December 22 Daily Devotional

Bible Readings:

Acts 2:16-17, KJV:
¹⁶But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
¹⁷And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams....

Hebrews 1:1-2, KJV:
¹God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
²Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds....

2 Timothy 3:1-5, KJV:
¹This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
³Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
⁴Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Peter 3:1-3, KJV:
¹This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
²That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
³Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts....

1 John 2:18, KJV:
¹⁸Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Devotional:

Scientists and politicians are wondering these days about the chances for the survival of the civilized world. Cultures are battling each other, and weapons like the atom bomb make the conflict anything but academic. Are we living in the last days? Is this the "beginning of the end"? Yes, we are living in the last days, but man's discovery of uses for atomic power is not the beginning of the last segment of world history. History divides itself into two parts, that period preparatory to the coming of the Christ to Bethlehem, and that period following His life and death. This latter period shall end with His return from heaven in clouds of glory with the holy angels.

Upon the apostles and all of us who live in this new dispensation the end of the world is come. Wise men of old with gladness beheld the guiding star. Simeon waited for the consolation of Israel, saw the Lord's Christ, and said, "Now Iettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." And now that the Christ has come and performed His priestly work of redemption He has ushered in the last measure of time for this world. So the apostle writes with fervent hope, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!" And we echo that cry with all creation waiting for the redemption of the body.

These last days bring increase of evil, increased opposition to the kingdom of God. But each day that passes brings nearer the time when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea. The last days are days of activity for the Christian, unhampered in his work by fear of atomic wars. He who understands and rests upon the work of the Savior accomplished in the first century surely need not be terrified bv the carnal weapons of the twentieth century. The power of the resurrection assures future glory at the end of these last days. Is the kingdom in your heart? Does the thought of the last days thrill you or chill you? Look up. Christian, your redemption draweth nigh.

We are very happy to make available to you this month these devotionals by the late Rev. LeRoy B. Oliver. They originally appeared in The Presbyerian Guardian during the late 1940's.

The description of his "Your Family Altar" page in The Presbyterian Guardian also fits this Web page: "The page is designed for both private and family use, whichever is most convenient in your case. If you do not have family worship in your home, we hope you will begin, and suggest using these readings. They should not, however, take the place of reading books of the Bible, or the Bible itself, through in regular course." It is those who abide (continue) in the Word who are truly Christ's disciples, who know the truth, and who experience freedom in Him (John 8:31-32). May these devotionals be used for the building up of God's people and to the glory of God.