Gems from November 2011

October 27

"Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11).

Christ is all to us that we make Him to be.
I want to emphasize that word all.
Some men make Him to be "A root out of a dry ground," "Without form or comeliness" (Isaiah 53:2).
He is nothing to them; they do not want Him.

Some Christians have a very small Saviour, for they are not willing to receive Him fully, and let Him do great and mighty things for them.
Others have a mighty Saviour, because they make Him to be great and mighty." (D.L. Moody)

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October 28

"And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ."
(Romans 15:29)

Worldliness and selfishness have no power to breathe the atmosphere of the kingdom of God.

Are our hearts upon such enjoyments as God can sanction and Jesus share with us?

We need not so much to covet information about Him as power to use divinely what we know.
(J.G. Bellett)

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October 31

"What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he loose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and goeth after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing ... saying, ... rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."
(Luke 15:4-6)

The strayed sheep would not let itself be caught by the shepherd who would lift it into his bosom.
And here we get what I call the aggressive character of God's love.
I won't have Him; but He says, "I will and must have you, struggle as you may to escape from my arms.
I have prepared a place for you up there, and I must have you there with Me for ever."
It is the heart God wants.
He has done all that love could do in the cross of Christ to lead the heart of poor sinners to Himself.
He has thrown Himself open to your hearts to draw you into joy and blessing-the whole door wide opened to receive you. (G.V. Wigram)

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November 1

"Produce your cause saith, the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob."
(Isaiah 41:21)

There was an Irish lady living in Canada called "Holy Ann." She lived to be 100 years old. When she was a young girl, she was working in a family for very small wages under a very cruel master and mistress. They made her carry water for a mile up a steep hill. At one time there had been a well dug there, but it had gone dry; but it stood there year after year. One night she was very tired, and she fell on her knees and cried to God; and while on her knees she read these words: "I will open . . . fountains in the midst of valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water" (Isaiah 41:18). "Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons."

These words struck Holy Ann, and she produced her cause before the Lord. She told Him how badly they needed the water and how hard it was for her to carry the water up the steep hill; then she lay down and fell asleep. She had pleaded her cause and brought forth her strong reasons. The next morning early she was seen to take a bucket and start for the well. someone asked her where she was going, and she replied, "I am going to draw water from the well." "Why, it is dry," was the answer. But that did not stop Holy Ann. She knew whom she had believed, and on she went; and, lo and behold, there in the well was 83 feet of pure, cold water, and she told me that the well never did run dry! That is the way the Lord can fulfill His promises. "Produce your cause, bring forth your strong reason," and see Him work in your behalf. (Selected - Springs in the Desert)

How little we use this method of holy argument in prayer; and yet there are examples of it in scripture: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Daniel. All used arguments in prayer, and claimed the divine interposition on the ground of the pleas which they presented. (Anonymous)

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November 2

"When I am weak, then am I strong."
(2 Corinthians 12:10)

Paul had none of these external resources; he was poor, despised, homeless, persecuted. He was conscious of inner frailties and personal weaknesses that distressed him. But he turned it into a blessing, for his own poverty drove him to count earthly treasures nothing and lean the more heavily upon the eternal. His own weakness was his strength.

Indeed, he speaks of God saying to Him, "My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). The world today would have us glorify our own selves, our personal smartness and cleverness. Christianity would make a man conscious of his own frailty and dependent utterly upon God, counting himself only a medium through which the Infinite may work.

Such an idea is not palatable to some psychologists and modern humanists. But deeper minds perceive its truth as did William James when he says:

There is a state of mind known to Christians, but to no others, in which the will to assert ourselves and hold our own has been displaced by a willingness to close our mouths and be as nothing in the floods, and waterspouts of God. The time for tension in our soul is over and that of happy relaxation, of calm deep breathing, of an eternal present with no discordant future to be anxious about, has arrived.

