November 30

“Being justified freely by his grace.” Romans 3:24

The word here translated “freely” is the same as is translated “without a cause” in Jesus’ quotation from the Psalms: “They hated me without a cause” (John 15:25). Thus to say that God’s grace justifies us freely means that he justifies us without any cause or reason. Since grace is gratuitous, it is not at all conditional on the recipient's state. Those who consider themselves fairly good stand just as much in need of the grace of God as those who see themselves, like Paul, as “the chief of sinners.”

God will not give less grace to those who have sinned more, and more grace to those who have sinned less. In no sense at all is grace a reward. In the realm in which grace operates, both the sinner and his works are completely set aside. God saves us without a cause.

November 29

“Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.” John 12:24

“If it die . . . ” What is this death? It is the cracking open of the shell by the working of temperature and humidity, so that the true life within the grain can express itself. It is all too possible for a Christian to have the Lord’s life in him and yet for that life to be confined and suppressed by the hard shell of nature. So we have the sad fact of a fruitless Christian. In this case it is not a matter of obtaining life, for that came at conversion, but of the release of that life so that it can grow and be fruitful.

If we wrap ourselves in our natural shell and resist Christ’s call to share his cross and be broken open, we will hinder the possibility of God-glorifying fruit. We may enjoy some inward blessing ourselves, but it is only when that inner life is dispersed around us that others can benefit from our lives.

November 28

“Ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5

We must remember that for Christ’s sake we are the servants of others, and we should not only devote our time and strength to them, but also let our affections go out to them. God’s demands of those who serve him are very exacting. They allow us no leisure for self-occupation. If we cling to our pleasures and griefs, grudging to let go of our own interests, we shall be like a room that is too full of furniture to accommodate anything more.

To put it differently, we shall have expended all our emotions on ourselves and will have none to spare for others. We need to realize that there is a limit to our soul-strength,  just as there is to the strength of our bodies. Our emotional powers are not boundless. If we exhaust our sympathies in one direction, we shall have none to give in another. Let us learn to enter into the feelings of others for the sake of him who entered into ours.

November 27

“Forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam.” 2 Peter 2:15

Balaam was a prophet who worked for reward; he commercialized the prophetic ministry. He was not ignorant of the mind of God and was well aware that Israel was a people whom God would bless. Moreover. God had plainly forbidden him to comply with Balak’s request and go and curse them. But the great reward lured him. How could he possibly obtain it? He decided that he would try to get God to reverse his decision.

The plan was carried into effect and at first seemed successful. God actually granted him the permission he had earlier refused. In fact, he simply let Balaam go his own self-chosen way, which according to the above verse was not “the right way” at all. How terrible to be released by God to go one’s own greedy way instead of walking in the way of the Lord!

November 26

“And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:5

You will discover that spiritual progress in your life before God is invariably preceded by dissatisfaction with your current condition. All progress starts from dissatisfaction. You must be pressed to a point where you feel that you have come to an end, that a way out must be found.

Christ is our way out. Christ in us reacts on our behalf to every kind of outside requirement. When my temptation is pride, Christ will be my humility if only I will make room for him at that hour. When passion is aroused, Christ will express himself as my patience. Every one of life’s daily demands is met by the many virtues that spring from this one Life, and it is these fresh discoveries of Christ in my hour of need that mark my spiritual progress before God.

November 25

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.” Psalm 32:8

The horse and the mule can be made to obey their owner‘s will, though to realize his purpose he may have to use on them the bit and bridle and even the lash of the whip. God, however, never intended to direct his children in that kind of way. The horse and the mule “have no understanding,” but his children can enjoy such an intimate relationship with him that a mere hint of his wishes will suffice to bring a response from them.

Knowledge of the will of God is not so much a matter of finding the right method as of being the right man. If the man is not right with God, no method will avail to make that will clear to him. If the man is right, then the knowledge of God's will is a comparatively simple matter. This does not rule out methods, but we would emphasize that with the fullest knowledge of all the methods by which it may please God to make his will known, we shall remain in ignorance of it if we are not walking in quiet intimacy with him.

