Gems from October 2018

October 1

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

(Ephesians 5:19)

One lovely June morning I went out to work in the yard just at the break of day when the sun began to rise. A little mountain canary lighted on a branch of the tree next to where I was standing and began his morning song of praise. 

At first I was so intent upon the work before me, and quite accustomed to the sounds of the mountain folk both day and night, that I hardly noticed his singing.  Determined that there was to be an appreciative audience for his melodious performance, he hopped down to a branch within arm’s reach and warbled more resoundingly. This time I stopped, gazed and listened.

This little yellow creature put his whole soul into his ethereal song; and I sensed deep within me that he was a choralist sent from God to brighten my whole day with his aria.  

Someone has said that a song at the right time and in the right place will outlive any sermon. Perhaps it may be that a song really comes from the melody in the heart. Down through the ages singing has been the mode of expression of all people.

Song has immortalized national events, has cemented relationships, has endeared experiences.  To those who are parted, a certain song can fuse their breach.

That feathered messenger caused me to avow that I was to keep the spirit of song in my life; to be useful to others, and become an inspiration to those within the sound of my voice.

  

(M. Taylor)

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“In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.”

(Psalms 30:6)

Beware of the smooth places of the way; if you’re treading them, or if the way be rough, 

thank God for it.  

If God should always rock us in the cradle of prosperity; if we were always dangled on the knees of fortune; 

if we had not some stain on the alabaster pillar; if there were not a few clouds in the sky; if we had not some bitter drops in the wine of this life,  we should become intoxicated with pleasure, we should dream “we stand”; and stand we should, but it would be upon a pinnacle; like the man asleep upon the mast, each moment we should be in jeopardy.

We bless God, then, for our afflictions; we thank Him for our changes;

we extol His name for losses of property; for we feel that had He 

 not chastened us thus, we might have become too secure.

Continued worldly prosperity is a fiery trial.

(C. H. Spurgeon)

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October 2

“Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly."

(Jonah 2:1)

When Jonah was in the belly of the great fish, his tongue overflowed with the thoughts of his heart.

And what was in his heart?

There are echoes of psalms in his prayer—he mentions fleeing from God’s presence crying for help from the depths of Sheol, being cast into the depths of the sea.

He ends his prayer in psalmist fashion as well, 

“I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving” (Psalm 116:17). 

The result? 

“The Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10).

Let me like Jonah know my Bible well enough to speak truth to my own soul when I am overwhelmed with darkness or the disciplining hand of God’s waves and billows.

(Marilyn MacMullen)

Holy Bible, book divine, precious treasure, Thou art mine;

Mine to comfort in distress, suffering in this wilderness. 

(J. Burton  Sr.) 

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October 3

“Who is he that overcometh the world,

but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

(1 John 5:5)

The cross shows that man’s nature is utterly incapable of being acted on by any motive whatever which could set it right.

This is very humbling, yet very blessed.

Heaven will not do.  Earth will do.  The law will not do.

“I have yet one thing in heaven—My beloved Son; I will send Him.

It may be that they will reverence Him when they see Him.”

(Matthew 21:33-39)

But no.  The determination of man’s will is to have the world without God. This is what man wants.  He will not have God in any sense.

Here it is brought to a climax; 

and the very worst display of Christianity will be just this.

(J. N. Darby)  

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October 4

“This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will,

He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask,

we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

(1 John 5:14-15)

I know not if the blessing sought

Will come in just the way I thought;

But leave my prayers with Him alone,

Whose will is wiser than my own,

Assured that He will grant my quest,

Or send some answer far more blest.

(Eliza M. Hickok)

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October 5

“Lord Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or even thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” (Psalm 90:1-2) 

The Christian knows no change with regard to God. 

He himself may be rich today--and poor tomorrow, he may be sickly today--and well tomorrow, he may be in happiness today--tomorrow he may be distressed; but there is never any change with regard to his relationship to God.

If He loved me yesterday--then He loves me today. 

