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  Morning, November 30 Go To Evening Reading “And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered The Lord can give thee much more than this.” —2 Chronicles 25:9 A critical question this seemed to be to the king of Judah, and possibly it is of even more weight with the tried and tempted O Christian. To lose money is pleasant, and when principle involves it, the flesh is not always ready to make the sacrifice. “Why lose that which may be so usefully employed? May not the truth itself be bought too dear? What shall we do without it? Remember the children and our small income!” All these things and a thousand more would tempt the Christian to put forth his hand to unrighteous gain or stay himself from carrying out his conscientious convictions when they involve profound loss. All men cannot view these matters in the light of faith, and even with the followers of Jesus, the doctr...

  November 30: Do Not Turn to Folly 2 Kings 23:28–25:30; Ephesians 6:1–24 ; Proverbs 9:13–18 I have a problem with criticism. Being one of the youngest in a large, opinionated family, I quickly learned how to stand up for myself and get my way as a young child. I learned to deflect teasing. I also knew I had a knack for ignoring reprimands—punishment-free (specific, inalienable rights shouldn’t be bestowed on the youngest). The louder I projected my voice, the better; the more stubborn my stance, the more respect I earned. I wish I could say it was a phase that I quickly grew out of. When we’re challenged by others, we often interpret the wisdom offered as criticism instead. We defensively deflect feedback like beams of light, hoping they’ll land in their rightful place (our neighbor’s darkness, and not our own). This type of reaction can become second nature to us. Soon, even messages in the church are meant for others: “I wish [insert person who is currently annoying us] was h...

  November 30th By the grace of God, I am what I am His grace which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain. 1 Cor. 15:10. The way we continually talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator. The deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining in the sight of God the things that sound humble before men, and you will be amazed at how staggeringly impertinent they are. ‘Oh, I shouldn’t like to say I am sanctified; I’m not a saint.’ Say that before God, and it means— ‘No, Lord, You can't save and sanctify me; there are chances I have not had; so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.’ That may sound wonderfully humble before men, but before God, it is an attitude of defiance. Again, the things that sound humble before God may sound the opposite before men. To say— ‘Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified,’ is in the sight of God the acme of humility; it means you hav...

  November 30 Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them 2 Cor. 6:16 These temples were reared for Him. Let Him fill them so entirely that, like the oriental temple of glass in the ancient legend, the temple shall not be seen, but only the glorious sunlight, which not only shines into it, but through it, and the transparent walls are all unseen. A. B. Simpson  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

  Morning, November 29 Go To Evening Reading "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people … Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him." —Leviticus 19:16 , 17 Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison, for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report is true or false, we are, by this precept of God's Word, forbidden to spread it. The reputations of the Lord's people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it a shame to help the devil to dishonor the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glories in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah's wise sons cast a mantle over their father, who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren; let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now....

  November 29: Revitalization: Moving Beyond the Catch Word 2 Kings 22:1–23:27 ; Ephesians 5:1–33; Proverbs 9:1–12 Ideally, spiritual renewal wouldn’t be necessary—we would continually grow closer to God. That’s not the case. There are ups and downs in our walk with Yahweh. We experience times of intimacy and times of distance, and we lose focus, energy, or the desire to obey. The highs and lows could result from our fallen world or our taking God for granted, but whatever the reason, we need renewal. Spiritual revitalization is essential, and we can always grow closer to God. During his reign, King Josiah launches a reformation—a revitalization of the way God’s people think and act. He even changes the people’s understanding of God Himself. After finding a scroll (likely of Deuteronomy), Josiah tears his clothes in remorse and repentance and instructs the priests to inquire of Yahweh on behalf of the people (2 Kgs 22:8–13). Yahweh is aware of their misdeeds. Then Josiah immedi...

