November

IN that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I thank Thee that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes.

—Luke 10: 21.

If the key to holy mysteries was only in the hands of the clever and learned, the majority of us would never enter the treasury of grace. If a fine intellect were the only instrument of spiritual discernment we should remain in depressing ignorance. But God has given access to a certain kind of spirit, the spirit of humility and docility, and therefore even the unlearned can find an open door.

Almighty God, may I come to Thee as a little child. In the hand of the little one can rest the key of the Kingdom. Save me from the pride that shuts me out of Thy treasury. Grant unto me the grace of trustful obedience, and give me access into the holy place. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

IRovember 2.

AND He went forward a little, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying. My Father, if it he possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt. And He goeth unto His disciples and jindeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?

—Matthew 26: 39, 40.

Our Saviour was so human that He craved for human sympathy. He longed for the touch of fraternal compassion which takes the chill out of the desolate hour. When one is awake through a troubled night, it is comforting to know that somebody else is awake in the room. Christ wanted somebody to be awake with Him in the desolations of Gethsemane.

My Loving God, help me to watch with Thee in the desolate hours. May I suffer with Thee in seeking the redemption of man. May I be willing to take up my cross as Thou art bearing Thine. For His sake. Amen.

IWovember 3.

BRETHREN, let us love one another, for love is of God, and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.

—1 John 4: 7.

The measure of our love reveals the value of our life. We can test our lineage by our love. Does God’s love-blood course in our life? Then we are blood-relations. We are begotten of God, and we know God. Love declares our divine kinship.

Most Loving Father, I pray that I may carry the seal of royalty in my sovereign love. Let me bear the marks of the Lord Jesus. Let my grace bear witness of my kinship in Thee. Strengthen the graciousness in my character. Let the beauty of the Lord be found upon me. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

movember 4.

HEREBY know we love, because He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.... My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, hut in deed and in truth. — 1 John 3: 16, 18.

Love must do lovely things or it is proved to be counterfeit. Love must willingly bleed or it stands revealed as lifeless speech. Love lives in sacrifice, and without sacrifice she surely dies.

My Father in Heaven, I pray for the gift of love. Lift me above the realm of duty into a life of generous springs. Let me give my blood to enrich the lives of others. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

iRovember 5.

THOU shalt not he afraid of tJie terror by night... the pestilence that walketh in darkness. — Psalm 91: 5, 6.

There are destructive things which breed in the night. Here are some of them: — despair, pessimism, cynicism, irreverence, indifference. When we pass into the darkness these are some of the enemies which may waste our souls.

0 Lord my God, grant that a season of darkness may do me no harm. Let not these nightshades possess my soul. Let me keep sweet and hopeful in adversity. Let me be conqueror even in the night. For Christ’s saka Amen.

iRovembev 6.

BRETHREN, if God so loved us we ought to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another God ahideth in us and His love is perfected in us.

—IJOHN 4:11,12.

God makes His home in the heart of love. He cannot dwell with hatred, or with meanness, or with a brood of petty tempers. Wherever these are present the Lord has nowhere to lay His head.

My Loving God, may I prepare a home for Thee in a heart of love and good-will. Graciously deliver me from the things which crucify Thee,

May I offer Thee a resting place, and make Thee glad. Help me to prepare Thine own house and make my life Thy holy temple. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

naovember 7.

AND one of them, a lawyer, asked Eim a question, trying Him, saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. — Matthew 22: 35-39.

Here is given to us the distilled essence of all the commandments. The virtue of every commandment is in these two, nay in even one, the first of all. For love for God is like a spring from which flow rivers of good-will and beneficence on every side. Our love for God can never be like an imprisoned lake; it must break out and flow in fertilizing bounty.

0 Lord my God, may my heart be filled with love for Thee. And out of the filled heart may there flow streams of good-will, and pity, and sacrificial service. Let my love flow in the ministries of loveliness. May I turn the wilderness into a garden. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

■November 8.

WHAT man of you, having a “hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety -and-nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

—Luke 15:4.

