Part 9

_That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. Eph. i. 17, 18._

We were coming down a mountain in Switzerland one evening, when a black thunder-storm blotted out the day, and all things were suddenly plunged into darkness. We could only dimly see the narrow, dusty footpaths, and the gloomy sides that were swallowed up in deeper gloom. What, then, of the majesty all about us, heights, and depths, and wonders? All was darkness. Then came the lightning--not flashes, but the blazing of the whole sky, incessant, and on every side. What recesses of glory we gazed into! What marvels of splendor shone out of the darkness!

Think how with us, in us, is One who comes to make the common, dusty ways of life resplendent, illuminating our dull thoughts by the light of the glory of God; clearing the vision of the soul, and then revealing the greatness of the salvation that is ours in Christ.--_Mark Guy Pearse._

=November 1st.=

_Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. John viii. 9._

Alone with Jesus! What a sweet and holy spot! What a blessed refuge to which the soul may betake itself from the charges of Satan, the accusations of the world, and the sorrows of life! Sweet spot for the heart to unfold itself, to tell its hidden tale in the ear of Infinite love, tenderness, and compassion!

Alone with Jesus! How different a front would Christianity present to the world if the Lord's people were oftener there! What humility, and gentleness, and love, would characterize all their dealings! What holiness stamped on the very brow, that all might read! What few judgments passed on others, how many more on ourselves! What calmness and resignation and joyful submission to all the Lord's dealings!

Be much "alone with Jesus!" Then will the passage to glory be one of sunshine, whether it be through the portals of the grave or through the clouds of heaven.--_F. Whitfield._

=November 2nd.=

_Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psa. xvi. 11._

The man who walks along the path of life lives in the presence of the joy-giving God. Just in so far as he is true to that path of life, and wanders neither to the right hand nor to the left, his joy becomes deeper, nay! he becomes partaker of that very fullness of joy in which God Himself lives, and moves, and has His being. And while such is his experience in the midst of all the trials of life, he has also the privilege of looking forward to grander things yet in store for him, when that higher world shall be reached, and the shadows of time have passed away forever. "At Thy right hand," exclaims the psalmist, "there are pleasures for evermore."--_W. Hay Aitken._

=November 3rd.=

_Be clothed with humility. 1 Pet. v. 5._

Is it not one of the difficulties of church work that we have more officers than men? We need more of the rank and file, who are willing to march anywhere, and to do the lowliest of tasks. We shall succeed in doing greater things when we are all of us willing to be subject. It is the bayonet rather than the gold lace which is wanted when the enemy is to be subdued.--_Thomas Champness._

=November 4th.=

_Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. Gen. xxxiii. 1._

Do not lift up your eyes and look for Esaus. Those who look for troubles will not be long without finding trouble to look at. Lift them higher--to Him from whom our help cometh. Then you will be able to meet your troubles with an unperturbed spirit. Those who have seen the face of God need not fear the face of man that shall die. To have power with God is to have power over all the evils that threaten us.--_F. B. Meyer._

=November 5th.=

_Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. vii. 1._

The Tree of Life, according to some of the old rabbinical legends, lifted its branches, by an indwelling motion, high above impure hands that were stretched to touch them; and until our hands are cleansed through faith in Jesus Christ, its richest fruit hangs unreachable, golden above our heads. The fullness of the life of heaven is only granted to those who, drawing near Jesus Christ by faith on earth, have thereby cleansed themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.--_Alex. McLaren._

=November 6th.=

_The pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. Ex. xiv. 19._

It is not always guidance that we most need. Many of our dangers come upon us from behind. They are stealthy, insidious, assaulting us when we are unaware of their nearness. The tempter is cunning and shrewd. He does not meet us full front. It is a comfort to know that Christ comes behind us when it is there we need the protection.--_J. R. Miller._

=November 7th.=

_Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shall purge them away. Psa. lxv. 3._

There is much earnest religion that lives in the dreary compass of these first four words, "Iniquities prevail against me," and never gets a glimpse beyond it. But do not put a full stop there. Fetch in One who can help. "As for our transgressions, THOU shalt purge them away." The moment we bring the Lord in, that moment defeat is turned to triumphant deliverance!

Write that up in golden letters--THOU! And do not find in this word only a trembling hope, or a wondering wish. Listen to its full assurance--THOU SHALT!

