Anna M. Zhou
Prelude: My spiritual milestone brief today: Drawing to God for sharing His Word of grace changes my life. Three years ago, I started emailing my devotionals daily. Kim prompted my connection with Xiu-e WANG, Ying’s mother. This respectful lady published her testimony at the age of 89. There are more old and new friends here now.
After finishing the exegesis of the Book of Jeremiah, I will continue with the Book of Ezekiel. Spiritual coworkers’ prayers are of the utmost importance in cleansing the vessel for the Lord’s use (2 Tim 2:21).
Encouraging one another, confessing faults and praying for each other, this has been effective indeed (James 5:16). My son called me during the Autumn Festival, when my symptoms got better. My nightly-up time was reduced from 6-7 times to twice. I could have the prayer readings at 1-3 AM or even earlier, without unbearable pancreatic congestion sufferings. God has led me through. Last month my characteristical pain was gone, and I have notified my relatives and Bible groups to give thanks for the past decade. My Lord lavishes incredible deliverance of songs to me and all alike till this day (Ps 32:7; 51:12).
12/28/2024 God’s Love Letters to His Children (2 Tim 3:16-17; Eph 2:7, 10; 6:11; 1 Pet 1:11)
All of the Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Teaching: positive instruction for knowing God; Rebuking: rebuke for discerning right from wrong, truth or false; Correcting: turning back to the right path; Training in righteousness; following Lord Jesus’ steps to learn righteousness; Useful: truly effective; Complete: thoroughly equipped.
Meditate: God gave His children a family letter of love – the Bible, speaking to our hearts. Through His Spirit, He breathes His mind and thoughts into the Bible authors. We the readers try to find out how the Spirit of Christ in the authors gave His Words and predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow (1 Pet 1:11). Full of our Father’s love and the most meaningful instruction: in the coming ages he might show His incomparable rich grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ. (Eph 2:7).
(Bible in One Year: Revelation 5-8)
12/27/2024 Daily Reading in Prayer Deepening Faith in Christ (Matt 16:5-17; Mark 7:7; 4:40; Isaiah 29:13; 2 Tim 3:16; Ps 87:7; Isa 12:3)
Take heed and beware of men’s teachings, because men’s teachings block the knowledge of Christ. Walk by faith but not by sight, and only put your faith on Christ. Beware of the hypocritical and pragmatic teachings (Matt 16:5-12).
Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men (Isa 29:13). The Lord said, in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (Mark 7:7).
Meditate: The Father God revealed Christ. Nobody could know Christ without God’s revelations (Matt 16:13-17). Jesus says, why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith (Mark 4:40)? Lord, teach me not to look at the environment, nor see people, nor from my perspective, not to honor men. Focus on Christ, and read the Scripture in prayer daily, which is inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16). All my springs are in you (Ps 87:7). With joy we will take water from the fountain of salvation (Isa 12:3).
(Bible in One Year: Revelation 1-4)
12/26/2024 Lord Christ Is the Living God (Matt16:13-17; John 1:1; 5:58; 14:6)
Lord Christ is the living God (Matt 16:13-17). Jesus asked His disciples: “who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets”. He was asking, what about you? Who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”. Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven (Matt 16:13-17). Messiah, Christ anointed as the King and the Priest; the Son of the living God is the same in nature and glory as the living God.
“Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am! I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 8:58; 14:6).
Meditate: Knowing the Lord is the living God; He was in the beginning with God and all things were made through Him (John 1:1). He came to the world for love and died as ransom on the Cross for us. Lord, teach me how to respond to your love and sacrifice.
(Bible in One Year: 2 John, 3 John, Jude)
12/25/2024 Triune God Lavishes Abundant Blessings in Unfailing Love (Ro 11:33-36; 1 John 4:14, 15:5; Mark 10:45; 1 Cor 12:7-11)
Triune God lavishes unfailing love with abundant blessings; for everything under heaven belongs to Him (Job 41:11). The Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14). Jesus came to die on the Cross as the ransom for many. Everyone who believes in Him will receive eternal life (Mark 10:45; John 3:14-15). After His death and ascension, the Son and Father sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 16:7; 14:16:15:5).
The Holy Spirit gives everyone spiritual blessings for serving God’s household (Eph 1:3; 1 Cor.12:7).
Meditate: Lord, teach me to love you more and love your beloved, build up one another to bear much spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22-23). Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His paths are beyond tracing out! Who has known His mind? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay? For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen (Ro 11:33-36). Merry Christmas with Love and Blessings!
(Bible in One Year: 1 John 1-5)
12/24/2024 Return God’s Love Generous Offerings (Matt 1:18-38; Luke 2:1-20; Romans 12:1)
Mary obeyed God and offered her body to be the Savior’s birth home. Joseph offered his love and careful protection of Mary and Holy Baby Jesus. Both parents of the Holy Baby took great risks for their reputation and physical conditions (Matt 1:18-25, 35-58).
Angels announced the good news of Messiah’s birth to the shepherds. A heavenly host of angels offered the praise to God blessing mankind. Shepherds rapidly shared the good news about Holy Baby around. The wise men gave the Holy Baby gifts worthy of royalty (Luke 2:1-21).
Meditate: We believers who worship our Savior are called to follow the Lord in thanksgiving, to offer ourselves as a whole person as a living sacrifice to Him, and to serve one another with love, for this is holy and pleasing to God and it is our true and proper worship (Ro 12:1). Learn to offer gifts like the first time of Christmas. After all, the Savior Christ is the greatest gift for mankind from our heavenly Father God. Silent Night Holy Night (https://youtu.be/sifQpiViCYM)
(Bible in One Year: 2 Peter 1-3)
12/19/2024 Know in Whom I Believe Honor Him Save Souls (2 Tim 1:6-12; 2 Cor. 9:16; Jeremiah 20:7-9)
We have a genuine faith and a strong spirit, because God’s power enables us to suffer for the gospel (v 5-12). The gospel proves that salvation is not based on our own works but on God’s grace, revealing the immortal life (v.8-9). The Lord appointed men to preach the gospel and will keep them committed to Him (v11-12).
Meditate: Obey God to share the gospel; the outcome is in His hands. Co-work with God is most important. Woe is to me if I do not (2 Cor. 9:16). Prophet Jeremiah kept preaching God’s prophecies for over 40 years, as the first to proclaim the New Testament, even persecuted by his colleague priests and relatives who tried to murder him to stop his preaching God’s warnings. He felt that no preaching was far worse, like shutting up the fire in his bones. He pleaded, and God answered: the future will be even harder, promised His presence to keep him (Jer. 20:7-9). Listen to the hymn: Know Who I Believe In (https://youtu.be/VDyGxVq8vyI).
(Bible in One Year: Hebrews 7-9)
About the Author: Anna belongs to both the Love and Quincy fellowships, and serves on the Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel teams of the Bible Study Information Network.