  November 29th The absoluteness of Jesus Christ He shall glorify Me. John 16:14. The pietistic movements of today have none of the harsh reality of the New Testament; there is nothing about them that needs the death of Jesus Christ; all that is required is a pious atmosphere, prayer, and devotion. This type of experience is not supernatural nor miraculous; it did not cost the passion of God; it is not dyed in the blood of the Lamb, not stamped with the hall-mark of the Holy Ghost. It has not that mark on it which makes men say, as they look with awe and wonder— ‘That is the work of God Almighty.’ That and nothing else is what the New Testament talks about. The type of Christian experience in the New Testament is personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Every other type of Christian experience, so-called, is detached from the Person of Jesus. There is no regeneration, no being born again into the Kingdom in which Christ lives, but only the idea that He is o...

  November 29 With God, all things are possible Mark 10:27 Unbelief says, “How can such and such things be?” It is full of how’s, but faith has one great answer to the ten thousand how’s, and that answer is God! C. H. M.  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

  Morning, November 28 Go To Evening Reading “For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.” —3 John 3 The truth was in Gaius, and Gaius walked in the truth. If the first had not been the case, the second could never have occurred; and if the second could not be said of him, the first would have been a mere pretense. Truth must enter the soul, penetrate and saturate it, or else it is of no value. Doctrines held as a matter of creed are like bread in hand, which ministers no nourishment to the frame, but doctrine accepted by the heart, is as food digested, which, by assimilation, sustains and builds up the body. In us, truth must be a living force, active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of the woof and warp of our being. If it is in us , we cannot henceforth interest in it. A man may lose his garments or limbs, but his inward parts are vital and cannot be torn away without complete loss of li...

  November 28: The Unity of Believers 2 Kings 20:1–21:26; Ephesians 4:1–32 ; Proverbs 8:27–36 It's easy to sort believers in a community based on the quantity of their service. Most of us could roll out the masking tape and divide those who contribute their time and efforts from those who don't. If we're honest, the topic itself easily divides us—it makes us feel used, overtasked, and resentful. But that's not the picture of the unity of purpose that Paul presents in Ephesians. He describes the church as a body—one in which "every single part" is needed for the growth of the whole. "But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him with reference to all things, who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by the measure of each single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love" (Eph 4:15–16). We are each given uniq...

  November 28th The bounty of the destitute Being justified freely by His grace … Romans 3:24. The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment because the revelation it brings is not palatable. There is a particular pride in man that will give and give, but coming and accepting is another thing. I will share my life to martyrdom; I will give myself in consecration; I will do anything, but do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner. Tell me that all I have to do is to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We must realize that we cannot earn or win anything from God; we must either receive it as a gift or do without it. The greatest blessing spiritually is the knowledge that we are destitute; until we get there, Our Lord is powerless. He can do nothing for us if we think we are sufficient of ourselves; we have to enter into His Kingdom through the door of destitution. As long as we ar...

  November 28 He touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank Gen. 32:32 Whatever it is that enables a soul, whom God designs to bless, to stand out against Him, God will touch. It may be the pride of wealth, influence, or affection, but it will not be spared—God will handle it. It may be something as natural as a sinew, but God will touch it if it robs a man of spiritual blessing. It may be as small a thing as a sinew, but its influence in making a man strong in his resistance of acceptance will be enough to condemn it—and God will touch it. And beneath that touch, it will shrink and shrivel, and you will limp to the end of life. Remember that the sinew never shrinks save beneath the touch of the angel hand—the touch of tender love. F. B. Meyer  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

  Morning, November 27 Go To Evening Reading “Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord.” —Zechariah 3:1 In Joshua,  the high priest, we see a picture of every child of God, who has been made nigh by the blood of Christ. And has been taught to minister in holy things and enter into that which is within the veil. Jesus has made us priests and kings unto God, and even here upon earth, we exercise the priesthood of consecrated living and hallowed service. But this high priest is said to be “standing before the angel of the Lord,” that is, standing to minister. This should be the perpetual position of every true believer. Every place is now God’s temple, and his people can as truly serve him in their daily employments as in his house. They are to be constantly “ministering,” offering the spiritual sacrifice of prayer and praise, and presenting themselves as a “living sacrifice.” But notice where it is that Joshua stands to minister; it is before the a...

