January 1
Psalm 90:1-9 Is Jehovah your dwelling place, young people? Many times I have seen this confessed by an elderly saint, but not with just their mouths but with their lives. A dwelling place is a home. Are you at home with Jehovah? As a dwelling place Jehovah is secure. He will not be carried away with a flood like our earthly homes. It is a great comfort to return to the warmth of a home after a day out. It is more comforting to know that Jehovah is our dwelling place. Because we know He is a comforting dwelling place, we can rest assured that He will protect us from whatever evil 1994 may bring to us. We know that even the evil of the year is for our good. Sing or read Psalter 245 especially stanzas 1 and 2.
January 2
Psalm 90:10-17 The words of verse twelve are addressed to all people of God. Each of us must count our days and see if we have applied our hearts unto wisdom of which the beginning is the fear of Jehovah. What about you, young people? Are you ready to pray, “Return, O Lord”? Is your life in order? If it isn’t, you should prepare it now. We do not know God’s plan for our individual lives. But we do know that we must live each day to His honor and glory alone. We must ask God to establish the work of our hands, for only then will it be pleasing to Him. Sing or read Psalter 246.
January 3
Romans 14:1-9 In this chapter Paul gives instruction in how we are to act toward our brother. The idea of Christian liberty is introduced to us. The key to our actions with regard to our brothers is found in the last three verses of today’s reading. We live unto the Lord, and we die unto the Lord. That principle and that alone should govern our lives. We all will appear at judgment before Christ because He is the Judge by virtue of His death and resurrection. We will appear there bodily with all our works spread out before Him. How will you appear? Sing or read Psalter 161 especially stanzas 1, 4, 5, 8, and 9.
January 4
Romans 14:10-15 Children and young people love to judge each other. Sadly enough older people do too. This is not the judging to see if a person is fit company to be with. We need to do more of that. We judge a person to show that we are better than he is. This ought not to be. The command from God is to love the neighbor as we love ourselves. Only by doing this can we keep the first commandment that we love God. We need to work at upholding our friends in Christ and not delight in tearing them down. Only then will God be pleased with our walk. Sing or read Psalter 369.
January 5
I Kings 17:1-7 Who was this Elijah? We do not know much about him except that he was not liked by Ahab and most of those in authority with him. He was not liked because he brought them the Word of God, and they did not like it. Their sins rose up against them, but they liked those sins. What about us? When God’s Word is brought to us against sin, do we humble ourselves or harden ourselves? Sing or read Psalter 170.
January 6
I Kings 17:8-16 Elijah was a bold man. He had the audacity to walk up to a strange woman and ask for her last meal. We must see that Elijah had the boldness that comes by faith. True, Elijah’s faith was strengthened by the fact he knew of his calling of prophet before God. But the woman’s faith was just as strong. She gave her last meal away to a strange man dressed in camel’s hair. Is our faith in our God this strong? Do we who have been fed by His Word for most of our lives have this kind of faith? Pray for it, people of God. And pray with confidence that your prayers will be answered. Sing or read Psalter 387.
January 7
I Kings 17:17-24 Just when things seemed to be going well, the widow’s son died. She knew her sin and was troubled that her sin caused the death of her son. Elijah by a great miracle restored life to the child. The widow’s response was that now she was sure in Whom she believed. What about us? We have knowledge of the great miracle. Christ came to the earth in flesh, died, and rose again the third day. Do we have the assurance of faith like the widow? If we are truly believers we should, and we must. Sing or read Psalter 202.
January 8
I Kings 18:7-18 Are you the troublemaker? How often don’t we say words like that when our sins are found out. We have more indignation against those who try to help us flee our sins than we do with ourselves. Quite often that person is ostracized from our “group” and the sinner is glorified. This happens everywhere. Instead of persecuting that person we should thank him because he has concern for our soul. Where do you stand, young people, with Elijah or Ahab? Sing or read Psalter 61.
