3] Dress for action like a man;

        I will question you, and you make it known to me.

    [4] “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

        Tell me, if you have understanding. 

    [5] Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

        Or who stretched the line upon it? 

    [6] On what were its bases sunk,

        or who laid its cornerstone, 

    [7] when the morning stars sang together

        and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

    [8] “Or who shut in the sea with doors

        when it burst out from the womb, 

    [9] when I made clouds its garment

        and thick darkness its swaddling band, 

    [10] and prescribed limits for it

        and set bars and doors, 

    [11] and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,

        and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

    [12] “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,

        and caused the dawn to know its place, 

    [13] that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,

        and the wicked be shaken out of it? 

    [14] It is changed like clay under the seal,

        and its features stand out like a garment. 

    [15] From the wicked their light is withheld,

        and their uplifted arm is broken.

    [16] “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,

        or walked in the recesses of the deep? 

    [17] Have the gates of death been revealed to you,

        or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 

    [18] Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?

        Declare, if you know all this.

    [19] “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,

        and where is the place of darkness, 

    [20] that you may take it to its territory

        and that you may discern the paths to its home? 

    [21] You know, for you were born then,

        and the number of your days is great!

Zephaniah 1

[1] The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

    [2] “I will utterly sweep away everything

        from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. 

    [3] “I will sweep away man and beast;

        I will sweep away the birds of the heavens

        and the fish of the sea,

    and the rubble with the wicked.

        I will cut off mankind

        from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. 

    [4] “I will stretch out my hand against Judah

        and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

    and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal

        and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, 

    [5] those who bow down on the roofs

        to the host of the heavens,

    those who bow down and swear to the LORD

        and yet swear by Milcom, 

    [6] those who have turned back from following the LORD,

        who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.”

    [7] Be silent before the Lord GOD!

        For the day of the LORD is near;

    the LORD has prepared a sacrifice

        and consecrated his guests. 

    [8] And on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice—

    “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons

        and all who array themselves in foreign attire. 

    [9] On that day I will punish

        everyone who leaps over the threshold,

    and those who fill their master’s house

        with violence and fraud.

    [10] “On that day,” declares the LORD,

        “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,

    a wail from the Second Quarter,

        a loud crash from the hills. 

    [11] Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar!

        For all the traders are no more;

        all who weigh out silver are cut off. 

    [12] At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,

        and I will punish the men

    who are complacent,

        those who say in their hearts,

    ‘The LORD will not do good,

        nor will he do ill.’ 

    [13] Their goods shall be plundered,

        and their houses laid waste.

    Though they build houses,

        they shall not inhabit them;

    though they plant vineyards,

        they shall not drink wine from them.”

    [14] The great day of the LORD is near,

        near and hastening fast;

    the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter;

        the mighty man cries aloud there. 

    [15] A day of wrath is that day,

        a day of distress and anguish,

    a day of ruin and devastation,

        a day of darkness and gloom,

    a day of clouds and thick darkness, 

    [16]     a day of trumpet blast and battle cry

    against the fortified cities

        and against the lofty battlements.

    [17] I will bring distress on mankind,

        so that they shall walk like the blind,

        because they have sinned against the LORD;

    their blood shall be poured out like dust,

        and their flesh like dung. 

    [18] Neither their silver nor their gold

        shall be able to deliver them

        on the day of the wrath of the LORD.

    In the fire of his jealousy,

        all the earth shall be consumed;

    for a full and sudden end

        he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

Zephaniah 2

    [1] Gather together, yes, gather,

        O shameless nation, 

    [2] before the decree takes effect

        —before the day passes away like chaff—

    before there comes upon you

        the burning anger of the LORD,

    before there comes upon you

        the day of the anger of the LORD. 

    [3] Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,

        who do his just commands;

    seek righteousness; seek humility;

        perhaps you may be hidden

        on the day of the anger of the LORD. 

    [4] For Gaza shall be deserted,

        and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;

    Ashdod’s people shall be driven out at noon,

        and Ekron shall be uprooted.

    [5] Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast,

        you nation of the Cherethites!

    The word of the LORD is against you,

        O Canaan, land of the Philistines;

        and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left. 

    [6] And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures,

        with meadows for shepherds

        and folds for flocks. 

    [7] The seacoast shall become the possession

        of the remnant of the house of Judah,

        on which they shall graze,

    and in the houses of Ashkelon

        they shall lie down at evening.

    For the LORD their God will be mindful of them

        and restore their fortunes.

    [8] “I have heard the taunts of Moab

        and the revilings of the Ammonites,

    how they have taunted my people

        and made boasts against their territory. 

    [9] Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts,

        the God of Israel,

    “Moab shall become like Sodom,

        and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,

    a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,

        and a waste forever.

    The remnant of my people shall plunder them,

        and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.” 

    [10] This shall be their lot in return for their pride,

        because they taunted and boasted

        against the people of the LORD of hosts. 

    [11] The LORD will be awesome against them;

        for he will famish all the gods of the earth,

    and to him shall bow down,

        each in its place,

        all the lands of the nations.

    [12] You also, O Cushites,

        shall be slain by my sword.

    [13] And he will stretch out his hand against the north

        and destroy Assyria,

    and he will make Nineveh a desolation,

        a dry waste like the desert. 

    [14] Herds shall lie down in her midst,

        all kinds of beasts;

    even the owl and the hedgehog

        shall lodge in her capitals;

    a voice shall hoot in the window;

        devastation will be on the threshold;

        for her cedar work will be laid bare. 

    [15] This is the exultant city

        that lived securely,

    that said in her heart,

        “I am, and there is no one else.”

    What a desolation she has become,

        a lair for wild beasts!

    Everyone who passes by her

        hisses and shakes his fist.