Let me note the infinite value of one. “Having lost one of them.” And I might be that one! And everybody else may say the same. The Lord loves everybody as though there were nobody else to be loved. That is the marvel of divine grace; it can concentrate on everybody, and leave nobody out.

My Father God, I thank Thee for my place in the heavenly grace and love. I rejoice to know that everybody is missed whose place is empty. Thou hast loved me with an everlasting love. Let my love burn with inextinguishable blaze. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

movember 9.

AND heJiold there came to Him a leper and worshipped Him, saying. Lord, if Thou wilt. Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him saying, I will, be thou clean. — Matthew 8:2, 3.

And so Christ can deal with our impossibles. He welcomes outcasts whom even outcasts cast out. He loves those who are “hopeless,” those who are “beyond all cure.” He welcomes those who are exiled beyond the circle of human healing. Even the leper has a place at His board.

Most Loving God, I thank Thee for the vast circle of Thy grace. No one is left out. Even I have a place in Thy wonderful love. Quicken me, so that I may respond in all the powers of body, mind, and soul. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovembev 10.

AND they were bringing unto Sim little children, that He should touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus saw it, and was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me; forbid them not, for such belong to the Kingdom of God. — Mark 10: 13, 14.

It is the childlike spirit which finds the open door. Childlikeness is the open sesame into glory after glory in the unsearchable riches of Christ. Childlikeness is the magic key. It is the very secret of the Lord.

My Father God, I would not grow away from the childlike spirit. Preserve in me the graces of trust, and lowliness, and ceaseless wonder. Let me never lose the gift of joyful surprise. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovember ll.

WHETHER we live we live unto the Lord, or whether we die we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord’s.

—^KOMANS 14: 8.

Everything in the Christian life is to be a thoroughfare for enriching our intimacy and communion with God. Everything is to be rejected which does not provide a deeper fellowship with the King. This is to be our standard of judgment in everything. — Is the tendency of this thing “uato the Lord”?

My Father in Heaven, grant that I may make everything have a heavenward trend, — my work, my leisure, my money, my sorrows, my joys. Let the commonplaces of daily life be the chariots of the Lord. Let them move upon the road on the King’s business. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

iRopember 12.

THOU shalt not he afraid for the arrow that flieth by day... the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

—Psalm 91: 5, 6.

There are perils which lurk in our brighter seasons. The garish day hides the insidious foe. Here are some of the things which find their home in the glaring light: — pride, vanity, prayerlessness, self-dependence. But our Lord can give us a sure defence in the days of bright prosperity and success.

My Father in Heaven, graciously defend me in my days of triumph. Let not the bright light become a destructive fire. Let not my successes belittle my spirit. Let me be always greater than my circumstances. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovember 13.

THEN came Peter and said, Lord, How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee. Until seven times, hut until seventy times seven. — Matthew 18: 21, 22.

Our Lord never gave rules for conduct, He always gave principles. Peter wanted a little arithmetical rule. The Lord gave him a vast standard of judgment. We are always wanting to simplify our duties while God wants to enlarge our souL

My Father in Heaven, help me to walk in the largeness of Thy spirit. Let not my soul be imprisoned in small and cramping rules. Let me walk in liberty because I love Thy law. Impart unto me a spirit of magnanimity in Christ my Lord. Amen.

tlovembct 14.

HE shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence.

—Psalm 91: 3.

We are all in peril of the contagious pestilence. Every soul is pested by insidious plagues. It may be the presence of a pestilential custom,, it may be a pervading spirit in a schoolroom, or a club, or a class, or a nation. But our Lord can make us immune, and we can pass through it without being hxirt.

Heavenly Father, save me from the noisome pestilence. Let there be nothing in me which catches the unclean thing. May I resist it in the power of exuberant health. May I be so strong in Thy Spirit that every other spirit shall be impotent. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovember 15.

HE shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler.

—Psalm 91: 3.

The destroyer of our souls uses strangely attractive but deadly lures. He makes a primrose path to deadly ends. He is as a fowler hiding himself behind his glittering snares. He puts out his fond enticements, and to follow them is to walk into death.