  November 27: When Hezekiah Gave Away the Farm 2 Kings 18:13–19:37 ; Ephesians 2:1–3:21; Proverbs 8:19–26 After the announcement that Hezekiah “did right in the eyes of Yahweh,” the following description comes as a surprise: “At that time, Hezekiah cut off the doors of the temple of Yahweh and the doorposts which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and he gave them to the king of Assyria” (2 Kgs 18:3, 16). For a moment, Hezekiah was a strong king over Israel—he abolished idolatry and refused to obey the king of Assyria (2 Kgs 18:4, 7). As 2 Kings 18:6 describes, “He held on to Yahweh; he did not depart from following him, and he kept his commands that Yahweh had commanded Moses.” But Hezekiah did not possess fortitude (see 2 Kgs 18:13–18). In an attempt to gain peace, he gave away not only treasures but even pieces of Yahweh’s temple itself (2 Kgs 18:15–16). We’ve all been in situations where it’s tempting to do anything for peace, and perhaps we’ve even compromised our ...

  November 27th The consecration of spiritual energy by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Gal. 6:14. If I brood on the Cross of Christ, I do not become a subjective pietist, interested in my own whiteness; I become dominantly concentrated on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor an ascetic, He did not cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. He was so much in the ordinary world that the religious people of His day called Him a glutton and a wine-bibber. Our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual energy. The counterfeit of consecration is the conscious cutting off of things with the idea of storing spiritual power for use later on, but that is a hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has spoiled the sin of a great many, yet there is no emancipation, no fullness in their lives. The kind of religious life we see abroad ...

  November 27 These have turned the world upside down.… None of these things move me Acts 17:6; Acts 20:24 The men that move the world are the ones who do not let the world drag them. Selected  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

  Morning, November 26 Go To Evening Reading “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” —Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do” refers to works that are possible . There are many things which our heart findeth to do which we never shall do. It is well it is in our heart; but if we would be eminently helpful, we must not be content with forming schemes in our heart, and talking of them; we must practically carry out “ whatsoever our hand findeth to do .” One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for ample opportunities or for a different kind of work, but do just the things we “find to do” day by day. We have no other time in which to live. The past is gone; the future has not arrived; we never shall have any time but time present. Then do not wait until your experience has ripened into maturity before you attempt to serve God. Endeavour now to bring forth fruit. Serve God now, but be careful as to how you ...

  November 26: A Moment to Reflect 2 Kings 17:6–18:12; Ephesians 1:1–23 ; Proverbs 8:9–18 Anyone will admit that Wisdom is more than just knowledge. We think of Wisdom as thoughtful insight acquired with life experience. However, Paul and the author of Proverbs tell us that it is not something we gain with age and some good direction. Wisdom is inseparable from the fear of God. The author of Proverbs tells us Wisdom is “knowledge and discretion” ; it’s associated with the desire to fear God, and it is a reward to those who seek it out. “I love those who love me,” says Wisdom personified. “Those who seek me diligently shall find me” (Prov 8:17). Paul speaks of Wisdom in light of understanding the grand story of salvation we’re part of. When writing to the Ephesians, Paul prays that they will receive a specific type of spirit so they can grow in faith— “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of ...

  November 26th The concentration of spiritual energy … save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gal. 6:14. If you want to know the power of God (i.e., the resurrection life of Jesus) in your mortal flesh, you must brood on the tragedy of God. Cut yourself off from prying personal interest in your own spiritual symptoms and consider bare-spirited the tragedy of God, and instantly the energy of God will be in you. “Look unto Me,” pay attention to the objective Source, and the emotional energy will be there. We lose power if we do not concentrate on the right thing. The effect of the Cross is salvation, sanctification, healing, etc., but we are not to preach any of these; we are to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The proclaiming of Jesus will do its own work. Concentrate on God’s center in your preaching, and though your crowd may apparently pay no attention, they can never be the same again. If I talk my own talk, it is of no more importance to you than your talk is t...