My unmoving mansion of rest, 

is my blessed Lord.

Let prospects be ruined,  let hopes be blasted,  let joy be withered, let mildews destroy everything — I have lost nothing of what I have in God.

  

He is "my strong habitation where unto I can continually resort.”  I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet habitation.

(Charles Spurgeon)

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength. 
(Habakkuk 3:17-19) 

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October 6

“Draw me, we will run after Thee . . .”

(Song of Solomon 1:4)

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to Thee.

~~~~~~~~~~

“I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I,

but the grace of God which was with me."

(1 Corinthians 15:10)  

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, by the power of grace divine;

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine.

~~~~~~~~~~

“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, 

as a man speaketh unto his friend.”

(Exodus 33:11)

O the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God I commune as friend with friend!

(The Treasures of Fanny Crosby)

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October 7

"There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.”

(Proverbs 19:21)

To true happiness here, as well as for a guard against the dangers of it, 

some strain of sorrow seems of necessity to mingle with it,

something wherein the soul has to submit itself 

to God—to say:  “It is the Lord” (John 21:7).

~~~~~

You may be sure of this, that God never sent a trial so bitter that a Christ-filled Christian could not draw some honey out of it.  God does not expect us to be callous under trial, or ask us to make merry at a funeral.  But away down, deep under the tempest of trial He gives us a serene sense that whatever

 He does is right.  "Jesus wept” (John 11:35)

~~~~~

Oh! the power and the joy of being nothing, having nothing, and knowing nothing but a glorified Christ up there in heaven; and of being “Careful for nothing” (Philippians 4:6) but the honour of His precious Name down here on earth.

(Comforted of God - A. J. Pollock)

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October 8

“. . . ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)

Our fair morning is at hand, the day-star is near the rising, and we are not many miles from home; what matters the ill entertainment in the smoky inns of this miserable life? We are not to stay here, and we will be dearly welcome to Him whom we go to.

Be patient; Christ went to Heaven with many  a wrong. His visage and countenance was all marred more than the sons of men. You may not be above your Master; many a black stroke received innocent Jesus, and He received no mends, but referred them all to the great court-day, when all things shall be righted. 

(Samuel Rutherford - 1600 - 1661)

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October 9

“Can the fig tree . . . bear olive berries? either a vine, figs?

so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”

(James 3:12)

The Three Sieves   

Is it True?  Is it Kind?  Is it Necessary?

All of us who have tried to remember these three sieves, and have used them, know what a help they are. We are sorry when we ever forget them, and we are very grateful when we are reminded of them in time to keep us from saying something untrue, unkind, or unnecessary.

Sometimes when I listen to hymn-singing I think of the words about the fig tree and the vine and the fountain.   (Note James 3:12 quoted above).

Can the lips which have sung these beautiful 

loving words speak those other words?

But they sometimes do.

Perhaps these three sieves will help to keep some words from being spoken that would grieve the Spirit of love and hurt someone whom our Lord loves.

Is it true?  Is it kind?  Is it necessary?

 (Amy Carmichael)

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October 10

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

(Isaiah 1:18)

One day I went out to walk alone in the silence that follows heavy snowfall.  I climbed a remote ridge that stood sentinel above a broad upland basin of rolling hills.  The whole world was wrapped in white, pensive, pure, and still unmarked by man or his machines.

It was a morning to think long thoughts—as far-reaching as the distant views that stretched fifty miles to the far horizons of the sky edge.  There were precious moments to muse over the meaning of life.  They provided a gentle interlude in which I could be open and receptive to the soft, still impulses of God’s gracious, Holy Spirit.

It came home to me with intense clarity, equal to the brightness all about me, that just as the earth needed this great snowfall to make it utterly lovely, so, too, my life needed the unfolding purity of Christ’s life to cover all my deficiencies.  The ancient prophet of old, Isaiah, spoke of this in eloquent and moving language when he declared on God’s behalf:

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”  (Isaiah 1:18)

“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin” 
(1 John 1:7). 

