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
June 20
Is it wrong to assert that God died on the Cross? The purpose of the incarnation is carefully explained in these words: “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Heb 2:9). God “has immortality” (athanasia, “no death,” 1 Tim 6:16) and therefore is impervious to death (the verse is speaking about the Son). The Son must take on humanity to die. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death” (Heb 2:14). God cannot die; thus the necessity of Christ’s incarnation (in flesh). While it is true that the One on the cross was “God…manifest in flesh” (1 Tim 3:16), and so was capable of death, He was not subject to it, as we are (see Jn 10:17-18). It is a great mystery: He became what He was not, while not ceasing to be what He ever was.
Today’s Reading: Psalms 80-82 Memorize: Luke 15:10June 19
I was to be giving a talk on evidence for God at a college in Appleton, Wisconsin. Two atheists near the front were acting as a tag team to dominate the session with their arguments. I wanted to be polite but the time was disappearing. I cried to the Lord to intervene. When they paused momentarily, an American Indian spoke from the back: “My grandfather started abusing me when I was four years old. I fled the home, pregnant, at 14. I began to drink and use drugs to kill the pain. I ended up in prison. Now,” she said to the atheists, “sitting there in my prison cell, what would your philosophy do for me?” Silence. She continued: “I met Jesus in prison and He turned my hell into heaven.” The atheists gathered up their books to leave. “Don’t leave now,” I implored. “It’s just getting good. What you believe does make a difference. All the difference in the world.” But they retreated, nothing left to say. O the power of personal testimony: “One thing I know” (Jn 9:25). — J.B.N.
Today’s Reading: Psalms 77-79 Memorize: Luke 13:23-24June 18
Mark Cahill writes: “If it doesn’t matter on the day you die, it doesn’t matter. Will it matter on the day you die if you made a million dollars or owned two houses…? No. Will it matter on the day you die if you knew the Bible better than you knew today’s newspaper? Yes. Will it matter on the day you die if you prayed more than you watched television? Yes. Will it matter on the day you die if you shared your faith with lost sinners? You’d better believe it will. We must, as believers, live lives that have eternal value, not just temporary value. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus tells us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If we know where our heart is, we will know where our treasure is.— One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven, pp 169-170
Today’s Reading: Psalms 74-76 Memorize: Luke 13:1-3June 17
J.J. Rouse, in Pioneer Work in Canada, tells the story of a man converted in his hometown of Oro, Ontario. He described the man as “a noted character, who for years had been a ringleader in…general mischief. It was in the autumn, and the threshing of the grain was taking place…There would be from 12 to 15 men engaged on a crew to do the work and they deliberately…made all kinds of attacks on their old pal. All this had no effect except to cause our friend to rejoice that he was ‘counted worthy to suffer shame for His name’ (Acts 5:41). But Satan will never give up until resisted by the Word of God. The last thing the enemy resorted to was to circulate a story reflecting on this man’s character…For a moment he lost his temper…making for the man who started the story. But an older believer stepped in his way and said, “‘Mac, God has saved you that through your testimony of the Lord you might attract others to Him. Do you think you are going to do that now?’”
Today’s Reading: Psalms 71-73 Memorize: Luke 12:40June 16
Sometimes younger believers don’t engage in witnessing because older Christians around them haven’t given them a good example. This is often true, but it is still not a good reason to be a dumb priest (see 1 Pet 2:9). If you have no good examples, then be one. Timothy, a young man, was called on to be an example (see 1 Tim 4:12). The best way to learn evangelism is to do it. Memorize some good gospel passages. Practice explaining how to be saved with a Christian friend. Pray for opportunities. Then go with the confidence that the Lord is with you (Mt 28:20), the Spirit has gone before you to prepare hearts (Jn 16:8), and that God gives the increase (1 Cor 3:6). In the recounting of David’s mighty men in 2 Samuel 23, we hear the repeated refrain that “the Lord wrought a great victory” (vv. 10, 12). It is our responsibility to show up for the battle; then with confidence we can declare: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ” (2 Cor 2:14).
Today’s Reading: Psalms 68-70 Memorize: Luke 12:6-7June 15
William Booth (1829–1912), founder of The Salvation Army, labored for the Lord among the poor and destitute in London’s East End. He would “stumble home night after night haggard with fatigue; often his clothes were torn and bloody bandages swathed his head where a stone had struck,” wrote his wife Catherine. “‘Not called!’ did you say? ‘Not heard the call,’ I think you should say,” wrote Booth. “Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.”
Today’s Reading: Psalms 63-67 Memorize: Luke 12:2-3June 14
Peace has been defined as the “tranquil state of the soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fears nothing from God and is content with its lot.” It is a sense of well-being, enjoyed by resting in Christ who “is our peace” (Eph 2:14). It is both through justification (Rom 5:1), and reconciliation that the Lord Jesus Christ “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col 1:20). He personally “came and preached peace” both to the Jews who were “near” and to the “far off” Gentiles (Eph 2:17) and we ought to follow His example: “preaching peace by Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). In addition, “the fruit of the Spirit is…peace” (Gal 5:22) and “the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Rom 16:20). “Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace” (Rom 14:19), having our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15). Peace has been described as “not the outward absence of turmoil but rest in the inward presence of God.”
Today’s Reading: Psalms 60-62 Memorize: Luke 10:23-24