“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions,
rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”
(1 Timothy 1:4)
Today we still need to beware of systems that do not build up our souls,
but instead of that only serve to get Christians occupied with unprofitable questions.
There are some people who delight to argue.
John Bunyan has said, “Some love the meat; some love to pick the bones.”
And you will find people who delight in the bones of vital doctrines
but get very little nourishment from the truth of God’s Word,
because, instead of being occupied with Christ,
they are occupied with various side issues.
Now Timothy was to warn the saints to beware of things like that.
That which builds up the people of God is heart-occupation with Christ.
If we are taken up with Him we will become increasingly like Him.
(Selected)
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October 21
“Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father . . . comfort
your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:16,17)
The wonder is that the Lord condescends to use anything which
He gives one to say, seeing that we so often adulterate it with our own thoughts.
It is so gracious of Him to give us any encouragement in our service, but I am convinced
that, in the issue, the fruit of our labours which we have not seen will be far
more abundant than that which we have been permitted to know of,
and hence it is that we have to scatter the seed in faith.
I am certain that we must leave results until the judgment seat of Christ.
In the meantime our one desire must be to gain His
approbation and be content with that.
Nothing else is worth seeking for.
(Edward Dennett)
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October 22
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness,
we lie, and do not the truth.”
(1 John 1:6)
"Will a believer be saved, no matter into what course of sin he may fall and die in?”
A true believer will, infallibly, be saved; but we consider that salvation includes,
not only full deliverance from the future consequences of sin,
but from the present power and practice thereof.
And, hence, if we find a person living in sin, and yet talking about his assurance
of salvation, we look upon him as not a saved person at all.
"If we say that we have fellowship with Him
and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.”
(John 1:6)
The believer may fall, but he will be lifted up; He may be overtaken, but he will be restored;
He may wander, but he will be brought back, because -
“Christ is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him,
seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
(Hebrew 7:25)
Not one of His little ones shall perish.
(C.H. Macintosh)
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October 23
Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.”
(John 17:17)
The important question is not so much to know what is wrong as to learn from the Lord what is right. (A.N. Groves)
My business is love others, not to seek that others love me. (Robert Chapman)
It is better to speak to God for men than to speak to men for God.
How grand it would be if we could forget our troubles as readily as we forget our blessings—
or at least could recognize the former as the latter, as we one day shall.
Faithful men do not have a following, but their faith does. (D.E. Rule)
What God does in us while we wait is usually more important than the thing we are waiting for.
Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity. (A. Rogers)
There is an old saying, “What we possess possesses us.”
that is too true in the natural sense; but it also
ought to be true in the spiritual sense.
Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments,
despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.
(J.S. Baxter)
(Things to Think About)
(John Kaiser)
October 24
"Is it well with thee?”
(2 Kings 4:26)
This question is asked, not by intrusive inquisitiveness,
but by friendly interest and kindness.
Surely then the candid reader will give it
that attention which its importance demands.
It is well with all who are in Christ—
whatever their outward circumstances may be.
But it is ill with all who are out of Christ . . . however moral their character,
however amiable their disposition, or however prosperous their earthly estate.
In Christ—there is safety, life, and peace!
Out of Him—there is darkness, danger, and death!
(Author unknown - 1872)
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October 25
“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to
that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”
(2 Corinthians 8:12)*
It is important to remember that there is no
no “much" or “little" in God’s sight,
except as relatively to our means and willingness.
(Note verse quoted above.)*
He knows what we have not, as well as what we have.
He knows all about the low wages in one sphere,
and the small allowance, or the fixed income
with rising prices in another.
And it is not a question of paying to God what can be squeezed out of these,
but of giving Him all, and then holding all at His disposal, and taking
His orders about the disposal of all.
(Francis Ridley Havergal)
October 26
“And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the
LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”
(Genesis 39:3)
No doubt Potiphar was intrigued with this foreigner, this Hebrew servant (v. 17).
He was watching and observing his every move.
Obviously, Joseph must have talked, but his testimony appeared to be more through
his behaviour, not his beliefs—his works, more than his words.
Whatever Potiphar saw in Joseph was a reflection of God Himself.
Someone else was looking also (see v. 7), but she had a completely different set of eyes.
Think no one is watching us?
At work, at home, at play?
Think again!
(N. Craig Funston)
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory that overcomes the world!
(John Yates)
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October 27
Apostolic Lodgings
“Up into an upper room.”
(Acts 1:13)
"Paul dwelt . . . in his own hired house, and received all that came unto him.”
(Acts 28:30)
Two houses art thou given wherein to dwell;
Happy art thou, if both thou uses well.
To one thou climbest high, with willing feet,
Above the world, thy risen Lord to meet.
The other to the busy street stands open free,
That sin-sick men may come to meet with thee.
The breath of Heaven thy “upper room” delights;
Thy “hired house” the groans of earth invites.
So with a dual grace thy life is crowned:
Communion pure, and sympathy profound;
Love to thy Lord, and love to all around.
(Bells & Pomegranates - James M. S. Tait)
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October 28
October 29
October 30
October 31
“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
(James 1:20)
When a part of the body is injured,
the pain causes tensions,
and tensions in their
turn cause pain.
It is the same with anger and resentment.
A good bath of forgiveness makes us ready for peace and joy.
But if we give ourselves over to hatred and resentment,
we will receive the opposite of peace and joy.
(This Day is the Lord’s - Corrie Ten Boom)
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October 29
“We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:
shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”
(Hebrews 12:9)
Madame Guyon used to say that the only difference she knew in places was where she realized
most of the presence of God; so will it be with ourselves when we have no
will of our own, and when we have no home but God’s presence.
If we knew the heart of God we would never question any of His dealings with us,
nor should we ever desire His hand lifted off us till
we have learned all He would teach us.
Paul says, “Through evil report and good report”, (2 Corinthians 6:8) he did not stop to explain; a true
servant of God has not time for that, and to defend yourself only leads to further charges.
We are never to seek to vindicate ourselves when it is a personal matter, but
when the Lord’s name is dishonoured for His glory we may speak.
(Edward Dennett - Footprints for Pilgrims)
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October 30
"Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren
. . . and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.”
(Genesis 37:2)
“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children,
because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.”
Genesis 37:3)
And when his brethren saw that their father loved Joseph more that all his brethren,
they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.”
(Genesis 37:4)
And so with Christ, confessing His unique place with the Father, He can say,
“My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17).
Immediately the hatred of the Jews is called forth and
“they sought the more to kill Him,”
and at once the Lord declares that
“the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things.”
The beloved of the Father is hated by man.
Even so when the Lord witnessed against the evil of the world,
and bore witness to His coming glories, like Joseph,
He drew upon Himself the hatred of the world.
(Hamilton Smith)
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October 31
“The prayer of the upright is His delight.”
(Proverbs 15:8)
It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers,
how eloquent they may be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be;
nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be;
nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be;
nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be—
which God cares for.
Fervency of spirit is that which availeth much.
There is nothing that makes us love someone as praying for him,
and when you can do this sincerely for anyone, you have fitted your
soul for the performance of everything that is kind and civil toward him.
Be daily on your knees in a solemn, deliberate performance of this devotion,
praying for others in such form, with such length, importunity and earnestness
as you use for yourself; and you will find all little, ill-natured passions
die away, your heart will grow great and generous.
(William Law)
The prayers of godly men and women can accomplish
more that all the military forces in the world.
“Prayer-craft is greater than aircraft!"
(Streams in the Desert)
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