(Phillip Keller - Songs of My Soul) 

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October 11

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of man.”

(Matthew 4:19)

We are not all called, as Peter was here, to abandon an earthly calling to follow the Lord, but the principle is the same.

When grace is known, and peace and joy fill the heart, as the fruit of hearing the divine words, “Fear not”— which always come to the soul after honest confession,— then to follow the Lord fully is the only safe and right path, for the new-born soul.

We must make a clean break with the world if we are going to have 

the enjoyment of the Lord’s favour.

Out-and-out decision for Christ is of the utmost importance.

(W. T. P. Wolston)

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October 12

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”

(2 Corinthians 8:9)

“O Master, make me not to seek so much to be consoled—as to console; to be understood—as to understand; to be loved—as to love; for, it is in giving—that one receives; it is in self-forgetingness— that one finds; it is in dying—that one wakes to life eternal.”

When we cease to hold the balance between communion with God and loving ministry to our fellow-men, we become a prey to the wild beasts of morbidity and depression.

“Gloom and despondency; undue and unwholesome introspection; unnatural craving after spiritual emotions and inward frames instead of the daily doing of the will of God for our lives; beclouding of assurance and the in swarming of hosts of doubts and questionings which the normal faith-life and love-life fling off with ease and quickness—all these wild beast foes possess our inward selves and harass our inward souls. 

And then when men come to drink at our wellsprings they find the fountains dry, transformed into a den of spiritual foes; and they turn away disappointed and unrefreshed.  Yea, verily, child of God, there is nothing that will keep your life so well-balanced, so symmetrical, so free from morbidness, so happy in the Lord, as for you to incarnate in your daily, everyday life this simple yet sweeping teaching of our Lord about going in and going out.

Try it, and see what a wondrous far-reaching cure it is for all your inner doubt and darkness.”

(Heaven’s Cure for Earth’s Care - George Henderson)

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October 13

“The Lord will command His loving-kindness in the day time, and in the night His song shall be with me.” (Psalm 42:8)

As we travel through life’s shadowed valley, fresh springs of His love ever rise, And we learn that our sorrows and losses are blessings just sent in disguise.

So we’ll follow wherever He leadeth, though pathways be dreary or bright, For we’ve proof that our God can give comfort; our God can give songs in the night.

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October 14

VICTORY OVER DISCOURAGEMENT

"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way.”

(Hebrews 12:12-13)

“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down.”  Discouragement in serving: You lament that the ground is barren; that there is no fruit on the trees. Whether serving the Lord in a foreign land; or a stay-at-home mother; or serving in the local assembly; inevitably discouragement will come.

Our encouragement then must be the Lord and His word who said of His own labours: "I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely My judgment is with the Lord, and My work with My God” (Isaiah 49:4).

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye . . . always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

“And the feeble knees.”  Discouragement in praying:  You have been praying for the salvation of a loved one; for healing of a broken relationship; about a situation that is beyond your power to change.

Like Elijah, you have cast yourself down upon the earth, and put your face between your knees, and you have looked, but there is nothing.  But you must “Go again seven times,” for “men ought always to pray and not to faint” (1 Kings 18:42-46; Luke 18:1).  By and by you will see “a little cloud” which shall turn to showers of blessing.

“And make straight paths for your feet.” Discouragement q2`xxsxssin walking: We are called to walk worthy of our vocation. However, a besetting sin has dogged our pathway, and defeated us time and again, until we are ready to give up.

This is what Satan wants, for he knows that to give up renders us useless to God; but we must pick ourselves up and press on, for the path, no matter how daunting, will end in glory.

(Richard A. Barnett)

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October 15

"I HAVE NO MAN . . ."

“Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.”

(John 5:7)

This poor man had been waiting for his chance to get into the healing waters for a long, long time. Today a crippled and infirm world crowds the pools of Bethesda.

But how many never quite make it to healing and release!  Whatever they seek, somebody else beats them to it.

