“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with
many tears, and temptations.”
(Acts 20:19)
The apostle Paul puts before us here what should characterize every true minister of Christ:
“Serving the Lord with all humility (lowliness) of mind.”
If there is any position, any calling where pride should have no place,
it is in connection with the ministry of the Word of God, for, the minister of Christ is one who was just a poor, lost, needy sinner, but who has been saved by grace and entrusted with a message to the world and to the people of God. He does not receive this because of any merit of his own. It is all because of the goodness of the Lord. Certainly therefore he has nothing to be proud of.
When people used to crowd around George Whitefield and praise him because of his marvellous preaching, he would stop them like this: “The devil told me that, just before I came down from the pulpit.”
Then he would add, “There are many who can preach the gospel better than I can,
but none can preach a better gospel.” It is the message that counts.
The servant is really nothing, and the more we realize this and are willing to take the place of nothingness, the more God delights to come in and work through His servants.
(H. A. Ironside)
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December 2
“And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways
of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim.”
(2 Chronicles 17:3)
One frequently observes this history of Christians; the evils which in after life prove their greatest snares are those against which there is the greatest watchfulness at first. Most happy is it when the spirit of watchfulness increases with our increasing knowledge of the tendencies and capabilities of our hearts.
But this, alas! is not always the way: on the contrary, how frequently do we find Christians of some years’ standing indulging in things which at first their consciences would have shrunk from. This may seem to be but a growing out of a legal spirit; but should it not rather be viewed as a growing out of a tender and sensitive conscience?
It would be sad if the result of more enlarged views were to be a careless spirit or a a seared conscience; or if high principles of truth did but tend to render those who were once self-denying and separated, self indulgent, careless, and worldly. But it is not so.
To grow in the knowledge of truth is to grow in the knowledge of God, and to grow in the knowledge of God is to grow in practical holiness. The conscience that can let pass without reproof things from which it would formerly have shrunk is, it is much to be feared, instead of being under the action of the truth of God, under the hardening influence of the deceitfulness of sin.
(C. H. Macintosh)
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December 3
Growing Through Adversity
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
The growth of character is possible only under adversity. It is something that can be produced only under the inexorable stress and strain of stormy weather.
The tree which responds vigorously to the wrenching winds and bending snow grows tough and strong and durable.
Inwardly there is the continuous, quiet, unspectacular growth in godliness. The inner life becomes rich, lustrous, and mellow.
Built into the very fibre and grain of the soul are charm and beauty that only blustery weather could possibly produce.
Most of us want to avoid the hard things, the adverse winds, the testing times. Let us not. They are God’s method of making special timber.
(Songs of My Soul - W. Phillip Keller)
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December 4
He borrowed the bread when the crowd He fed, on the grassy mountain side;
He borrowed the dish of broken fish
with which He satisfied;
but the crown He wore and the cross He bore...were His own.
He borrowed a ship in which to sit to teach the multitude;
He borrowed the nest in which to rest,
He had never a home so rude;
but the crown He wore and the cross He bore...were His own.
He borrowed a room on the way to the tomb the passover lamb to eat;
They borrowed a cave; for Him a grave;
and they borrowed the winding sheet;
but the crown He wore and the cross He bore...were His own.
The thorns in His head, were worn in my stead,
for me the Saviour died.
For the guilt of my sin the nails drove in,when HIM they crucified;
though the crown He wore and the cross He bore were HIS own,
...were rightfully mine.
(Anonymous)
"Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance."
2 Peter 1:15
(With thanks - Dan Hopkins)
December 5
“And when he had apprehended him (Peter), he (Herod) put him in prison . . .
but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
(Acts 12:4-5)
The assembly besought God for Peter “without ceasing” and "many were gathered together,
praying" when he appeared in their midst.
What shape these earnest supplications took we are not told. God interpreted the desire,
as well as answered the faith of His people. The day for the carrying out of Herod’s
settled purpose was allowed to draw near. The morrow was to see the end
of the imprisoned apostle. So had man proposed, but God disposed,
in a marvellous manner, of the wicked king’s intentions.
But what of Peter all the time he lay chained in his cell? No record is given
of the exercises he doubtless passed through, but this we read, that
the night before he was to be led forth to execution on the
morrow, he had unbound his sandals, loosed his girdle,
cast off his garment, and laid down to sleep.
All this bespoke sweet confidence in the Lord, an easy conscience, and a restful heart.
Sweeter far, I believe, was the sleep of the manacled man of God in the dreary
prison cell, than that of Satan’s servant, Herod; although he might lie on
a sumptuous couch, amid the splendour and luxury of a palace.
Better far be God’s man in a prison, than Satan’s man in a palace!
(W. T. P. Wolston)
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December 6
“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith . . .”
(Hebrews 12:2)
UNTO JESUS and not to the spiritual gifts which we have already received,
or which we are now receiving from Him.
As to yesterday’s grace, it has passed with yesterday’s work;
we can no longer make use of it, we should no longer linger over it.
As to today’s grace, given for today’s work, it is entrusted to us,
not to be looked at, but to be used.
We are not to gloat over it as a treasure, counting up our riches,
but to spend it immediately, and remain poor,
“Looking unto Jesus.”
(Theodore Monod)
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December 7
FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
but the greatest of these is charity."
(1 Corinthians 13:13)
In the writings of the apostle Paul one whole chapter is devoted to the
exposition of each of Faith, Hope and Love.
Hebrews 11 is his outstanding exposition of Faith; Romans 8, of Hope; and 1 Corinthians 13, of Love.
They form the three great cardinal subjective forces of Christianity.
Faith is the strongest shield in the world (Ephesians 6:16);
Hope is the safest anchor in the world (Hebrews 6:19);
Love is the greatest thing in the world.