How far ahead of modern egotism is the happy state of those whose strength is from above, whose treasures are kept
"where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matthew 6:20).
(In Tune With Heaven - Vance Havner - May 25, 1930)

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November 3

"Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."
(Genesis 32:28)

Jacob's name is changed to Israel, meaning "a Prince of God." How is it that God can put such a name upon one who is a Jacob (a "taker by the heel"), and manifests that character throughout the greater part of his life? because He is able to make him a prince of God; He is able to take up the most unpromising material and make out of it a vessel of glory, and having taken up one like Jacob, He does not abandon His purpose, He knew the character of the material He was working with from the beginning, and "I am Jehovah, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6). (J. B.Jackson)

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November 4

"Peter saith unto Him, 'Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?' . . . Jesus answered him, 'if I wash thee not, thou has no part with Me'. Simon Peter saith unto Him, 'Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head'. Jesus saith to him, 'he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all'. For He knew who should betray Him; therefore said He, 'Ye are not all clean'."
(John 13:6-11)

To receive spiritual communications ever calls for a spiritual condition. Hence feet-washing was a needed preparation for those who were about to listen to the Lord's last words, so rich with divine truth and spiritual comfort. There was one present, however, who had never been washed all over, on whom feet-washing would have no effect, and to whom the teaching of Jesus would have no meaning. The presence of Judas, plotting in his heart the coming betrayal, cast a dark shadow over the little company. Ere the last instructions can be communicated by the Lord, or received by the disciples, Judas must pass from the upper room into the night. (John 13:30) (Hamilton Smith)

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November 5

". . . come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while . . ."
(Mark 6:31)

Alone with God, the world forbidden,
Alone with God, O blest retreat!
Alone with God, and in Him hidden,
To hold with Him communion sweet.

(Oatman)
(Selected - S.L.)

“…they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31)

“… stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14).

“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10).

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November 6

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
(2 Corinthians 9:8)

The beauty of life is to be found, not in luxury but in simplicity;

- In sweat of the hand,
- Sweat of the brow,
- And sweat of the heart;
- In pride of work without greed of gold;
- In thoughts that rise above the needs of self;
- In loving-kindness to one's fellow men.

To be honest in handicraft,
- Loyal in friendship,
- Strong in suffering,
- And rich in laughter,

Is to be a good comrade in the workshops of life; and to such faithful believers who thus serve,
God will pay the fair wages of Peace and Joy.
(Heaven's Cure for Earth's Care)

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November 7

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."
(Psalm 62:5)

"O may God preserve us," Monod wrote, "from making the word of man the first thing, and communion with Jesus a secondary matter."

We all know the temptation, when something distressing or perplexing happens, to turn to the nearest one, or the wisest and most loving, and talk the thing over with that one. It is right to do this. The help that often comes in this way is the good gift of the "Father of Compassions." But it does not take the place of the other. Communion with Jesus must come first. When it does not, we weaken and become discouraged. Perhaps we say something or write something better not said or written.

Our Lord is the great encourager of souls. Our expectation is from Him. (Whispers of His Power - Amy Carmichael)

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November 8

"The Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."
(Proverbs 3:26)

David exhibits that never-failing token of a heart that knows the Lord - confidence in God above all, and at whatever cost. "Let me fall into the hand of Jehovah." Sweet and precious thought of what the Lord is unto His people! and well He knows how to fill the heart with the certainty that He deserves its confidence. Even while chastening, God is more loving, more faithful, more worthy of confidence than any other.

The simple refuge of the saint is in God. "God is my defence." It is not counter-plotting, nor using human means to meet the power of the enemy. We may partially perhaps and for a time so succeed, but in using carnal weapons we have lost the dependence which calls God in, and the perfection of walk and testimony which waiting on Him gives.

There are moments when God makes us feel that we cannot rely on man but only on Him. Often we have comfort from men. "God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus." But we must not rely on man. Hence there are moments when we have to say "all men are liars," and we are cast on the Lord. (Pilgrim Portions for the Day of Rest -JND)

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November 9

"This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."
(Zechariah 4:6)

I challenge the idea that we are advanced. I know the majority of modern educators, newspaper writers, TV personalities, radio reporters, politicians and all the rest do not agree with me. Nevertheless I challenge the idea that we are any further advanced than they were in the days of Jesus.