In the presence of the Son of God this man was bemoaning the fact that he had no one to help him: “Sir, I have no man . . .“ Are you waiting for human help to get you to your heart’s desire? Better than all angel-troubled waters, better than the vain help of man, there stands One saying, "Wilt thou be made whole?”  

Never were earth’s pools of Bethesda as crowded as today.  But you do not have to wait for an angel—some strange unearthly intervention—nor for a man—mere human assistance.

Greater than angels or men, Jesus is at hand. Put your case in His hands and do His bidding. Men turn today to the supernatural in unguided mysticism and to the human in unspiritual psychiatry.  All that you need is Jesus.

(Day by Day with Vance Havner)

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October 16

“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

(1 Peter 1:16)

God’s ultimate plan for each believer is absolute holiness. 

In the meantime He asks that we daily pursue practical holiness.

- Knowing He is holy, we yearn to be like Him. 

- Knowing He is God, we choose to obey Him.

- Knowing this delights Him, we strive to please Him.

We have the resources: the Scriptures to enlighten us, the Holy Spirit to comfort, convict, and encourage us and Christ our faithful High Priest. 

May we daily be a pleasing reminder to Him of His beloved Son.

(George Ferrier)

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,

Each thought and each motive beneath His control.

Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,

Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

(William D. Longstaff)

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October 17

“. . . stand fast in the Lord . . . “

(Philippians 4:1)

“In Christ it is we stand.”

He is our righteousness.  He Himself, the crucified, risen, exalted, glorified Christ.

Yes; He is our righteousness.

To be found in Him is proper Christian standing.

It is not Judaism, Catholicism, nor any other ism. 

It is not the being a member of this church, that church, or the other church.

It is to be in Christ. 

This is the great foundation of true practical Christianity.

In a word, this is the standing of the Christian.

(C. H. Mackintosh)

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October 18

“. . . if thou canst believe, 

all things are possible to him that believeth.”

(Mark 9:23)

Seldom have we heard a better definition of faith than was given once in one of our meetings by a dear old woman as she answered the question of a young man, how to take the Lord for needed help.

In her characteristic way, pointing her finger toward him, she said with great emphasis: “You’ve just got to believe that He’s done it, and it’s done.”

The great danger with  most of us is that, after we ask Him to do it, we do not believe that it is done, but we keep on “helping Him,” and getting others to help Him; and waiting to see how He is going to do it.

Faith adds its “Amen” to God’s “Yea,” and then takes its hands off, and leaves God to finish His work. Its language is “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." 
(Psalm 37:5).  

"I simply take Him at His word, I praise Him that my prayer is heard,

And claim my answer from the Lord; I take,  He undertakes.”

(Mountain Trailways for Youth)

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October 19

REST ASSURED

"For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.”

(Hebrews 4:10)

After forgiveness there comes a thought of great comfort in our freshly felt helplessness, rising out of the very thing that makes us realize this helplessness.

Just because our influence is to such a great extent involuntary and unconscious, we may rest assured that if we ourselves are truly kept for Jesus, this will be, as a quite natural result, kept for Him also.

It cannot be otherwise, for as is the fountain, so will be the flow; as the spring, so the action; as the impulse, so the communicated motion.

Thus there may be, and in simple trust there will be, a quiet rest about it, a relief from all sense of strain and effort, a fulfilling of the words, “For he that is entered into His rest he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.” 

It will not be a matter of trying to have good influence, but just of having it, as naturally and constantly as the magnetized bar.

Resting on the faithfulness of Christ our Lord,

Resting on the fullness of His own sure word;

Resting on His power on His love untold;

Resting on His covenant secured of old.

Resting and believing, let us onward press, 

Resting in Himself, the Lord our Righteousness;

Resting and rejoicing, let His saved ones sing,

Glory, glory, glory be to Christ our king!

(Opened Treasures - F. R. Havergal)

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October 20

ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOUR LEADS ME  

"For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death” 
(Psalm 48:14).