There is but one result that can warrant the agony of Calvary; there is but one result that can satisfy either our blessed Savior or ourselves; and that is our being conquerors over sin.--_Mark Guy Pearse._

=November 8th.=

_Speaking the truth in love. Eph. iv. 15._

The best way of eradicating error is to publish and practice truth.--_W. Arnot._

=November 9th.=

_So he arose, and went to Zarephath. 1 Kings xvii. 10._

Let it be equally said of you to whatever duty the Lord may call you away, "He arose and went." Be the way ever so laborious or dangerous, still arise, like Elijah, and go. Go cheerfully, in faith, keeping your heart quietly dependent on the Lord, and in the end you will surely behold and sing of His goodness. Though tossed on a sea of troubles you may anchor on the firm foundation of God, which standeth sure. You have for your security His exceeding great and precious promises, and may say with the psalmist, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him who is the health of my countenance, and my God."--_F. W. Krummacher._

=November 10th.=

_A daily rate for every day. 2 Kings xxv. 30._

The acts of breathing which I performed yesterday will not keep me alive to-day; I must continue to breathe afresh every moment, or animal life ceases. In like manner yesterday's grace and spiritual strength must be renewed, and the Holy Spirit must continue to breathe on my soul from moment to moment in order to my enjoying the consolations, and to my working the works of God.--_Toplady._

=November 11th.=

_And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Jer. xviii. 4. (R. V.)_

God's fairest, highest place of service in the land that lies beyond will be filled by the men and women who have been broken upon the wheel on earth.--_G. Campbell Morgan._

=November 12th.=

_Examine yourselves. 2 Cor. xiii. 5._

If your state be good, searching into it will give you that comfort of it. If your state be bad, searching into it cannot make it worse; nay, it is the only way to make it better, for conversion begins with conviction.--_Bishop Hopkins._

=November 13th.=

_Choose you this day whom ye will serve. Josh. xxiv. 15._

CHOICE AND SERVICE--these were demanded of the Israelites; these are demanded of you, these only. Choice and service--in these are the whole of life.--_Mark Hopkins._

=November 14th.=

_Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Psa. xc. 1._

You cannot detain the eagle in the forest. You may gather around him a chorus of the choicest birds; you may give him a perch on the goodliest pine; you may charge winged messengers to bring him choicest dainties; but he will spurn them all. Spreading his lordly wings, and with his eye on the Alpine cliff, he will soar away to his own ancestral halls amid the munitions of rocks and the wild music of tempest and waterfall.

The soul of man, in its eagle soarings, will rest with nothing short of the Rock of Ages. Its ancestral halls are the halls of heaven. Its munitions of rocks are the attributes of God. The sweep of its majestic flight is Eternity! "Lord, THOU hast been our dwelling place in all generations!"--_Macduff._

=November 15th.=

_He hath said. Heb. xiii. 5._

If we can only grasp these words of faith, we have an all-conquering weapon in our hand. What doubt is there that will not be slain by this two-edged sword? What fear is there which shall not fall smitten with a deadly wound before this arrow from the bow of God's covenant? "He hath said!" Yes; whether for delight in our quietude, or for strength in our conflict, "He hath said!" must be our daily resort.

Since "He hath said" is the source of all wisdom, and the fountain of all comfort, let it dwell in you richly, as "a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life." So shall you grow healthy, strong, and happy, in the divine life.--_Spurgeon._

=November 16th.=

_Not I, but Christ liveth in me. Gal. ii. 20._

The wonder of the life in Jesus is this--and you will find it so, and you have found it so, if you have ever taken your New Testament and tried to make it the rule of your daily life--that there is not a single action that you are called upon to do of which you need be, of which you will be, in any serious doubt for ten minutes as to what Jesus Christ, if He were here, Jesus Christ being here, would have you do under those circumstances and with the material upon which you are called to act. The soul that takes in Jesus' word, the soul that through the words of Jesus enters into the very person of Jesus, the soul that knows Him as its daily presence and its daily law--it never hesitates.--_Phillips Brooks._

=November 17th.=

_Who is my neighbor? Luke x. 29._

"Who is thy neighbor?" It is the sufferer, wherever, whoever, whatsoever he be. Wherever thou hearest the cry of distress, wherever thou seest anyone brought across thy path by the chances and changes of life (that is, by the Providence of God), whom it is in thy power to help--he, stranger or enemy though he be--_he_ is thy neighbor.--_A. P. Stanley._

=November 18th.=

_He which stablisheth us . . . in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Cor. i. 21, 22._

When a Christian is "sealed" by the Holy Ghost, "sealed" as the property of his Master, there will be no need to ask, "Whose image and superscription is this" upon the "sealed" one? The King's, of course. Anyone can see the image.

Of what use is a "seal" if it cannot be seen?

Is the King's image visibly, permanently, stamped upon us? It is on every Spirit-filled, "sealed" believer.--_John McNeil._

=November 19th.=

_They shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. Zech. iv. 10._

It is joy to the Christian to know that the plummet is now in the hands of our great Zerubbabel, and that when He comes forth, the world's misrule shall be over. The false standards and false estimates of men shall be swept away. The standards of "expediency," of "conscience," of "every man thinking as he likes, if he is only _sincere_"--these, and all similar refuges of lies shall be like a spider's web. The measure of all things will be Christ, and Christ the Measurer of all things.

