December 11
Jesus, The Great Guarantee
He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. - 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Heaven is a place where we will never sin, where our battle with the evil one will be over; there will be no tempter to ensnare our feet. There the wicked cause no trouble, and the weary are at rest. Heaven is the undefiled inheritance; it is the land of perfect holiness, and therefore of complete security.
But don't even the saints on earth sometimes taste the joys of blissful security? The doctrine of God's Word is that all who are in union with Christ are safe, that all the righteous shall keep to the path, that those who have committed their souls to the care of Christ will find Him to be a faithful and unchanging protector.
Sustained by such a doctrine we can enjoy security even on earth-not the high and glorious security that makes us free from every slip, but that holy security that comes from the sure promise of Jesus that none who believe in Him will ever perish but will be with Him where He is. Believer, reflect often and joyfully on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, and honor the faithfulness of God by a holy confidence in Him.
May God bring home to you a sense of your safety in Christ Jesus! May He assure you that your name is graven on His hand and whisper in your ear the promise, "Fear not, for I am with you."
Look upon Him, the great Guarantee of the covenant, as faithful and true and therefore bound and committed to present you, in your weakness, with all the chosen race, before the throne of God; and in such a sweet contemplation you will drink the cup of salvation and taste the fruits of paradise. You will have a foretaste of the enjoyments that ravish the souls of the saints in heaven if you can believe with unwavering faith that "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."
Family Bible reading plan
verse 1 2 Chronicles 11, 12
verse 2 Revelation 2
Rescuing Christmas – The Search For Joy That Lasts
By Carl Laferton
For many, Christmas is not a season of lasting joy. For some, it's a reminder of loss. For others, the day escapes quickly leaving feelings of emptiness. Author Carl Laferton explores how the gifts of the first Christmas—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—point to the prophesied Savior: One who offers everlasting joy to all who accept Him.
Learn more about the unlikely gifts brought by the Magi and how they point forward to an eternal King.
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From Morning & Evening revised and edited by Alistair Begg copyright © 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org.