Often we become discouraged because we cannot see God’s long-range plan of guidance for our lives. We need to remember that God has promised to guide our steps, not the miles ahead.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His way” (Psalm 37:23).
This beloved hymn came from the grateful heart of FANNY J. CROSBY after she had received a direct answer to her prayer. 

One day when she desperately needed five dollars and had no idea where she could obtain it, Fanny followed her usual custom and began to pray about the matter.  A few minutes later a stranger appeared at her door with the exact amount. "I have no way of accounting for this,” she said, "except to believe that God put it in the heart of this good man to bring the money.  My first thought was that it is so wonderful the way the Lord leads me, I immediately wrote the poem".  The hymn was first published in 1875.

No one knows the importance of guided steps as much as a blind person like Fanny Crosby, who lost her sight at six weeks of age through improper medical treatment.  A sightless person is keenly aware that there will be stumbling and uncertainty as she continues on her way.  As Fanny wrote, “cheers each winding path I tread, gives me grace for every trial,” she has reminded us that God has never promised to keep us from hard places or obstacles in life.  He has assured us, however, that He will go with us, guide each step, and give the necessary grace.

All the way my Saviour leads me-what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, who thru life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!  for I know what’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well . . .

All the way my Savour leads me-cheers each winding path I tread, gives me grace for ev’ry trial, feeds me with the living bread.  Though my weary steps may falter and my soul athirst may be, gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see . . . 

All the way my Saviour leads me-oh the fullness of His love!  Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father’s house above.  When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day, this my song thru endless ages: Jesus led me all the way . . .      

(Kenneth W. Osbeck)

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October 21

“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white . . .” 

(John 20:11-12)

Care may press very heavily upon some because of a sense of failure in a trying and responsible post. Or there may be some secret in your life you cannot communicate to anyone—the skeleton in the cupboard.  Or some great disappointment has befallen you, and you are inclined to let these blighted hopes darken the remainder of your own life and that of others.

It may be that you are suffering from the sin and disgrace of those near and dear to you, and truly this brings enough care to weigh down the stoutest heart.  Care will often arise, too, from the thought of what might have been.  This reflection will sometimes cause the bitterest pang. 

Let it be said at once that all regrets of this kind are useless.  In many such cases it is impossible to tell what might have been the issue, even if a different course had been adopted; and even if you could tell, yet, being done, you cannot alter it.

Our advice is, get forgiveness from God or man, or both, if necessary, and make the best use of present opportunities.

Act, act in the living present, Heart within, and God o’erhead.

Forgetting the things that are behind, reach forth unto those thing that are before, and press toward the mark.

(Angels in White - Russell Elliott)   

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October 22

Well-Wishing Achieves Little

“Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early . . . and there returned of the people twenty and two thousand . . . “

(Judges 7:3)

Gideon declared war against the oppressor and summoned the nation to his side. Thirty-two thousand who wished him well responded.  The cause of Jesus Christ has never lacked its well-wishers, but mere well-wishing seldom achieves anything. 

A twofold test sifted the well-wishers then and does so now.  The first test was that of fearfulness. “Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return.”

There is much that has never been attempted because of fear-fear of failing, fear of what people might say. fear that it would be too difficult, fear of not being able to see it through. 

The second test was that of casualness.  This test took place by the stream. Only a handful were so pressed by the urgency of the hour that they scarcely paused.

The rest got down lazily and thankfully to the business of drinking.

The same spirit is abroad today—what’s the hurry, why be so keen? How many fail this test and scarcely know that they have been found wanting.

(Every Day With Jesus - G. Duncan)

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October 23

“Joseph dreamed a dream . . . we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.  And he dreamed yet another dream . . . behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” 
(Genesis 37:5-9)  

The one who is loved by the Father, and marked out as the special object of His delight, is the One who is destined to universal supremacy.  This great truth is brought before us in Joseph’s dreams, both setting before us the supremacy of Joseph.  One dream might have sufficed to foretell the glories of Joseph, but would be wholly inadequate to shadow forth the glories of Christ.