0 Loi’d my God, save me from the enticement which would destroy my soul. May I discern the tempter behind the deadly lure. Save me from sinful cui’iosity. Make me vei’y wise in most watchful discernment. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovember 10.

THE children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

—Luke 16: 8, 9.

Mammon is money, and we are to make our money serve the cause of the Kingdom of God. We are to so get and spend our money that the business will enlarge our spiritual capacity, enrich our fellowship with men, and promote the glory of God. We are to compel our material means to be a means of grace.

0 Lord my God, sanctify my use of money. May it never be my master, but always my servant. May I compel it to do the Master’s business, and to do it everywhere and all the time. Let my use of money help me nearer Thee. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovember 17.

WHILE Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said. Behold three men seek thee. Arise, therefore, get thee down and go with them.

—Acts 10: 19, 20.

Peter saw the vision and then he found the task. Divine visions are not given for entertainment; they are preludes to service. We are to take the vision of the housetop into the life of the street. We are to be practical mystics.

Life’s tumult we must meet again.
We cannot at the shrine remain.

O Lord my God, let the heavenly vision be more to me than an idle dream. Let it not fade away, the emotion of a passing moment. Let me carry my visions into my common life. Let the glory of the vision be seen through the ordinary work and service. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovembev 18.

WHO will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity f

—Psalm 94: 16.

This is the call of God. It is like the bugle calling recruits to the standard.

God is calling to His side those who will stand up for the right and set their faces against the wrong. Who will be the allies of the Lord, the champions of justice, the knights of humanity?

Most Gracious God, let me be found in Thy ranks. I would be a soldier of the cross. Let me be fearless in the day of battle. Let me be eager to win victories for Thee. For His sake. Amen.

TRovember 19.

HE that dwellefh in the secret place of tJie Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

—Psalm 91: 1.

This is the restoring shade of the soul. This is our refuge in the garish day. It is like turning out of the heat of Ludgate HiU into the cool and restful sanctuary of St. Paul’s. God’s shadow is very favourable in growing the ferns of the spirit, — gentleness, meekness, and patience.

Heavenly Father, let not the heat of the world’s business scorch my spirit. Let not my treasure be consumed in the garish day. Lead me into Thy cool sha’dowT” In that restful guardianship let me grow the quiet things of the spirit. For His sake. Amen.

mopember 20.

LET every man he swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

—James 1: 19, 20.

Three things are here required; keenness in listening, deliberateness in speaking, control of feeling. We are to be very alert in the first, but the second and third are to be held firmly in the leash. It is the way of the Master, and it will be found to be the way of life.

O Lord my God, give me the listening ear. Let me miss nothing of all Thy counsels. Give me a wise control of speech; let not my words be the servants of mischief. Defend me lest I kindle unholy fires. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovembev 21.

THE Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hidden in a field, the which, when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

—Matthew 13: 44.

Here is an enterprise which demands all our capital. Here is the main chance, and we must stake everything upon it. We must surrender the utmost for the highest. Our religion then becomes vital, and we put everything into it.

My Gracious God, may I keep nothing back from Thee. Let me not offer a cent and retain a fortune. Save me from the folly of trying to win the Kingdom by a mere nothing. Help me to surrender all I am and have so that I may enter into the full glory of Thy communion. For my Saviour’s sake. Amen.

November 22.

NOT every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, hut lie that doeth the will of My Father Who is in Heaven.

—Matthew 7: 21.

The only acceptable homage is loyalty to God. Leave out loyalty, and life moves on to tragedy. Christ will never accept a religion of mere compliment, which cries out, Lord, Lord!

Heavenly Father, I pray that my worship may not be full of empty words. May I not lift mine hands before Thee and then engage them in an alien business. May the lips that pray keep troth with Thee. May the hands that spread in supplication be busy doing good. For Christ’s sake- Amen.

movembec 23.

BLESSED are those servants whom the Lord, when He cometh, shall find watching.