How everything will be reversed! What a turning upside down of all that now exists!

Blessed day, and longed for--the world's great jubilee, the earth's long-looked-for Sabbath, groaning creation's joy, and nature's calm repose! Who would not cry, "Come, Lord Jesus, and end this troubled dream! Shatter the shadows of the long, dark night of sin and sorrow, sighing and tears, despair and death!"--_F. Whitfield._

=November 20th.=

_In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John xvi. 33._

Tribulation is God's threshing--not to destroy us, but to get what is good, heavenly, and spiritual in us separated from what is wrong, earthly, and fleshly. Nothing less than blows of pain will do this. The evil clings so to the good, the golden wheat of goodness in us is so wrapped up in the strong chaff of the old life that only the heavy flail of suffering can produce the separation.--_J. R. Miller._

=November 21st.=

_I . . . heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying . . . Write. Rev. i. 10, 11._

It is very sweet to note that a voice from heaven said to John, "Write." Does not that voice come to us? Are there not those who would taste the joys of heaven if we wrote them words of forgiveness and affection? Are there not others who would dry their tears if we would remind them of past joys, when we were poor as they are now? Nay, could not some, who read these plain words, place inside the envelope something bearing their signature which would make the widow's heart dance for joy?

What is our pen doing? Is it adding joy to other men's lives? If so, then angels may tune their harps when we sit at our desk. They are sent to minister to the heirs of salvation, and would be glad to look upon our pen as writing music for them to sing, because what we write makes their client's joy to be full.--_Thomas Champness._

=November 22nd.=

_Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth. Heb. xii. 6._

We should ever bear in mind that the discipline of our heavenly Father's hand is to be interpreted in the light of our Father's countenance; and the deep mysteries of His moral government to be contemplated through the medium or His tender love.--_Selected._

=November 23rd.=

_Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thess. v. 24._

Earthly faithfulness is possible only by the reception of heavenly gifts. As surely as every leaf that grows is mainly water that the plant has got from the clouds, and carbon that it has got out of the atmosphere, so surely will all our good be mainly drawn from heaven and heaven's gifts. As certainly as every lump of coal that you put upon your fire contains in itself sunbeams that have been locked up for all these millenniums that have passed since it waved green in the forest, so certainly does every good deed embody in itself gifts from above. And no man is pure except by impartation; and every good thing and every perfect thing cometh from the Father of lights.--_Alex. McLaren._

=November 24th.=

_Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col. iii. 16._

Remember your life is to be a singing life. This world is God's grand cathedral for you. You are to be one of God's choristers, and there is to be a continual eucharistic sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving going up from your heart, with which God shall be continually well pleased. And there should be not only the offering of the lips, but the surrender of the life with joy. Yes, with _joy_, and not with _constraint_. Every faculty of our nature should be presented to Him in gladsome service, for the Lord Jehovah is my song as well as my strength.--_W. Hay Aitken._

=November 25th.=

_Call to remembrance the former days. Heb. x. 32._

_The former days_--times of trial, conflict, discouragement, temptation. Did we oftener call these to remembrance, with how much more delight would we make the covert of God's faithfulness our refuge, exclaiming with the psalmist, "Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice."--_R. Fuller._

=November 26th.=

_The Lord . . . thy habitation. Psa. xci. 9._

We go home without arrangement. We plan our visits, and then go home because they are over. Duty, want, a host of things, lead us forth elsewhere; but the heart takes us home. Blessed, most blessed is he whose thoughts pass up to God, not because they are driven like a fisherman's craft swept by the fierceness of the storm, not because they are forced by want or fear, not because they are led by the hand of duty, but because God is in his habitation and his home. Loosed from other things, the thoughts go home for rest.

In God the blessed man finds the love that welcomes. There is the sunny place. There care is loosed and toil forgotten. There is the joyous freedom, the happy calm, the rest, and renewing of our strength--at home with God.--_Mark Guy Pearse._

=November 27th.=

_These have turned the world upside down. Acts xvii. 6._

_None of these things move me. Acts xx. 24._

The men that move the world are the ones who do not let the world move them.--_Selected._

=November 28th.=

_He touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. Gen. xxxii. 32._

Whatever it is that enables a soul, whom God designs to bless, to stand out against Him, God will touch. It may be the pride of wealth, or of influence, or of affection; but it will not be spared--God will touch it. It may be something as _natural_ as a sinew; but if it robs a man of spiritual blessing God will touch it. It may be as _small_ a thing as a sinew; but its influence in making a man strong in his resistance of blessing will be enough to condemn it--and God will touch it. And beneath that touch it will shrink and shrivel, and you will limp to the end of life.