If we are so advanced, then I want to ask some questions,

- Why do we kill thousands of human beings each year with cars?
- Because we ride cars instead of donkeys we are advanced?
- If we are so advanced in our day, why are the penitentiaries packed full and the mental hospitals crowded?
- If we are so advanced, why is the whole world a powder keg?
- If we are so advanced, how is it that we have weapons that can annihilate the world?
- If are so advanced, why is it that people cannot walk alone in the parks anymore?
- Why is it that workers who get out at midnight never walk home alone anymore?
- Why is it in this advanced age that drugs, violence, abortion and divorce are soaring?

There is a mind-set that thinks every motion is progress.
Every time you move you are progressing.
Then there is the mind-set that thinks whenever you move in a straight line you are going forward,
forgetting that you can move in a straight line and be going backward.
(A.W. Tozer)

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November 10

"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
(John 3:16)

To God be the glory, great things He has done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in
(Fanny Crosby)

The perfect love of the Father is shown to us by the gift of His only begotten Son.
The perfect love of the Son is shown to us by the giving of His life on the cross.
He took our sins upon Himself to pay our debt to God in full.
Here lies the true passion and peerless love of Jesus Christ.
He gave Himself for us.
Have you experienced that sweet perfect love?
If not, then give Him your heart; it is only safe in His keeping.
(V. Gaynier)

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November 11

"The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD."
(Lamentations 3:25,26)

It is easier to WORK than to WAIT. It is often more important to wait than to work. We can trust God to do the needed working while we are waiting; but if we are not willing to wait, and insist upon working while He would have us be still, we may interfere with the effective and triumphant working that He would do in our behalf. Our waiting may be the most difficult thing we can do; it may be the severest test that God can give us.

Oswald Chambers has said truly: One of the greatest strains in life is the strain of waiting for God. God takes the saint like a bow which He stretches; we get to a certain point and say I cannot stand any more; but God goes on stretching. He is not aiming at our mark, but at his own, and the patience of the saints is that we hold on until He lets the arrow fly straight to His goal. If we are willing to remember God's call and assurance there need be no strain at all while we are waiting. The "stretched bow" time may be a time of unbroken rest for us as we "rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 37:7).

Unless a violin string is stretched until it cries out when the bow is drawn over it, there is no music.
A loose violin string with no strain upon it is of no use - it is dead, has no voice.
But when stretched till it strains it is brought to the proper tone, and then only is it useful to the music-maker.
(A.B. Sims)

"In God's eternal plan, a month, a year,
Is but an hour of some slow April day,
Holding the germs of what we hope or fear,
To blossom far away."

The Almighty is tedious, but He's sure!

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November 12

"Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
And when ye stand praying, FORGIVE, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
(Mark 11:24,25)

- True prayer brings a person's will into accordance with God's will, not the other way around.

- No prayers can be heard which do not come from a forgiving heart.

- There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him.

- There are four ways God answers prayer: No, not yet; No, I love you too much; Yes, you finally asked; Yes, and here's more.

- Just when I need Him, He is my all, answering when upon Him I call; tenderly watching lest I should fall.

- It is impossible to lose your footing while on your knees.
(A Collection of Wise Sayings - R.K.)

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November 14

November 15

November 16

"All the presidents of the Kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king [Darius],
he shall be cast into the den of lions. . . . King Darius signed the writing and the decree" (Daniel 6:7,9).

"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did afore time. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God." (Daniel 6:10, 11).

King Darius had issued an order throughout the nation that for thirty days, anyone found praying to anyone or anything other than the king would be sentenced to death.
Daniel did not comply.
He refused to rationalize that the order would remain in effect for only thirty days.
He rejected the pragmatic decision that he could further his career if he complied.
He simply would not bow down to any being other than God.