—Luke 12:37.

Watching! But how? Not in idle contemplation, but in eager service. And what kind of service? In seeing that other people get their rights, and the just portion of their inheritance. In seeing that others get their meat in due season.

0 Lord my God, help me to wait for Thee in the service of my fellow man. Let me be found a guardian of his rights when Thou dost return. Save me from the folly of defending my own spoils and treating my brother as naught. May I delight to be my brother’s keeper. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

IRovcmber 24*

JUDGE not, that ye be not judged. Why heholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? First cosi out the beam out of thine own eye.

—Matthew 7: 1, 3, 5.

So that is the divine order. “We are to get the plank out of our own eye before we begin to operate upon the spell in our brother’s eye. Mark the irony of it; a man with a beam in his eye trying to extract a spell from his brother ’s!

0 Lord my God, cleanse thou me from secret faults. Let me not be merely meddlesome when I might be helpful. Let me not be concerned with the defects of others while my own sins are glaring in Thy presence. Deliver me from evil, 0 God! For Christ’s sake. Amen.

movember 25.

AND Jesus said, Take these things hence, make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise.

—-John 2: 16.

Thus we can dishonour God’s temples. We can defile the temple of prayer, we can pollute the temple of government, we can befoul the temple of conscience, we can degrade the temple of art, we can corrupt the temple of the body.

O Lord my God, help me to regard all Thy temples as holy places. Let me take the shoes from off my feet as one standing on holy ground. Let me move about as though the whole of my life is as hallowed as Thy church. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovember 26.

BE casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils.

—Luke 11: 15.

It simply cannot be done. Satan
cannot cast out Satan. We cannot enlist one bit of devilry to drive out another. In these realms expulsion is by
opposites. Nothing but God can cast
out devils.

Holy Father, save me from the delusion that ‘evil can do good. Let me not resort to the devil to cast out the devil. Let me hasten to the throne to find strength and refuge in the powers of Thy grace. Expel all evil from my life in the fellowship of the Holy Ghost. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

naovember 27.

THOU shalt tread upon the lion and the adder, the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

—Psalm 91: 13.

All that is merely animal is to be kept beneath my feet. In the strength of the Lord the animal is to be subordinated and controlled by the spirit. Every bodily appetite and passion is to be under the holy command of God’s will.

Most Holy Father, may this victory be mine. May my body be the servant and not the master of my soul. Let my bodily appetites be holy unto the Lord. Let not any carnal usurper seize the throne of my life. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

November 28.

WHATSOEVER ye do, in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father iy Him.

—COLOSSIANS 3: 17.

Everjrthing is to be stamped with the likeness of Jesus. Little things are to carry His grace as well as big things. The half-penny wears the face of King George as clearly as a sovereign. Such is the active principle of the Christian life; everything reflects the glory of the Lord.

My Father God, I pray that my life may be sealed with Thy image. Let nothing come and go without the mark of the Lord Jesus. Let my commonplace work and duty reflect His grace. Let the whole life wear the beauty of holiness. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

IRovember 29.

IF Thou he the son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

—LxjKE 4: 3.

“If,” that was the real temptation. It was a temptation to doubt His lineage and to mistrust His royalty. It was a temptation to question His divinity. And the tempter sounds his “if s” in my soul. “// thou art forgiven”; “// God walks with thee;” “// God answers prayer”: If! If! If!

0 Lord my God, save me from the sin of unbelief. Let me not doubt Thy word. Let me be confident when Thou hast spoken. Let not the tempter disturb the assurance of my communion. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

iWovembev 30.

SE that believeth shall not make haste.

—Isaiah 28: 16.

He shall not get into the haste of passion. He shall not be feverish. He shall not make a fuss of our things. He shall not lose his head. Let me mark the cooling, steadying power of a great belief.

Heavenly Father, grant me this faith which remains quiet in the tempest. Let me not become feverish when dark circumstances arrive. Let me glorify Thee by the strength of my quietness. Give me the calmness which is born of conscious communion. For His sake. Amen.