Calendar:Jan. 16th to Feb. 14th.

DAILY BIBLE READING……….Jan. 16th, Acts 1; Jan. 31st, Acts 16; Feb. 14th, Romans 2.

SUPPLEMENTARY READING ….. Jan. 16th, Rev. 3; Jan. 31st, Rev. 18; Feb. 14th, Isaiah 10.

A truly Happy New Year to all the dear "Y.B.D.'s" May the time before us be marked by rich blessing in our daily readings, not merely in increased knowledge of the written Word, but in a deeper heart-acquaintance with Him who is its theme, and a resulting happy obedience to Him. This will be indeed a bond of blessing uniting our hearts more and more closely together.

We have for our regular daily chapter, during the first monthly period, the Book of Acts. It has been likened to a New Testament Exodus. The four Gospels are the Genesis, giving us the Life which is the basis of all our blessing. Just as at the opening of the Old Testament Exodus the people are in bondage, and are led forth by the delivering hand of God, through His servant Moses; so in this New Testament book we have God's people led out by the Holy Spirit through His servants, the apostles and other chosen vessels. We have not a bondage to Egypt, but to Judaism and carnal ordinances, which the Jews had used to feed their pride and which had resulted in their rejection and the crucifixion of our blessed Lord. From all this, a new-born people are led forth into the fulness of Christian liberty. But it is done gently and gradually, for the Great Shepherd of the sheep is compassionate and does not drive, but lead. The divisions of the book indicate the stages of this deliverance.

1. Chaps. 1-7. The descent of the Spirit, and the formation of the Church by His baptism. Israel is almost solely considered here, and Peter the apostle of the circumcision is prominent.

2. Chaps. 8-12. Israel's rejection of the grace of God, and the gospel going out to the Gentiles. The previous portion closed with the martyrdom of Stephen. This section begins with the gospel in Samaria and to the Ethiopian, but is also marked by the divine-conversion of the bitter enemy of God's truth, Saul of Tarsus. Peter is still prominent, and opens the door of grace to the Gentiles further. The closing chapter (12) shows us God's merciful care of His servant, and His judgment upon the pride of man, as seen in the death of Herod.

3. Chaps. 13-20. The gospel fully declared to the Gentiles. Here Paul is prominent, though the link with Jerusalem and the Church there is fully maintained, though there is strong opposition by those who cling to Judaism. God leads on mercifully, and in chapter 15 definite emancipation from legal ordinances for the Gentiles is declared. This section is largely devoted to the tireless activities of Paul in Asia Minor and in Greece. Certain great centers of Christian truth are established at Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, and many other points. The gospel has unmistakably found a lodgment in the hearts of many Gentiles.

4. Chaps.21-28.Paul in chains, and delivered to prison, but "the word of God is not bound," and the truth goes on in spite of opposition. The Jews as a. nation more and more reject the truth, and at the last are turned from by the apostle who loved them so devotedly. The testimony is largely in the hands of Gentile saints, and the Epistles of Paul unfold the emancipating truth which shows how completely God's people have been led out from the bondage of a religion of the flesh. In all the latter half of the book Paul is the chief instrument, though without doubt Peter and all the others labored faithfully in their appointed spheres. James the brother of John, as Stephen before him, had laid down his life for the name of the Lord Jesus.

As to our supplementary reading, we complete the "book of Revelation. As the Old Testament is so much larger, and probably not so familiar to us as the New, we will read from the prophets for a little time. The first portion of Isaiah will be before us after Revelation, and this will I trust make us helpfully familiar with its grand theme. Here, as throughout the word of God, Christ is supreme.