Worship is exclusionary. You cannot compromise on worship.
(The Grand Weaver - Ravi Zacharias)

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November 17

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made night by the blood of Christ."
(Ephesians 2:13)

Have you accepted Jesus as your Saviour?
That is a great experience.
Yet, when one is converted and says yes to Jesus, it does not mean the end of a new experience, but the beginning.
You have entered the gate to a new life.
You will find complete joy and liberty there.
Don't be too concerned about what Christians should and should not do.
You can leave those things safely to the Holy Spirit to show you,
for you have not been brought to a religion or doctrIne, but to a PERSON: JESUS CHRIST.
(This Day is the Lord's - Corrie Ten Boom)

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November 18

"Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair . . ."
(Song of Solomon 4:1)

How the Lord sees us is entirely different from our perception of ourselves.
He always sees us in what we will be, knowing full well who and what we are and were.

We find ourselves totally blessed in every area of our lives in Him and in His touch and estimation of ourselves.

All the description here speaks of that which we receive being in relationship with Him, providing for others through us.
(Meditations in the Song of Songs - B.R.)

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November 19

"But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children."
(1 Thessalonians 2:7)

Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ, a teacher, an evangelist, a shepherd, and a spiritual father.
His fathering care and tender love for his children is evident throughout all his epistles.

- In Galatians he refers to those he was so concerned about, as "my little children."
- The Thessalonian believers knew the apostle as one who was gentle as a nurse who cherishes her children.
- He also exhorted, comforted and charged them as a father his children.
- In Timothy the apostle found a dearly beloved son,
- In Titus, his own child after the faith,
- And to the Corinthians he expressed concern because they had not many fathers, while he warned them as his beloved sons.

All these prove the solemn, immeasurable impact parents have on their children, and the normal love and affection that ought to mark every parent-child relationship.
(The Christian Shepherd - June 2008)

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November 20

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
(Romans 1:16)

Oh, the wonders the gospel will accomplish!

It wipes guilt from the conscience, rolls the world out of the heart, and darkness from the mind . . .
It will put honey into the bitterest cup, and health into the most diseased soul.

It will give hope to the heart, health to the face, oil to the head, light to the eye, strength to the hand, and swiftness to the foot.
It will make life pleasant, labour sweet, and death triumphant. It gives faith to the fearful, courage to the timid, and strength to the weak.

It robs the grave of its terror and death of its sting.
It subdues sin, severs from self, makes faith strong, love active, hope lively, and zeal invincible.

It gives sonship for slavery, robes for rags, makes the Cross light and reproach pleasant; it will transform a dungeon into a palace,
and make the fires of martyrdom as refreshing as the cool breeze of summer.

It snaps legal bonds, loosens the soul, clarifies the mind, purifies the affections, and often lifts the saint to the very gates of Heaven.
No man can deserve it; money cannot buy it, or good deeds procure it; grace reigns here!
(J.K. - W. Poole Balfern- 1858)

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November 21

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall arise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Those who are waiting for Him, the living ones who remain unto the coming of the Lord, are caught up with those that slept (died), together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. And he adds, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words," referring to the sorrow in the hearts of some who had not their hearts centered in the heart of Christ. Let me appeal to your souls individually, What do you think of Christ? What is that day to you? What is the Lord to you?

Oh what a tale will steal out in that day, when we see what the Lord's love has been to us! I know His distinct love to me. I know His determination, but nothing but His blood shall be known as the atonement for my sin, His determination that no false prop shall suit me. I know His arm as an arm that may be leaned upon. And well He knows now in the days of His solitude, His service, his sorrow down here, His Father's love was enough for Him, and He knows how His own individual love for the child of God is enough for the path, were it multiplied with sorrows ten thousand times more. (Food for the Desert)

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November 22

"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."
(Isaiah 48:10)

Does not the Word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame?
Yes, is it not an asbestos armour, against which the heat has no power?
Let the affliction come - God has chosen me.
Poverty, may stride in at my door; but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me.
Sickness may intrude; but I have a balsam ready - God has chosen me.
Whatever befall me in this vale of tears, I know that He has chosen me.

Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with you.
In all your fiery trials, His presence is both your comfort and safety.
He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own.
"Fear not, for I am with thee," is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in "the furnace of affliction."
(C.H. Spurgeon)

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November 23

"God said unto Noah . . . the earth is filled with violence."
(Genesis 6:13)

"But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be."
(Matthew 24:37)

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory,
Shall the toils of life repay.
(Eliza Hewitt)

We live in a violent world - fighting, terrorism, gangsterism!
Beloved let us not be discouraged or even surprised at such an increase of violence.
Rather let us take courage and see it as one more indication that He who promised, "Behold I come quickly"
May be on the very threshold.
Let us also reach out with the gospel, so that He finds us not only watching but also working,
When He comes to take us into His peaceful presence.
(David Croudace)

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November 24

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High."
(Psalm 92:1)

"MUCH OBLIGED, LORD!"

The person who loves God and has a grateful heart will enjoy spiritual health and be able to thank Him even in the face of death. Fulton Oursler learned this lesson from a black lady who helped care for him when he was a little boy. Every time she sat down to eat, she would bow her head and say, "Much obliged, Lord." Ourseler asked her why she did this, because the food was there for her to enjoy whether she gave thanks or not. She replied, "Sure, we get our vittles, but it makes everything taste better to be grateful. Looking for good things is a kind of game an old preacher taught me to play. Take this morning. I woke up and thought, what's there to praise God for today? You know what? I couldn't think of a thing! Then from the kitchen came the most delicious odour that ever tickled my nose. Coffee! 'Much obliged, Lord, for the coffee,' I said, 'and much obliged, too, for the smell of it.' "

Many years later Oursler stood at the bedside of that woman as she lay dying. Seeing her in much pain, he wondered if she could still find something to be grateful for. Just then she opened her eyes. As she saw him and the others gathered around, she folded her hands and said with a smile, "Much obliged, Lord, for such fine friends."

I can't think of a better time than today to begin looking for things to be thankful for. It won't matter what words you use, whether you say "Thank You, Father," or "Much obliged, Lord." The important thing is to praise Him. And the more you do, the more you'll improve your outlook on life. (H.V.L.)

How good it is to thank the Lord,
And praise to Thee, most High, accord,
To show Thy love with morning light,
And tell Thy faithfulness each night!

If you can't think of anything to be thankful for, you have a poor memory
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright 1977. Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted Permission

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November 25

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
(Luke 22:31-32)

All of us must go through some sifting in life to get rid of the chaff in our lives.
When the sifting is done we are better able to strengthen our brothers and sisters in Christ.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,
For I will be with thee thy trials to bless,
And sanctify to to thee thy deepest distress.
(Henry Durbanville)
(S.L.- With thanks)

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November 26

"He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved."
"He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved."
(Psalm 62:2,6)

A scene of sorrow and misery, though this world has become through disobedience, yet what blessings and joy the children of God may experience in the midst of it all, in the place and path of obedience and dependence upon that obedient One, Who has left us such an example!

But it is not only the sin and spirit of disobedience that has made, and does make, this earth such a scene of misery. The sin of Cain, envy, hatred and murder has turned it into a place of violence as well as corruption. Adam sinned against obedience, Cain against love. And what is the fruit of man's second sin against the "Royal commandment," culminating in the murder of the Holy and Just One? Take up any of this world's daily papers, and you will find them teeming with the most horrible accounts of all kinds of murder, corruption and violence, generally softened down by writers with sensational pens, and callous consciences, by calling them "tragedies," - where even the most sacred family-ties exercise no longer any restraint upon men's passions. (Light in Our Dwellings - J.A. Von Poseck)

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November 27

"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."
(2 Timothy 1:5)

The effect we grandparents have on our grandchildren may not be realized until we can see the principles they live by and the adults they have become. Grand-parenting will become one of life's most rewarding experiences if we invest spiritually in our children and grandchildren, as Lois did with Eunice and Timothy. Paul's letters to Timothy show us that her effort has been a blessing to every generation since.

