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
February 16
John Polkinghorne, theologian and Professor of Mathematical Physics at Cambridge University, comments on the difference between the biblical account of creation and Mesopotamian texts on the same subject: “…Though the accounts are clearly influenced to a degree by neighboring Near Eastern cosmogonies, they differ in a most marked and important way from those other creation stories. It is deeply impressive that tales of conflict among the gods, with Marduk fighting Tiamath and slicing her dead body in half from which to form the earth and sky, are replaced by a sober account in which the one true God alone is the Creator, bringing creation into being by the power of the divine word. Equally significant is the insight that human beings are not destined to be the slaves of the gods (as in the Babylonian epic, Enuma Elish), but are created in the image of God.”
—Science and the Trinity: The Christian Encounter with Reality, pp 44-45
February 15
“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into a furnace of fire; there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 13:41-42).
Count the frail and fragrant blossoms spring has scattered through the trees;
Count the endless crashing billows sparkling on the planet’s seas;
Count the lightly flickering shadows in each autumn forest glade;
Count the falling feathery snowflakes, icy gems by winter made;
Count the myriad blades that glitter early in the morning dew;
Count the grains of sand in deserts under noontide’s vault of blue;
Count the notes that wood birds warble in the evening’s fading light;
Count the stars that gleam and twinkle in the velvet black of night…
When the counting all is done, scarce eternity’s begun!
Hearer, pause: Where will you be during your eternity? —Anon.
February 14
“As having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Cor 6:10). Sometimes we excuse our evangelistic inactivity because of a shortage of funds. But the poverty of the early Christians was an asset, not a liability. As J.C. Ryle (1816–1900) points out: “A religion which turned the world upside down, while its first preachers were all poor men must needs have been from heaven. If the Apostles had possessed money to give their hearers, or been followed by armies to frighten them, an infidel might well deny that there was anything wonderful in their success. But the poverty of our Lord’s disciples cut away such arguments from beneath the infidel’s feet. With a doctrine most unpalatable to the natural heart, with nothing whatever to bribe or compel obedience—a few lowly Galileans shook the world, and changed the face of the Roman empire. Only one thing can account for this. The gospel of Christ, which these men proclaimed, was the truth of God.”
Today’s Reading: Numbers 24-27 Memorize: Psalm 96:1-3February 13
Anthony Cetola, a young shepherd living south of Rome, jumped at the chance to emigrate to the United States. He found a night-shift job in East Orange, New Jersey and a bed at the YMCA. He had heard the Protestants might try to brainwash him, so was reluctant to accept the tract offered him on the way to work one evening. But he had been taught to be polite so he took the leaflet, but then tore it up and shoved it in his pocket for disposal later. When his shift was done, he found himself standing outside a bakery, waiting for his bus. The aroma of the fresh bread that he couldn’t afford filled his nostrils. He pushed his hands deep into his pockets to find a little warmth—and instead found the tract. Pulling a few pieces out, he saw the title: “The Bread of Life.” Overwhelmed, he hurried to his room, carefully reassembled the message, and discovered the truth of the Savior’s words: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger” (Jn 6:35).
Today’s Reading: Numbers 20-23 Memorize: Psalm 95:1February 12
Buddhism, founded in India by Siddharta Gautama (the Buddha, or Enlightened One) in 520 bc, has 360 million adherents. Beliefs differ: Theravada Buddhism is atheistic; Mahayana is more polytheistic. Buddha taught nothing is permanent. Life’s purpose is to avoid suffering, gain enlightenment and release from the cycle of rebirth, or at least attain a better rebirth in the next life cycle by good living. Although few Westerners officially join Buddhism, adapting certain aspects of its beliefs has become popular. Tibetan Buddhism allows for atheistic religion. Zen meditation is offered as a stress reliever. Nirvana and karma provide an alternative view to the problem of suffering, that it is your fault from previous behavior. Also some find the tolerance of many ways attractive. But in the end, Buddhism is an impersonal religion of self-perfection, the goal—extinction. How different the words of our Lord: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (Jn 10:28).
Today’s Reading: Numbers 16-19 Memorize: Psalm 90:2February 11
Faith is often needed not only for spiritual efforts but for financial provision as well. In dark days, when funds were low for the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor received a letter from George Müller: “My chief object is to tell you that I love you in the Lord; that I feel deeply interested about the Lord’s work in China, and that I pray daily for you. I thought it might be a little encouragement to you in your difficulties, trials, hardships, and disappointments to hear of one more who feels for you and who remembers you before the Lord. But were it otherwise…you will always have the Lord to be with you…On Him then reckon, to Him look, on Him depend: and be assured that if you walk with Him, look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you…He has always appeared for my help. I delight in speaking well of His Name.” Müller’s gifts over the following years amounted to $10,000 per annum, the exact sum they had fallen behind at that time.
Today’s Reading: Numbers 12-15 Memorize: Psalm 71:1February 10
John Townsend was born into a well-to-do family in Exeter, England. At the age of 20, while studying to become a clergyman, he realized to his shock that he was an unconverted man himself. He abandoned the ambition of his life which he had chosen, feeling he could not lead others to Christ until he himself was a believer. One day he noticed a Bible in a shop window and, inquiring further, was lead to Christ by the woman who would become his wife. His parents became so distressed and angry at the step he had taken, that they disinherited him. For 25 years he sought reconciliation with them, but to no avail. But one day he was informed by J.N. Darby that “his parents were in need of help.” John discovered that through poor investments they had lost everything. Taking them into his home, John had the joy of seeing both his parents trust Christ when they were both past 80 years of age. Thus is the servant of God described, “as poor, yet making many rich” (2 Cor 6:10).
Today’s Reading: Numbers 9-11 Memorize: Psalm 55:22