  November 26 The Lord … thy habitation Ps. 91:9 We go home without arrangement. We plan our visits and then go home because they are over. Duty, want, a host of things lead us forth elsewhere, but the heart takes us home. Blessed, most blessed is he whose thoughts pass up to God, not because they are driven like a fisherman’s craft swept by the fierceness of the storm, not because they are forced by want or fear, not because they are led by the hand of duty, but because God is in his habitation and his home. Loosed from other things, the thoughts go home for rest. In God, the blessed man finds the love that welcomes. There is a sunny place, and their care is loosed and toil forgotten. There is the joyous freedom, the happy calm, the rest, and the renewing of our strength—at home with God. Mark Guy Pearse  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

  Morning, November 25 Go To Evening Reading “To preach deliverance to the captives.” —Luke 4:18 None but Jesus can give deliverance to captives. Real liberty cometh from him only. It is a liberty righteously bestowed ; for the Son, who is Heir of all things, has a right to make men free. The saints honour the justice of God, which now secures their salvation. It is a liberty which has been dearly purchased . Christ speaks it by his power, but he bought it by his blood. He makes thee free, but it is by his own bonds. Thou goest clear, because he bare thy burden for thee: thou art set at liberty, because he has suffered in thy stead. But, though dearly purchased, he freely gives it . Jesus asks nothing of us as a preparation for this liberty. He finds us sitting in sackcloth and ashes, and bids us put on the beautiful array of freedom; he saves us just as we are, and all without our help or merit. When Jesus sets free, the liberty is perpetually entailed ; no chains can bind ...

  November 25: You Have to Mean It 2 Kings 15:1–17:5; Galatians 5:1–6:18; Proverbs 8:1–8 Wisdom really isn’t all that difficult to find. We think of this attribute as hidden or fleeting, but the book of Proverbs portrays Wisdom calling out to us: “Does not wisdom call, and understanding raise its voice? Atop the heights beside the road, at the crossroads she stands. Beside gates, before towns, at the entrance of doors” (Prov 8:1–3). When we seek Wisdom, she shows up. She’s everywhere. She’s waiting—not to be found, but to be embraced. The intelligence of Wisdom, the prudence she teaches, is at our fingertips. In Proverbs 8:3–5, Wisdom cries out, “To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to the children of humankind. Learn prudence, O simple ones; fools, learn intelligence.” Maybe the real problem is that few of us are wise enough to be what Wisdom requires us to be. The folly of humankind may not be in a lack of seeking, but a lack of doing. If we really want something, we wo...

  November 25th The secret of spiritual coherence But God forbid that I should glory, … Gal. 6:14. When a man is first born again, he becomes incoherent, there is an amount of unrelated emotion about him, unrelated phases of external things. In the apostle Paul there was a strong steady coherence underneath, consequently he could let his external life change as it liked and it did not distress him, because he was rooted and grounded in God. Most of us are not spiritually coherent because we are more concerned about being coherent externally. Paul lived in the basement; the coherent critics live in the upper storey of the external statement of things, and the two do not begin to touch each other. Paul’s consistency was down in the fundamentals. The great basis of his coherence was the agony of God in the Redemption of the world, viz., the Cross of Jesus Christ. Re-state to yourself what you believe, then do away with as much of it as possible, and get back to the bedrock of the...

  November 25 Call to remembrance the former days Heb. 10:32 The former days—times of trial, conflict, discouragement, temptation. Did we oftener call these to remembrance, with how much more delight would we make the covert of God’s faithfulness our refuge, exclaiming with the psalmist, “Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” R. Fuller November 26  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

  Morning, November 24 Go To Evening Reading “The glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams.” —Isaiah 33:21 Broad rivers and streams produce fertility, and abundance in the land. Places near broad rivers are remarkable for the variety of their plants and their plentiful harvests. God is all this to his Church. Having God she has abundance . What can she ask for that he will not give her? What want can she mention which he will not supply? “In this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things.” Want ye the bread of life? It drops like manna from the sky. Want ye refreshing streams? The rock follows you, and that Rock is Christ. If you suffer any want it is your own fault; if you are straitened you are not straitened in him, but in your own bowels. Broad rivers and streams also point to commerce . Our glorious Lord is to us a place of heavenly merchandise. Through our Redeemer we have commerce with the past; the wealth o...