BLB 2021 Calendar

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [he is] a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95)

Everyone who is "in Christ," through faith in His name, is a "new creation." We are new people. We are no longer who we were before we put our trust in the Lord Jesus. We are not the "old man" reformed or improved, we are a "new creation." Yes, we have the same bodies, but they are mere tents in which we dwell. "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1). Some day in glory, we will trade these temporal, earthly tents for eternal heavenly ones.

– Bob Hoekstra, Day by Day by Grace, April 1st

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"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."
(John 15:12 KJV)

Others have laid down their lives, content that they should be taken from them; but Christ gave up his, was not merely passive, but made it his own act and deed. The life which others have laid down has been but of equal value with the life for which it was laid down, and perhaps less valuable; but Christ is infinitely more worth than ten thousand of us. Others have thus laid down their lives for their friends, but Christ laid down his for us when we were enemies.

– Matthew Henry, Commentary

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"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
(John 14:27 KJV)

Jesus had no inheritance or fortune to leave to His followers in a last will and testament. Yet Jesus gave them two things greater than any fortune: the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and the peace of Jesus Himself. This is the peace of God the Son, with His complete trusting love in God the Father.

– David Guzik, Study Guide

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"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
(Philippians 2:8 ESV)

Here Paul with one word unlocks heaven and permits us look into the unfathomable abyss of divine majesty and behold the ineffable love of the Fatherly heart toward us—his gracious will for us. He shows us how from eternity it has been God's pleasure that Christ, the glorious one who has wrought all this, should do it for us. What human heart would not melt at the joy-inspiring thought? Who would not love, praise and thank God and in return for his goodness, not only be ready to serve the world, but gladly to embrace the extremity of humility? Who would not so do when he is aware that God himself has such precious regard for him, and points to the obedience of his Son as the pouring out and evidence of his Fatherly will. Oh, the significance of the words Paul here uses!

– Martin Luther, Christ, an Example of Love

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"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.'"
(John 11:25 NKJV)

If, then, I want to live unto God, I must have Christ; and if I desire to continue to live unto God I must continue to have Christ; and if I aspire to have that life developed to the utmost fullness of which it is capable, I must find it all in Christ. He has come not only that we may have life, but that we may have it more abundantly. Anything that is beyond the circle of Christ is death.

– C. H. Spurgeon, Though He Were Dead

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"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
(Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

Faith and hope go together; and the same things that are the object of our hope are the object of our faith. It is a firm persuasion and expectation that God will perform all that he has promised to us in Christ; and this persuasion is so strong that it gives the soul a kind of possession and present fruition of those things, gives them a subsistence in the soul, by the first-fruits and foretastes of them: so that believers in the exercise of faith are filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

– Matthew Henry, Commentary

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"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"
(Philippians 4:4 NKJV)

Paul's joy wasn't based in a sunny optimism or positive mental attitude as much as it was the confidence that God was in control. It really was a joy in the Lord.

– David Guzik, Study Guide

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"My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad."
(Psalm 34:2 ESV)

Boasting in the Lord is quite another matter; by this the most lowly are consoled and encouraged. The confident expressions of tried believers are a rich solace to their brethren of less experience. We ought to talk of the Lord's goodness on purpose that others may be confirmed in their trust in a faithful God.

– C. H. Spurgeon, Commentary

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"And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"
(Romans 10:15 NIV)

No wonder those who preach have beautiful feet—they partner with God for the salvation of men. The feet speak of activity, motion, and progress, and those who are active and moving in the work of preaching the gospel have beautiful feet.

– David Guzik, Study Guide

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"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
(Hebrews 4:12 NASB95)

The Word first inclines the heart, and then the heart is inclined to the Word. His Word puts strength of purpose in our hearts, so that we purpose to go in the strength of the Lord. He strengthens us by His Word for life's journey, as the angel did Elijah with the food (1 Kings 19:7). He strengthens us for service, as Christ did the disciples with the promise of the enduement from on high (Luke 24:49); and He empowers us for suffering, as He did Paul when He promised him sufficient grace (2 Corinthians 12:9).

– F.E. Marsh, God's Written Word

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"I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving."
(Psalm 69:30 NASB95)

Faith foresees the happy issue of all affliction, and makes us even now begin the music of gratitude which shall go on for ever increasing in volume, world without end. What clear shining after the rain we have in this and succeeding verses. The darkness is past, and the glory light shines forth as the sun. All the honour is rendered unto him to whom all the prayer was presented; he alone could deliver and did deliver, and, therefore, to him only be the praise.

– C. H. Spurgeon, Psalm 34

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"'He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.'"
(Luke 1:32 NASB95)

No one has influenced history more than Jesus Christ. "Is it not proven that he is great? Conquerors are great, and he is the greatest of them. Deliverers are great, and he is the greatest of them. Liberators are great, and he is the greatest of them. Saviours are great, and he is the greatest of them." (Spurgeon)

– C. H. Spurgeon, Quoted in David Guzik's Study Guide

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