Morning, November 28 Go To Evening Reading
“For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth 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 useless. 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, an active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of the woof and warp of our being. If it be in us, we cannot henceforth part with it. A man may lose his garments or his limbs, but his inward parts are vital and cannot be torn away without absolute loss of life. A Christian can die, but he cannot deny the truth. Now, it is a rule of nature that the inward affects the outward, as light shines from the center of the lantern through the glass: when, therefore, the truth is kindled within, its brightness soon beams forth in the outward life and conversation. It is said that the food of certain worms colors the cocoons of silk which they spin, and just so the nutriment upon which a man’s inward nature lives gives a tinge to every word and deed proceeding from him. To walk in the truth imports a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity—the natural product of those principles of truth the gospel teaches, and the Spirit of God enables us to receive. We may judge the secrets of the soul by their manifestation in the man’s conversation. Be it ours today, O gracious Spirit, to be ruled and governed by thy divine authority, so that nothing false or sinful may reign in our hearts, lest it extend its malignant influence to our daily walk among men.
Go To Morning Reading Evening, November 28
“Seeking the wealth of his people.”
—Esther 10:3
Mordecai was a true patriot, and therefore, being exalted to the highest position under Ahasuerus, he used his eminence to promote the prosperity of Israel. In this, he was a type of Jesus who, upon his throne of glory, sought not his own power but spent it for his people. It was well if every Christian would be a Mordecai to the church, striving according to his ability for its prosperity. Some are placed in stations of affluence and influence; let them honor their Lord in the high places of the earth and testify for Jesus before great men. Others have what is far better, namely, close fellowship with the King of kings; let them be sure to plead daily for the weak of the Lord’s people, the doubting, the tempted, and the comfortless. It will redound to their honor if they make much intercession for those in darkness and dare not draw nigh unto the mercy seat. Instructed believers may serve their Master greatly if they lay out their talents for the general good and impart their wealth of heavenly learning to others by teaching them the things of God. The very least in our Israel may at least seek the welfare of his people and his desire, if he can give no more, shall be acceptable. It is at once the most Christlike and the most happy course for a believer to cease from living to himself. He who blesses others cannot fail to be blessed himself. On the other hand, seeking our own personal greatness is a wicked and unhappy life plan; its way will be grievous, and its end will be fatal.
Here is the place to ask you, my friend, whether you art to the best of your power, seeking the church's wealth in your neighborhood. I trust thou art not doing it mischief by bitterness and scandal, nor weakening it by thy neglect. Friend, unite with the Lord’s poor, bear their cross, do them all the good thou canst, and thou shalt not miss thy reward.
Spurgeon, C. H. Morning and Evening: Daily Readings. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896. Print.
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 Paul's picture of unity of purpose 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 concerning 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 every single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love” (Eph 4:15–16).
We are each given unique abilities for the growth of the body, and “every single part” is necessary to grow the body of Christ. God gives gifts to each supporting ligament—each person—to build up the community. But it is Christ who joins and holds the church together.
Because of Christ’s unifying role, an essential aspect of growth as a community and as individuals includes speaking the truth in love—helping others grow to spiritual maturity in the gospel's truth. Instead of chiding, we can remind others of God’s goodness to them through Christ. Instead of further ostracizing them, we can invite them in by speaking the truth with love, realizing that God has blessed them with special abilities that will soon be learned.
How can you use your gifts to serve your community? How can you lovingly help others recognize theirs?
Rebecca Van Noord
Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012. Print.
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 the man who will give and give, but to come and accept 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 and 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 spiritual blessing 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 are rich and possessed of anything in the way of pride or independence, God cannot do anything for us. Only when we get hungry spiritually do we receive the Holy Spirit. The gift of the nature of God is made effectual in us by the Holy Spirit; He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus, which puts ‘the beyond’ within, and immediately the beyond has come within, it rises up to ‘the above.’ We are lifted into the domain where Jesus lives. (John 3:5.)
Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986. Print.
November 28
He touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank
Gen. 32:32
God will touch whatever it is that enables a soul whom God designs to bless to stand out against Him. 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 to blessing 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's 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.
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