We have here a summary of the sermon that was preached at another rally later the same month. The preacher makes similar points to the Apostle Paul in 

 – all have sinned; we are saved by faith through God’s grace. Look to God’s grace and mercy.

* Loving God, in Your righteousness there is life, and its pathway there is no death.

“You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.”

It retells God’s grace and mercy, in His taking care of His people.

It advocates for and rejoices in the work of the Holy Spirit in His people.

And it cries out for mercy, acknowledging our sins and rebellion, our stiff necks and hard hearts. Individually and corporately.

Tomorrow’s passage will go on to tell us more of the covenant the people, make, what they affirm they will do.

But today we have a clear reminder of the importance of prayer. Both on our own and in the various groups of God’s family that we have in our lives.

Thank You for this prayer – Please write it on our hearts!

Please grow our understanding of You, our understanding of ourselves.

December 22, Reading 1 – Nehemiah 9

These visions are repeated in Revelation – with differences. The scroll and its seven seals and the Lamb, the Angel and the Little Scroll, the Woman on the Beast, the Four Horsemen, and Crown Him With Many Crowns!

* Father God, please help us understand Your word today to us.

“Behold, the man whose name is the Branch; for he shall branch out from this place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.”

Sometimes it can be hard to see meaning in certain parts of God’s word.

Today we read of mountains of bronze. Of four chariots with red, black, white and dappled horses. Of a basket with Wickedness in it. A flying scroll!

One thing in this passage is that we see Jesus.

While it is earthly-shadow true of the high priest Joshua who lived at that time, it is heavenly-reality true of Jesus!

In the book of John in the new testament we read Jesus saying,

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Here is Jesus, the man whose name is the righteous branch of Jesse!

And He builds His temple, the church, us His people!

Please show us what You want for us today, from Your word.

Please plant Your word deep within us, and grow it, that we might be good soil and bear much fruit.

December 22, Reading 2 – Zechariah 5, 6

We believers are espoused to one husband – Jesus Christ. See 

. This chapter is a wonderful picture of what Jesus has done for you – we are cleansed and preserved by Christ and His Spirit.

* Holy God, there is no other god like You. Please show us a little more of who You are today.

“So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.”

This passage today can be difficult to process, many parts shrouded in symbolism.

One thing we can glean is that there will be a reaping of the earth, from the ripe grape harvest.

“I trampled down the peoples in my anger; I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

Later on in Revelation, chapter 19, we will read of the rider of the white horse, Faithful and True,

“He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”

God in the Person of the Son, our King Jesus, is returning to tread the winepress of God’s fury.

This should impact our thinking, our behaviour, our witness.

God Almighty is furious at sin and at the sinner.

God Almighty is so loving to give us the Lamb slain, on whom He poured out His fury, as a Saviour.

God Almighty will tread out His fury at the end.

A hard word. One we need to wrestle with.

We trust that You are wiser than we are, and will teach us what we need to know.

Daily Devotion Readings for December 22nd