November 24

“Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood . . . to him he the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5,6

Every time we are reminded of our redemption through the precious blood of Christ, our hearts well up with thanksgiving and praise. Indeed, that is all we can say, since in this matter there is no need to ask for anything; and in fact it would be unfitting to do so. We cannot invite the Lord to do what he has already done; we can only thank him for it from our hearts.

Thanksgiving takes account of the Lord's work for us, but praise goes further. We praise him for what he is. At the outset gratitude overwhelmed us, but as the novelty faded a little it left no vacuum; for we deal not with an event but with a Person, not with an action merely but with the Doer of it. Gradually the Lord himself comes to fill our vision, and thanksgiving gives way to praise. “What a wonderful Savior,” we cry, “is Jesus our Lord!”

November 23

“The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized.” Mark 10:39

James and John longed to sit on either side of the Lord Jesus in his glory. Knowing, however, the inappropriateness of such a request, they dared not come out with it, but subtly suggested that he give them anything they might ask for. Jesus did not at once comply; instead he asked what they wanted. Their request carried two meanings: one a desire to he near the Lord, the other an ambition to wield more authority than the rest.

It was quite right for them to desire nearness to Christ, and he did not reject their desire. He simply assured them that to see it fulfilled they must drink his cup of suffering and he baptized with his baptism of death and resurrection. These two brothers did not know what they were asking, but neither did Jesus find fault with them for doing so. He did not even rebuke them personally for their ambitions. but replied that what they sought was not to be had for the asking. Nearness to Jesus in the future requires one condition only: nearness to him now.

November 22

“Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say?” John 12:27

The prayers of our Lord were always perfect prayers. Entering Jerusalem and facing the cross, he stopped to ask himself the questions, “What shall I say?” Jesus had no fear of death; yet at the same time he had his own feelings. He turned the matter over carefully and thought, “Shall I say, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No!” He could not pray that prayer, for he knew for what purpose he had arrived at that hour. So he prayed, “Father, glorify Thy name!” That prayer was answered immediately.

If our Lord, as Man on the earth and possessing the key to prayer, had in this deliberate way to set aside his own will and seek the will of God, how dare we, on the impulse of the moment, open our lips to utter words at random in our prayers to God? Let us ask ourselves, “What shall I say?” and then let us answer that question in terms consistent with the answer of Jesus. So shall we prove and experience the perfect will of God.

November 21

“Thus saith Jehovah, Make this valley full of trenches.” 2 Kings 3:16

The history of Israel illustrates again and again how at any time man's unbelief can limit the omnipotence of God. Of course, man has no right to take what God has not given him, but how often do we find, rather, that what he takes possession of is but a fraction of what he might have had! It is a solemn fact that God’s exercise of power can be limited by his people's unbelief.

On this occasion of the defeat of Mesha and the Moabites, the situation was otherwise. Faith prevailed and there was a wonderful display of divine power, but only because, in obedience to Elisha's instructions, men had got down to the monotonous task of digging. The trenches which his people prepared opened up the way for God to pour in his miracle-working power. Often. even today, the water of divine blessing finds its release through human channels.

November 20

“The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14

From the standpoint of God's choice of us, we are “taken out of” the world; but from the standpoint of our new life, we are not of the world at all, but from above. As the people of God, heaven is not only our destiny, but our place of origin. This is an amazing thing, that in you and me there is an element that is essentially other-worldly. So other—worldly is it that no matter how this world may progress, that element in us can never become like it. The life we have as God’s gift has no correspondence with the world, but is in perfect correspondence with heaven.

Though we may mingle with the world daily, it will never let us settle down and feel at home there. As soon as the world meets in us that which is of the divine nature, its hostility is at once aroused. This is not surprising, for let the world evolve how it will, it can never produce one Christian.