As we attempt to influence our grandchildren for Christ, we are changed, as I am sure Lois was, in at least three ways. First, we are drawn closer to God in dependence upon Him. Second, we become more concerned with the legacy we are leaving our children and their children. Third, we end up living richer, fuller spiritual lives. As we pass along our values and see our children and grandchildren make decisions to follow Jesus, we see afresh that He must be first in our life, and everything else secondary.

It is harder to consistently live the Christian life in front of our grandchildren than in front of anyone else. They compare what they see with what they have heard about us from their parents. We become painfully aware of our spiritual shortcomings because we become increasingly aware of how much our grandchildren are watching us walk the path of faith. We are drawn closer to God as we see where we need to improve as Christians.

We will also become more concerned about the legacy we leave our families - not earthly things, but spiritual values that will affect them for the rest of their lives. We should pray that our grandchildren remember not only the good times we had together, but also that we helped them to know and to live closer to their Saviour. (L.J. Ondrejack)

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November 28

"Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world."
(John 1:29)

He does not say merely "sins." It is sin, in the singular. I think that you will find that when people attempt to quote this verse they generally say sins. Sins are only the effect of a cause, and the Lamb of God came, not only to take away the individual's sins, but to take away or deal with, the sin-question as a whole. The Apostle Paul said, "God hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin." He is not only the bearer of our transgressions, He not only atoned for all our acts of sin, but He died for what we are as sinners by nature. . . .

Within this heart of mine there are tendencies to sin that are worse than any act of sin I have ever committed. This is true of us all. We are sinners by nature. Sin dwells in us. Christ died to put away sin, not merely sins, by the sacrifice of Himself. We have in us that thing which God calls "sin in the flesh." God took all that into account when Christ hung on the cross. He died because of what we were. He took our place. He was made sin for us, and sin, as a barrier, was taken away, and now the vilest sinner can come into the presence of God and find forgiveness. Do you know the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world? (H.A. Ironside)

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November 29

"“…He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself."” (2 Timothy 2:13)

“God's delays are not denials; He has heard your prayer;
He knows all about your trials, knows your every care.

God's delays are not denials; help is on the way;
He is watching o'er life's dials, bringing forth the day.

God's delays are not denials; you will find Him true,
Working through the darkest trials, what is best for you.”
(With thanks - S.L.)

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November 30

“Surely I come quickly.” (Rev. 22:20)

As we approach the end of the age, it is predictable that many will abandon the hope of Christ’s any-moment return. But the truth is still there whether men hold it or not.

The fact is that the Lord Jesus may come at any time. We do not know the day or hour of the Bridegroom’s return for His bride; this means that He could come today. There is no prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before we hear His shout, the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. True, the church expects to experience tribulation throughout its time on earth, but the horrors of the Tribulation period are not part of its destiny. If the church has to go through, the Tribulation, that would mean that the Lord couldn’t come for at least seven years, because we certainly are not in the Tribulation now, and when it does come, it will last for seven years.

There is a large body of Scripture texts that teach us to be ready at all times for the Savior to appear. Notice the following:

• “…nearer than when we believed”(Romans 13:11).
• “The night is far spent, the day is at hand” (Romans 13:12).
• “The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5).
• “For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37)
• “…the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8).
• “…the judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9).
• “But the end of all things is at hand’”(1 Peter 4:7).

These verses seem designed to create the impression on the mind that the Lord’s coming is imminent. It is an event for which we should be watching and waiting. We should be busy in His service, faithfully carrying out our stewardship.

R. A. Torrey once said, “The imminent return of our Lord is the great Bible argument for a pure, unselfish, devoted, unworldly, active life of service. In much of our preaching we urge people to live holy and work diligently because death is swiftly coming, but this is never the Bible argument. The Bible argument always is, Christ is coming; be ready when He comes.”

Our responsibility is clear. Our loins should be girded, our lights should be burning, and we should be like those who wait for their Lord (see Luke 12:36,36). Let us not succumb to those who teach that we have no right to expect Him at any moment. Rather let us believe in His imminent return, teach it enthusiastically, and let the truth shine out in our lives. (With thanks and appreciation for this timely posting from R. Lucas)

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