His supremacy will have a twofold character.  He will yet be supreme on earth, and many passages tell of this earthly glory.

The dream of the sheaves making obeisance to Joseph’s sheaf may well speak of this excellent supremacy over all the earth which Christ is destined to wield.  Yet this first dream fails to set forth the supremacy of Christ in all its vast extent, for He is destined not only to be supreme on earth, but to hold universal sway over heaven and earth.

The Father, according to His good pleasure, has purposed in the fulness of times to head up “all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth” (Ephesians 1:9-10).  This second dream speaks  of this heavenly supremacy by presenting heavenly bodies—the sun, the moon, and the stars, making obeisance to Joseph.

The two dreams thus set forth the supremacy of Christ over things on earth and things in heaven to the remotest bounds of the created universe.

(Hamilton Smith)

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October 24

“There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” (Joshua 21:45)

What a glowing testimony to the faithfulness of God!  Joshua’s years of leadership were coming to a close. Throughout that period he had seen many “ups and downs.”

Human failure had certainly occurred, but on the divine side, “there failed not aught!” Here is an encouragement for us today.  Not one good thing of which He has spoken will fail.

As He was then, so He is now!

(G. Hall)

How good is the God we adore!  Our faithful, unchangeable friend! His love is as great as His power, and knows neither measure not end!

’Tis Jesus the First and the Last, Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home, We’ll praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that’s to come.

(Joseph Hart)

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October 25

". . . yield ye your members as instruments . . . unto God.”

(Romans 6:13)

God can do nothing with us if we do not yield.

We recall a day of sightseeing in the palace of Genoa.

We entered a room seemingly empty; bare walls, floors and tables greeted us.

Presently the guide led us across the room to the wall at the farther side.  There we spied a niche in the wall.

It was covered with a glass case.  Behind the case was a magnificent violin, in perfect preservation—Paganini’s favourite violin; the rich old Cremona upon which he loved most of all to display his marvellous skill. We gazed intently upon the superb instrument, with its warm rich tints, sinuous curves, and perfect model.  

And then we tried to imagine the wondrous strains the touch of the great master would bring forth if he were there in that quiet palace chamber . . . Nay, but this could not be!  He could not possibly do so!

For it was locked up against him!  It gave the master no chance.

It is not how much do you have, but how much of yours does God have.

Present your members as instruments to God.
To present means “to place near the hand of one.” 

Yielded, reachable, usable—this gives God a chance.

Make it a real transaction!

God-yielded wills find the God-planned life.

(James H. McConkey)

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October 26

“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

(Romans 5:21)

The death of the Redeemer met the claims of the throne of God in righteousness, and the needs of the hearts of men in grace; and grace now reigns (Romans 5:21).

This era was formally introduced by the ascent of Christ (Acts 1) and the descent of the Spirit (Acts 2). The message now is to every creature which is under heaven.

God is today calling out from all kindreds and nations and races and tongues a people for His name (Acts 15:14-17); that company which, in the Epistles, is called “The Church”.

At the second coming of our Lord, this innumerable company of redeemed ones will be translated to their heavenly home, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15.

The difference between “law” and “grace” is well illustrated in John Bunyan’s quaint words:

“Run, John run, the law commands,

But gives me neither legs nor hands;

Far grander news the Gospel brings,

It bids me fly, and gives me wings.”

(George Henderson)

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October 27

I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God!

"Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” (Psalm 90:1-2) 

The Christian knows no change with regard to God. 

He himself may be rich today—and poor tomorrow, he may be sickly today—and well tomorrow, he may be in happiness today—tomorrow he may be distressed; but there is never any change with regard to his relationship to God.

If He loved me yesterday--then He loves me today. My unmoving mansion of rest, is my blessed Lord.

Let prospects be ruined, let hopes be blasted, let joy be withered, let mildews destroy everything— I have lost nothing of what I have in God.  He is "my strong habitation where unto I can continually resort." I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet habitation.

