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
March 8
“Above all, taking the shield of faith” (Eph 6:16). Often this shield is molded in the fires of testing. Andrew Stenhouse writes: “The landlord called for his money the first day of the month. Our mail came by sea. One had just come and brought us no mail, the next due in two weeks. The first of the month came, but the landlord did not. A week passed; then the second. The ship arrived, but our box was as empty as two weeks before! The day following, we went again, and there in the box was an Air Mail letter, the first we ever received. It contained a check for the amount needed. The brother had sent another letter with his assembly’s gift, and mailed it the usual way. But he realized it would take a month to reach us, and Someone told him that we needed the money. What could he do? He was unemployed, but wrote a second letter enclosing the same amount as a personal gift, and sent it by air. The day after it arrived, our landlord came to collect the rent.” Trust in God!
Today’s Reading: Judges 5-7 Memorize: Isaiah 26:3March 7
A King who dies for His subjects; a Judge who is the Savior of all. Aristocrats who were mere slaves (Rom 6:20); judges who were sheer criminals (1 Cor 6:2-3); faithful who were once out-and-out rebels. A law which is complete freedom (Rom 8:2); a freedom which is wholly bound (Rom 6:18). All in the kingdom were former enemies (Rom 5:10); all rulers are at the same time servants (Rev 1:6). Each born twice, earthly and heavenly (Jn 3:3), yet many never die (1 Cor 15:51). All brought out of death into life (Jn 5:24). Defeated, yet conquerors; heroes who glory in their weakness (2 Cor 6:9-10; 12:9); despised whom the King of the universe exalts (Lk 12:32). A dominion on earth with its capital in heaven (Gal 4:26). A little flock, yet innumerable as the sand (Gen 22:17). A kingdom without a country to which the whole world belongs (1 Pet 2:11). And the secret of the whole? A King of glory crowned with thorns! — Erich Sauer, The Triumph of the Crucified, pp 30-31
Today’s Reading: Judges 2-4 Memorize: Isaiah 12:2-3March 6
H.A. Ironside writes: Recently, while presenting the gospel on the streets in California, I was often interrupted like this: “Look here, sir. There are hundreds of religions in this country, and the followers of each think theirs the only right one. How can plain men like us find out what really is the truth?” “Hundreds of religions, you say? That’s strange; I’ve heard of only two.” “But you surely know there are more than that!” “No, sir. There are just two. The one covers all who expect salvation by doing; the other, all who have been saved by something done. So you see the whole question is very simple. Can you save yourself, or do you need a Savior? If you can be your own savior, you do not need my message. If you cannot, you may well listen to it.” When some asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” (Jn 6:28) He answered, “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom [God] has sent” (v. 29). — The Only Two Religions, pp 5-6
Today’s Reading: Joshua 23-24; Judges 1 Memorize: Isaiah 9:6March 5
The word “Agnosticism” was introduced by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1869 although the concept of pleading ignorance in spiritual matters has been around since antiquity. This is the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims—particularly claims regarding God and the afterlife—is unknown or, depending on the form of agnosticism, inherently unknowable. Philosophers and thinkers who have written about agnosticism include T.H. Huxley, Robert Ingersoll, and Bertrand Russell. But whatever these adherents are, they can’t claim ignorance: they do know a great deal. They claim to know more than Jesus does, because He said you can know! “If you continue in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn 8:31-32). Here is the process outlined by the Savior: take His Word seriously; agree with what you can; this will lead to greater knowledge; in the end, the truth will prove itself by setting you free.
Today’s Reading: Joshua 20-22 Memorize: Isaiah 8:20March 4
“When they saw the boldness of Peter and John…they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Queen Victoria had asked her chaplain if “‘one could be absolutely sure in this life of eternal safety?” He said he “knew of no way one could be absolutely sure.” John Townsend wrote the queen: “With trembling hands, but heart-filled love and because I know that we can be absolutely sure, even now, of our eternal life in the home that Jesus went to prepare, may I ask your Most Gracious Majesty to read the following Scriptures: Jn 3:16; Rom 10:9, 10; 1 Cor 15:51, 58. These passages prove there is full assurance of salvation by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, for those who believe and accept His finished work.” She replied: “I have carefully and prayerfully read the portions of Scripture referred to. I believe in the finished work of Christ for me, and trust by God’s grace to meet you in that home of which He said, ‘I go to prepare a place for you.’”
Today’s Reading: Joshua 17-19 Memorize: Isaiah 7:14March 3
It is a common argument, when discussing Isaiah 53 with a Jew, that the Servant of the Lord represents his suffering people, but Old Testament scholar Arnold Fruchtenbaum writes: “To interpret Isaiah 53 as speaking of Messiah is not non-Jewish. In fact, if we are to speak of the traditional Jewish interpretation, it would be that the passage speaks of the Messiah. The first one to expound the view that this referred to Israel rather than the Messiah was Shlomo Yizchaki, known as Rashi…But this was to go contrary to all rabbinic teaching…of the preceding one thousand years. Today Rashi’s view has become dominant in Jewish and rabbinical theology. But that is not the Jewish view. Nor is it the traditional Jewish view. Those closer to the time of the original writings…interpreted it as speaking of the Messiah.” The Lord said to the Jews of His day, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (Jn 5:39).
Today’s Reading: Joshua 14-16 Memorize: Isaiah 5:20March 2
“…Come…Come…come” (Rev 22:17). When I found my usual barber shop closed, I crossed the street to a “salon,” and was served by a woman who told me her name was Delilah! “The Bible says some interesting things about you,” I replied. “Yes, I guess I was fated to cut hair.” “There are many interesting things in the Bible,” I ventured. “Like what?” “Like, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’.” “Are you a believer?” she queried. “Yes, are you?” “For just a few months,” she replied. She had been a hairdresser to the stars in Hollywood but her sinful life had inflamed her conscience so she took a few weeks off and read the Bible all the way through. Just before the last chapter, she thought, I’ve almost read through the whole Bible and nothing has happened. Maybe I’m too bad; maybe God doesn’t want me. “But then,” she said with a big smile, “I read the last chapter, and Jesus said, ‘Come!’ so I came!” How good that He said it again, and again, and again.—J.B.N.
Today’s Reading: Joshua 9-13 Memorize: Isaiah 1:28