Remember that the sinew never shrinks save beneath the touch of the angel hand--the touch of tender love.--_F. B. Meyer._

=November 29th.=

_With God all things are possible. Mark x. 27._

Unbelief says, "How can such and such things be?" It is full of "hows"; but faith has one great answer to the ten thousand "hows," and that answer is--GOD!--_C. H. M._

=November 30th.=

_Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them. 2 Cor. vi. 16._

These temples were reared for Him. Let Him fill them so completely that, like the oriental temple of glass in the ancient legend, the temple shall not be seen, but only the glorious sunlight, which not only shines into it, but through it, and the transparent walls are all unseen.--_A. B. Simpson._

=December 1st.=

_Without Christ. Eph. ii. 12._

Without a hope to cheer, a Pilot to steer, a Friend to counsel, grace to sustain, heaven to welcome us, and God to console!--_Selected._

=December 2nd.=

_When I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Cor. xii. 10._

This is God's way. We advance by going backwards, we become strong by becoming weak, we become wise by being fools.--_F. Whitfield._

=December 3rd.=

_Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet. i. 21._

The Bible is the writing of the living God. Each letter was penned with an almighty finger. Each word in it dropped from the everlasting lips. Each sentence was dictated by the Holy Spirit. Albeit that Moses was employed to write his histories with his fiery pen, God guided that pen. It may be that David touched his harp, and let sweet psalms of melody drop from his fingers; but God moved his hands over the living strings of his golden harp. Solomon sang canticles of love and gave forth words of consummate wisdom; but God directed his lips, and made the preacher eloquent. If I follow the thundering Nahum, when his horses plough the waters; or Habakkuk, when he sees the tents of Cushan in affliction; if I read Malachi, when the earth is burning like an oven; if I turn to the smooth page of John, who tells of love; or the rugged chapters of Peter, who speaks of fire devouring God's enemies; if I turn aside to Jude, who launches forth anathemas upon the foes of God--everywhere I find God speaking; it is God's voice, not man's; the words are God's words; the words of the Eternal, the Invisible, the Almighty, the Jehovah of ages. This Bible is God's Bible; and when I see it, I seem to hear a voice springing up from it, saying, "I am the Book of God. Man, read me. I am God's writing. Study my page, for I was penned by God. Love me, for He is my Author, and you will see Him visible and manifest everywhere."--_Spurgeon._

=December 4th.=

_They all forsook Him, and fled. Mark xiv. 50._

Separation never comes from His side.--_J. Hudson Taylor._

=December 5th.=

_Belshazzar the king made a great feast. Dan. v. 1._

There was one Guest not invited, but He came, and the work of His finger glowed upon the wall.--_Selected._

=December 6th.=

_He that watereth shall be watered also himself. Prov. xi. 25._

The effective life and the receptive life are one. No sweep of arm that does some work for God but harvests also some more of the truth of God, and sweeps it into the treasury of life.--_Phillips Brooks._

=December 7th.=

_And they came unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy. Mark ii. 3._

Had it not been for the palsy, this man might never have seen Christ!--_Selected._

=December 8th.=

_Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits . . . who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies. Ps. ciii. 2, 4._

We talk about the telescope of faith, but I think we want even more the microscope of watchful and grateful love. Apply this to the little bits of our daily lives, in the light of the Spirit, and how wonderfully they come out!--_Frances Ridley Havergal._

=December 9th.=

_When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee. Is. xliii. 2._

God's presence in the trial is much better than exemption from the trial. The sympathy of His heart with us is sweeter far than the power of His hand for us.--_Selected._

=December 10th.=

_Then shall ye discern between the righteous and the wicked. Mal. iii. 18._

Said Anne of Austria to Cardinal Richelieu: "God does not pay at the end of every week, but He pays at last!"--_Selected._

=December 11th.=

_What is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeared for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James iv. 14._

"Only one life; 'twill soon be past-- And only what's done for Christ will last."--_Selected._

=December 12th.=

_He (Jesus) . . . looked up to heaven. Mark vi. 41._

In working for God, first look to heaven. It is a grand plan. Over and over again our Lord Jesus Christ looked to heaven and said, "Father." Let us imitate Him; although standing on the earth, let us have our conversation in heaven. Before you go out, if you would feed the world, if you would be a blessing in the midst of spiritual dearth and famine, lift up your head to heaven. Then your very face will shine, your very garments will smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces where you have been with your God and Savior. There will be stamped upon you the dignity and power of the service of the Most High God.--_McNeil._

=December 13th.=

_The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts xi. 26._

This name suggests that the clear impression made by our character, as well as by our words, should be that we belong to Jesus Christ. He should manifestly be the center and the guide, the impulse and the pattern, the strength and reward, of our lives. We are Christians. That should be plain for all folks to see, whether we speak or be silent.

Is it so with you?--_Alex. McLaren._

=December 14th.=