(1 Corinthians 13:13)
To have faith, is to believe that in the midst there is "One like unto the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25).
To have hope is to expect that in His own time the Lord will unveil
Himself in grace and glory.
To have love is to take Christ’s life and live it with all children of the mist
whom we may meet along the cloudy way.
With that faith, and that hope, and that love, we can pass through the time of mystery
with the walk of kings and queens, waiting for the glorious
unveiling when we shall see Him face to face.
(A Trinity of Christian Graces)
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December 8
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
(Galatians 6:14)
Beethoven was in the habit of playing his symphonies on an old harpsichord, as a test. They would thus be made to stand out in their true character, with nothing to hide their faults, or exaggerate their beauties.
Thus wisely may we test our character, endeavouring to ascertain how it manifests itself—not on great and rare occasions, or before the public eye, where there is a chance for display and applause—but in private, in the little, homely everyday duties, which attract no particular attention and reward us with no praise.
If in the retired nook of your own breast, in the regulation of your thoughts and feelings; if in the bosom of your family, in the monotonous round of home life each day, you preserve a sweet, serene temper, and go forward cheerfully, taking a real pleasure in duty as duty, and in all these little matters honestly strive to serve and please the heavenly Master; if, in a word, your piety sounds well on such an unpretending harp, it is good, genuine, tested; it will one day win acclamation from a vaster and nobler throng than ever was thrilled by
the genius of Beethoven.
(Mountain Trailways for Youth)
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December 9
Filled and Fulfilled
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you,
and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all
wisdom and spiritual understanding.” (Colossians 1:9)
In this prayer, Paul sought for the ColossianGems Christians the full knowledge of the will of God.
For the Christians at Rome, he prayed they might be filled
“with all joy and peace in believing” (Romans 15:13).
For the Ephesians, he prayed they “might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:19),
and then urged them to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
He wrote to the Philippians, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in
knowledge and in all judgment; . . . Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are
by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).
For the Colossians, he also prayed for their “full assurance of understanding” (Colossians 2:2).
Together, all these prayer requests constitute an ideal description of a complete Christian—an ideal
for which we should all strive and pray—both for ourselves and for others.
Summarizing again, the list is as follows:
“[Filled] with all joy and peace in believing.” - “Filled with the fruits of righteousness.”
“Filled with the knowledge of His will.” - “Filled with the Spirit.”
“Filled with all the fulness of God.” - “[Filled with] assurance of understanding.”
It is also worth noting that the Greek word for “filled” is the same as for “fulfilled.” When a Christian
is “filled” with all these wonderful realities, he becomes a “fulfillment,” as it were, of God's
purpose in creating and redeeming him. His ultimate goal, of course,
is to measure up to “the fulness of Christ” Himself.
(Ephesians 4:13)
(With Thanks R. Lucas)
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December 10
“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied,
when I awake, with Thy likeness.”
(Psalm 17:15)
The wonderful hope given to the believer is that the Lord is coming again.
His promise, although not yet fulfilled, is certain.
“I will come again” (John 14:3).
How exciting that it could be today! Like John we contemplate that,
“We are the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know
that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him,
for we shall see Him as He is."
(1 John 3:2)
Then our joy will be complete—like Him!
(Jim Paul)
Oh, the soul thrilling rapture, when I view His blessed face,
And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;
How my full heart will praise Him, for the mercy, love and grace,
That prepared for me a mansion in the sky.
(F. Crosby)
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December 11
“They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.”
(Luke 5:31)
Our Great Physician possesses the most perfect skill to discern the peculiar needs of each case.
He sees the working of all this sin and corruption and hardness of heart—and He can
counteract it all by His all-sufficient grace.
Before you have spoken a word, when you kneel down and cast yourself upon His mercy—He
is prepared to forgive and save. Christ knows beforehand all that you are,
and cannot fail to support His tempted or afflicted child.
In Christ there is not only Divine wisdom to discern every case of spiritual
disease—but He also has Divine power completely to effect a cure.
When He was upon earth, none were sent away unhealed.
The blind and the lame, the deaf and the dumb,
the palsied and the lepers, those possessed
with demons and the dead—all alike were
healed immediately by the
touch of Jesus.
"The whole multitude sought to touch Him—for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them ALL.”
(Luke 6:19)
Thus completely and surely does Jesus restore all who come to Him. He can . . . open the eyes long
closed in the night of ignorance, strengthen those who have yet had no power to walk in God’s
ways, unstop the ear long deaf to the sweet voice of the Gospel, teach the prayerless lips
to plead with God, remove the paralysis of a careless indifference, cleanse souls from
the leprosy of debasing lusts, cast out the evil spirits of envy, and hatred and
unbelief, save men from the fever of covetousness, and every evil temper.
(George Everard - 1874)
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and and learn of Me: for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28)
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December 12
CRISIS AND CONTINUANCE
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost . . .
and they continued steadfastly.”
(Acts 2:4, 42)
The same chapter records both Crisis and Continuance.
Some of us major on one, some on the other.
We need a synthesis of both.
Ecstasies, high days, lofty experiences—some go in for these but cannot maintain
such a high-strung pitch and often run into excesses.
Others major on the daily walk and growth in
grace but tend to get into a rut.
Why not “a sea of glass mingled with fire,”
a combination of both Crisis and Continuance?
“Tasks in hours of insight willed can be in hours of gloom fulfilled.”
"After he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go.” (Acts 16:10)
The Vision and the Venture!
The best evidence of being truly filled with the Spirit is that one so filled “continues daily.”
The Glory shows up in the Grind!
As important as the Grandeur of Getting Started is the Grace of Going On!
(Day by Day - Vance Havner)
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December 13
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