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the field shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

"The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hind’s feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”

(Habakkuk 3:17-19

(Charles Spurgeon)

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October 28

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

(Ephesians 2:8) 

~~~

Man’s need has ever been the occasion for the display of God’s grace and mercy.

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off

are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

(Ephesians 2:13)

~~~

When Israel murmured, the serpent’s bite was the answer.

When Israel confessed, God’s grace was the answer.

“The people spake against God . . . The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.”

"The Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole . . . every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” 

(Numbers 21:5-8)

~~~

Nothing can ever bring a sinner back to a state of true happiness and holiness, but his being fully established in the faith and enjoyment of the love of God.  

We must have to do with Christ for ourselves, and we must walk with God for ourselves. We can neither get life not live by the faith of another.

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

(Hebrews 12:2)

~~~

(Food for the Desert)

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October 29

VERY EARLY

“When it was yet dark” (John 20:1).

“As it began to dawn”  (Matthew 28:1).

“At the rising of the sun” (Mark 16:2).

It was yet dark; but love can find her way

(Sure-footed Love!) by night as well as day.

The first soft trace of dawn. Hope’s eager eye

Marks every hue that tints the eastern sky.

Sunrise at last! Faith’s sure reward is here;

Death turned to life; black night to morning clear.

(Bells & Pomegranates - James M. S. Tait)

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October 30

Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild

“And they brought unto Him also infants, that He would touch them: but when His disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

(Luke 18:15-17)

The story is told of a little girl named Becca, who lived in an institution for troubled children. She had never spoken, and her behaviour was quite violent.  She terrorized the other children, hitting them and stomping on their toys.

This was in the 1800s, when treatment for emotional problems was still quite primitive.  But there was a nurse who showed love to this little girl.  And slowly Becca calmed down.  She began to show affection for the nurse, and she would even sit quietly with the other children as they learned to sing.  Still, she wouldn’t speak.

One summer evening, the nurse put Becca to bed early.  The sun had just gone down, and some birds were singing outside.  Then the nurse heard another voice along with the birds.  It was Becca. Alone in her room she was singing a song she had heard the other children sing:  

“Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon a little child; pity my simplicity; suffer me to come to Thee.” 

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon a little child;

Pity my simplicity, suffer me to come to Thee.

Lamb of God, I look to Thee; Thou shalt my example be:

Thou art gentle, meek and mild; Thou wast once a little child.

Fain I would be as Thou art; give me Thine obedient heart:

Thou art pitiful and kind; let me have Thy loving mind.

Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb, in Thy gracious hands I am;

Make me, Saviour, what Thou art, live Thyself within my heart.

(Charles Wesley   1707–1788)

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October 31

“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”

(James 5:10)

“As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” (2 Corinthians 1:7)

So many burdened lives along the way! my load seems lighter than the most I see, And oft I wonder if I could be brave, patient and sweet if they were laid on me.

But God has never said that He would give another’s grace without another’s thorn; What matter, since for every day of mine sufficient grace for me comes with the morn? 

And though the future brings some heavier cross, I need not cloud the present with my fears; I know the grace that is enough today will be sufficient still through all the years.”

(Annie Johnson Flint)

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November 1

“But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour:

yet what I shall choose  I wot not.”

(Philippians 1:22)

The Scriptures speak of fruit in various senses. For instance, Paul wished to go to Rome that he 

“might have some fruit among you”. 

In Matthew 3:8 we read of fruits meet for repentance.

This no doubt referred to the general walk and behaviour.

John 15 speaks much of fruit: and we do well to give good heed to it: yet at the same time remember the subject is fruit-bearing, and not eternal life.

Then we have the fruit of the Spirit: “Love, Joy, Peace,“ etc., Nine lovely graces,  yet only spoken of as “fruit”, not fruits: for they all have one Source.

In John 4:36 we read, “He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal”.

This fruit would appear to be souls for their hire.

(G. Christopher Willis)

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November 2

November 3