January 9
I Kings 18:19-24 Do you “halt between two opinions”? Do you serve God on Sunday, but the rest of the week are you out enjoying the things of the flesh? Do you serve God as long as you are in church, but the rest of the day are you no different from a worldly person? We cannot live that kind of life long. Why? God will not let us. He will make us choose. Sometimes it will have to hurt to say, “The Lord He is God”! But that hurt, too, is for our good. Sing or read Psalter 59 especially stanzas 1-4.
January 10
I Kings 18:29-37 What was your worship like yesterday? Was it the way God has commanded in His Word? Israel had disregarded the right “way” to worship God. Elijah had to remind them of the “way.” He did this by making his sacrifice at the time of the evening sacrifice. He did this by building his altar of twelve stones. He did this by praying quietly and reverently to God. It is God’s worship that we perform. We must not ever be so bold to place our will over God’s and decide how to worship Him. We must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Sing or read Psalter 419 especially stanzas 1-3.
January 11
I Kings 18:38-46; James 4:17 & 18 The second passage is the New Testament commentary on the first. James tells us that because of the fervent prayers of Elijah, God first withheld rain from Israel and then sent a storm. These prayers were answered because they were the will of Jehovah. We, too, must pray to God fervently. Our prayers, too, will be answered when we pray for things that are in God’s will. How do we know what is God’s will? We must study the Bible, and ask for His help in knowing what is His will. Sing or read Psalter 386 especially stanzas 1-3.
January 12
I Kings 19:1-10 It was a long way from the heights of faith upon Mt. Carmel to the depths of discouragement under the juniper tree. How could this happen to Elijah? Elijah became discouraged because he saw no instant result because of the work on Mt. Carmel. In fact his own life was in danger. We must not look for instant results. We must see that all things are carried out in God’s time. We also see a major part of the problem in verse 20. Notice the importance of the word “I” in that verse. Elijah’s pride got in his way. Does it get in ours? I am afraid so. Let God work and in His own time, and we will be much happier. Sing or read Psalter 388.
January 13
I Kings 19:11-21 God had to show Elijah that his work was not in vain. He did it very graphically. He showed Elijah that God’s work is not carried out by way of mighty and majestic things. God’s work is a still small voice in a wilderness. We, too, need that reminder. We do not need to fill stadiums with thousands of people to feel successful in doing evangelism. We have the word of Jesus that where two or three are gathered together, He is there. God had a remnant in Israel. Elijah had the responsibility to minister to the seven thousand. We must not look for great things, but we have the responsibility to minister to God’s people no matter how many there are. Sing or read Psalter 362.
January 14
II Kings 2:1-11 After years of work, Elijah’s days on this earth were finished. As with all good and faithful servants, Elijah was rewarded for his work. His reward was more instant than most; he was taken into heaven before he died. This had a purpose more than rewarding Elijah, however. Elijah could have gotten his reward by dying like most saints. But this was for Elisha’s instruction and for the good of the church. It was not just Elijah’s leaving him that impressed Elisha; it was the way he left. It was impressive because he could see the hand of God in it. We must look for the hand of God in all things and know that His hand is in all things. Sing or read Psalter 30.
January 15
Mark 9:1-13 We conclude our study of Elijah by looking at his appearance in the New Testament. Elijah was first of all the picture of John the Baptist. He was prophesied of in Malachi. People were watching for the physical not the spiritual and so they missed him. God also sent Elijah to earth to comfort Jesus as he began the last days of his ministry. Elijah as the picture of the Word showed Jesus that He must fulfill the words of prophecy by the way of the Cross. We must look to the spiritual not to the physical or we will make the same mistake as Peter and want heaven on this earth. Sing or read Psalter 300 especially stanzas 1, 9, 11, and 13.
