This perpetual calendar includes:
- Remarkable testimonies of souls won to the Savior
- Explanations of gospel concepts
- Answers to frequently-asked questions
- Stories of real-life witnessing opportunities
- Encouragements and tips for sharing the glorious gospel
October 30
“Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ” (Php 2:16). C.T. Studd, who turned his back on a promising career in England to give his life to worldwide missions, wrote of his early life: “Instead of going and telling others of the love of Christ, I was selfish and kept the knowledge all to myself. The result was that gradually my love began to grow cold, the love of the world came in.” But as God got a grip on his heart, he would say: “Christ calls us to save the lost, not the stiff-necked; He came not to call scoffers but sinners to repentance; not to build and furnish comfortable chapels, churches, and cathedrals at home in which to rock Christian professors to sleep by means of clever essays, stereotyped prayers, and artistic musical performances, but to capture men from the devil’s clutches and the very jaws of Hell. This can be accomplished only by a red-hot, unconventional, unfettered devotion, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Today’s Reading: Luke 22-24 Memorize: Colossians 2:6-7October 29
“If our gospel is hid, it is hid to those who are lost” (2 Cor 4:3). Procrastination is very often a main reason why we don’t evangelize as we should. Urgent things push out important things. If we delay for months or years, then tell someone that they are in danger of hell fire, they might well ask, “You’ve known this all the time you’ve known me, and you never told me? What kind of a friend are you?” This is a situation that must be corrected and demands a good dose of honesty. Something like, “There is something very important to me that I should have told you before. But I was afraid of losing your friendship. Please forgive me. Can I tell you now?” Interestingly, in the context of evangelism, Paul quotes to believers what we think is a gospel verse: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). Why? Well, if today is the day of salvation, what day should we tell people that today is the day of salvation? Tomorrow? Or today? — J.B.N.
Today’s Reading: Luke 19-21 Memorize: Colossians 1:13-14October 28
Tommy Rowden had just been gloriously saved and couldn’t wait to tell his friends during coffee break at the plant where he worked. But the in-house infidel was quick to retort, “You can’t believe the Bible! It’s full of mistakes.” “For instance?” “Like, where did Cain get his wife?” Tommy hadn’t heard that one, but said he’d look for the answer. The next day in the break room, the infidel was quick to ask, “So did you find the answer?” “Yup,” said Tommy. “It’s right there in the Bible.” “It is?” “That’s your problem; you’ve got to read the Bible.” “So what’s the answer.” “You know how God put Adam to sleep and made him a wife. Well, it says Cain went into the land of Nod—that means going to sleep—so God musta done the same thing with him.” “Amazing,” replied the doubter. “I’ve asked lots of folks, but nobody knew.” The Bible says both “Answer not a fool according to his folly” and “Answer a fool according to his folly” (Prov 26:4-5). It’s wisdom to know which to use in each situation.
Today’s Reading: Luke 16-18 Memorize: Philippians 2:6-8October 27
There is great irony in the notion that salvation means “giving your life to Christ.” Sinners are dead and have no life to give; it is Christ who gives His life to us. Note four precious New Testament phrases that remind us of God’s four bank accounts from which He pours out His resources to us, the unworthy recipients: “the riches of His goodness” (Rom 2:4) that are designed to lead sin-weary seekers to repentance; “the riches of His wisdom” (Rom 11:33) that remind us only God could have conceived and accomplished the marvelous plan of redemption; “the riches of His grace” (Eph 1:7) that provide the unlimited credit in the Bank of Heaven upon which sinners may draw for salvation; and “the riches of His glory” (Eph 1:18) that spread out before us the inexhaustible resources which God has made available to those who put their trust in Him. How generous He is with the human race! How grateful we should be for such largesse! Christ made poor so we could be rich.
Today’s Reading: Luke 13-15 Memorize: Ephesians 5:2October 26
Johnny Wagner fled from a drunken father and an abusive stepmother when only eight. He was drinking by age eleven and, apart from a stint overseas with the 132nd Infantry, Johnny spent most of his life begging money for liquor on Chicago’s Skid Row. He was well known to the police and a frequent occupant of the drunk tank. Finally, sick and tired of being sick and tired, he staggered into a Madison Street mission. Through the fog of his abused mind, the light of the gospel shone in. That night Johnny prayed, “Jesus? You here? I’m on the level. Come on in and clean me up, please. I’m dirty all through and awful tired.” Two years later, a squad car edged alongside the all-new John as he strode down a Chicago street. “Is that you, Johnny?” one of the officers asked. “What’s happened?” “I’ve got a Friend now,” he replied. “First time in my life. He’s Jesus Christ. Maybe hard to believe, knowin’ me as you did before, but John Wagner and the Son of God are in this together.”
Today’s Reading: Luke 10-12 Memorize: Ephesians 2:13October 25
The story is told of some missionaries who were going to New Guinea. As they drew near, the captain of the ship said to the leader of this little band, “Listen, I really feel badly about this. This land is littered with white graves. It’s hopeless! You’ll never get out of this place alive. I’ll tell you what. I’ll take you, no charge, back to England. If you go here, you’re going to die.” The missionary calmly said, “We’re not going to die here.” “How can you be so sure?” “We died before we ever left England.” Take an athlete who has died, one who has lived his life for the roar of the crowd, and take the casket by a theatre where the crowd is roaring…and suddenly all that is so attractive to the natural man doesn’t mean a thing to him anymore! Once we’ve been down to the Jordan, cut off from the world system, and realize that we haven’t just been separated from Egypt but separated to God and a land flowing with milk and honey, and that it’s all for us — who’d settle for the leeks and the onions and the garlic of Egypt?
Today’s Reading: Luke 5-9 Memorize: Ephesians 2:8-10October 24
George Watmough hitchhiked across America, witnessing to thousands. Once leaving Tucson on his way to Phoenix, he was given a ride by a young man who stopped his witnessing by saying, “I was raised in a preacher’s home and have no time for religion.” “Isn’t that strange,” Watmoungh replied, “I don’t have much time for religion either.” Then he explained: “Religion is trying to get to heaven by something you can do, but Christianity is what Christ has done when He shed His precious blood and died as our sin-bearer. Religion says, ‘See what I’m doing.’ Christianity says, ‘See what Christ has done.’ Religion says, ‘I need a new start.’ Christianity says, ‘You need a new heart.’ For miles I told him of the wonderful grace of God and the finished work of Calvary. Finally, we pulled to the side of the road and I had the joy of leading him to our Lord. After a time of prayer, he came to my side as I exited the car and said: ‘Preacher, I’ll meet you in heaven.’”
Today’s Reading: Luke 2-4 Memorize: Ephesians 2:4-6