January 16
Mark 1:1-11 The book of Mark is concerned with bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The first few verses set forth that gospel which is the remission of sins through Jesus. John was the forerunner of Jesus. He preached until the time Jesus made his appearance and John baptized him. God the Father showed His pleasure at the baptism with the words, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Spirit also added His approval on the scene by His appearance. That is the gospel we must follow and after which we must pattern our lives. As is spoken elsewhere in Scripture, we must hear Him. Are we listening? Sing or read Psalter 41 especially stanzas 1-3.
January 17
Mark 1:14-20 Jesus came to four fishermen and commanded them to leave their work and follow him. They obeyed and immediately left their boats and followed Jesus. Such was the power of His word. Are we ready to follow Jesus? Are we willing to leave the path we are following and go where Jesus says to go? This is never easy, but it is always right. It quite often isn’t what we want to do, but it is always God’s will. We must learn to hear the call, and we must learn to heed the call. Sing or read Psalter 64 especially stanzas 1 and 2.
January 18
Mark 1:21-28 When Jesus preached, the audience knew that there was something different here. They could tell that His message was not like they were used to. This was because He spoke the Word, not man’s desires. That is what we must hear on Sunday and in catechism. We must hear the Word preached. Then we must follow that Word. If we diligently study that Word, we will recognize it when we hear it. Sing or read Psalter 163.
January 19
Mark 1:29-34 Jesus healed many people. Do you know why? If it was because there were many sick around Him, then shouldn’t He do this through the ages? No, His miracles always pointed to something far greater. His miracles were always founded in grace. Sickness is a picture of sin. God placed sickness in this world to remind us of our sins. Even as sickness robs the physical body of its vitality, sin robs our souls of its life. Jesus used the miracles as the proof of the power of salvation. Do we embrace that salvation and flee from sin? Sing or read Psalter 324.
January 20
Mark 1:35-45 Jesus had an extremely arduous task on this earth. He had a human nature with all its frailties, sin excepted. He needed strength in order to carry out His calling. In this page we see the hard task but also the source of needed strength. Jesus would go to His Father in prayer. This is our example. If Jesus needed to pray often, surely how much must we go to Him in prayer? If answers are coming slowly, maybe we are not going to the right source of those answers. Sing or read Psalter 72.
January 21
Proverbs 1:10-19 “Consent thou not,” young people, to walk in sin’s ways. The opportunities are numerous for us to walk in the way of destruction. Satan would destroy us in sin so that he could bring reproach to the name of God. In our lives we can find many ways to walk in sin. We can do this at school, at work, as we date or live in marriage, or in many other ways. God’s Word is, “Consent thou not.” This word is active. We do not passively fall into sin! We run up to it and embrace it. From this activity we must flee and walk in wisdom’s ways. If we don’t? Read verse 19 again. Sing or read Psalter 41 especially stanzas 1, 4-6.
January 22
Proverbs 1:20-27 God’s wisdom crieth out in every aspect of our lives. There is no activity in which we don’t see God’s wisdom either approving or disapproving of our actions. When we walk in sin, we can hear His voice warning us of the dangerous path we are treading. The drunkard knows what may befall him. The adulterer or fornicator knows of the possible results of his or her actions. But unless we make God the center of our pleasure, we will ignore all the warnings and persist in having our fun. We also see His approval when we walk in ways pleasing to Him. What is your pleasure, people of God, you alone – or God and you? Sing or read Psalter 333.
January 23
Proverbs 1:28-33 Today’s passage is a continuation of yesterday’s. There is a beautiful contrast found in verses 29 and 33. In verse 29 we see those who hate the knowledge of God. These are people who know better but wish not to do the things of Jehovah. Verses 30-32 tell of their end. Their end is the clamor of hell. In verse 33 we see the humble child of God. He listens to Jehovah’s wisdom and he walks in a way pleasing unto Jehovah. His reward is the safety and quietness of heaven. Which will you choose? Sing or read Psalter 107.
January 24
Ephesians 1:1-6 Predestinated according to God’s good pleasure. For what more could we ask? When we know that God loves us from eternity, we can have great peace. Why did He do it? Was it because He had seen some good thing in us? I hope not, for then I am doomed to destruction. We know that all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. He did it for His own glory! Can you imagine that? I can’t either, but I am glad it is true. We need to give praise to God for such a truth and bless Him for it. Sing or read Psalter 279.
January 25
Ephesians 1:7-14 These verses as well as the preceding three are a long section about the work of salvation. They proclaim many truths about our redemption in Christ. We see the whole work of salvation as it is carried out by the Trinity. God calls us, Christ redeems us, and the Spirit is the fulfillment of the promise. All of these things were done for us and without us. We see that it is hard to comprehend such a gift. But we do not have to, we must just be thankful for it and live lives that show our thankfulness. Sing or read Psalter 368.
January 26
Ephesians 1:15-23 Do you know what the hope of your calling is? Sometimes we fail to see the value of years learning catechism, hours listening to sermons, lives demanding us to deny ourselves the pleasure of this world. That is, I believe, because our focus is wrong. If we see in the above activities a needed earthly reward, we will be sadly mistaken. The above activities are expressions of gratitude for the gift of salvation. We should not try to get out of catechism. We should not try to miss church. We should not try to ignore a life of sacrifice. We should try to increase these opportunities. When we do that, we increase the joy of our salvation and only then will we understand the hope of our calling. Sing or read Psalter 175.
January 27
Psalm 57:1-6 This Psalm may have been written while David was fleeing from Saul and was hiding in the caves from him. We see in these verses a cry for help by a God-fearing man in distress because of the wicked around him. We must learn to make this our cry as well. In the last days our persecution like David’s will come from those that once were part of the church. We need to cry for deliverance. Notice how David wants that deliverance. He wants God to be exalted, not himself. Is that our cry? Are we concerned for the glory of God’s name or ours? Sing or read Psalter 154.
January 28
Psalm 57:7-11 David finishes this Psalm with words of praise for his God. He says that his heart is fixed or prepared for this. Is your heart fixed in this matter? Can you praise your God because His mercy is great, and His truth is boundless? If you can, then you must make that known. David gives the manner to do this as well. He tells us to sing God’s praises among the nations. Are you singing praises when you sing? Sing or read Psalter 255 especially stanzas 1-3.
January 29 Psalm 95 It is well that we consider this Psalm on the day before we go to God’s house. First of all we see the admonition to go and sing unto Him. We are called to sing the songs He has given to us to sing – the Psalms. Secondly we are given the reason for singing. Our God is a great God and above all else. Thirdly we are His people but people who are like sheep who need a shepherd to lead them where they should go. Finally there is the solemn warning and example of those who did not heed the call of their Shepherd. Not heeding the voice of the Shepherd leads to certain destruction. Are you ready for church? Sing or read Psalter 254.
January 30
Psalm 92:1-9 My Bible has a heading that says that this is a Psalm for the Sabbath. It is well fitted for that as it tells us how good it is to praise the Lord. That is the active role that we can take as we go to God’s house today. We can lift our voices up in praise to His most holy Name. Are you glad because of the work of salvation wrought in you? If you are, SING! The wicked do not have such words of comfort as we see in the last section of today’s passage. Go to His house with a song in your hearts and on your lips. Sing or read Psalter 251.
January 31
Psalm 92:10-15 In the last part of yesterday’s passage we see the dire straits of the reprobate. Today’s section starts out with the word but. This is a powerful word in Scripture. It signals to us that something different is coming. In these verses we see the beautiful reward of the elect. I count nine different phrases which show our reward. The rewards come throughout all of life. Young people, you have your rewards, and the oldest saints have theirs. What great blessing we have when we praise the greatness of our God. That is how the Psalm ends. Take these words and the words of yesterday’s sermons to heart and live them in your lives. Sing or read Psalter 407.