Day 3 - Tuesday | Daily Devotions | Morning and Evening: Daily Read | Connect the Testaments | My Utmost for His Highest | Thoughts for the Quiet Hour |

 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 possible works. There are many things that our heart finds to do that we never shall do. It is well in our heart, but if we were eminently helpful, we would not be content with forming schemes in our heart and talking of them; we must practically carry out "whatever our hand findeth to do." One good deed is worth more than a thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for significant opportunities or for different kinds 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 shall never have 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 how you perform what you find to do—"do it with thy might." Do it promptly; do not fritter away your life by thinking of what you intend to do tomorrow as if that could recompense for the idleness of today. No man ever served God by doing things tomorrow. If we honor Christ and are blessed, it is by what we do today. Whatever you do for Christ, throw your whole soul into it. Do not give Christ a little slurred labor, done as a matter of course now and then, but when you serve him, do it with heart, soul, and strength.

But where is the might of a Christian? It is not in himself, for he is perfect weakness. His might lieth in the Lord of Hosts. Then let us seek his help; let us proceed with prayer and faith, and when we have done what our "hand findeth to do," let us wait upon the Lord for his blessing. Thus, What we do will be well done and succeed in its effect.

Go To Morning Reading Evening, November 26

"They shall rejoice and see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel."

—Zechariah 4:10

Small things marked the beginning of the work in the hand of Zerubbabel, but none might despise it, for the Lord had raised up one who would persevere until the headstone should be brought forth with shoutings. The plummet was in good hands. Here is the comfort of every believer in the Lord Jesus; let the work of grace be ever so small in its beginnings; the plummet is in good hands, a master builder greater than Solomon has undertaken the raising of the heavenly temple, and he will not fail nor be discouraged till the topmost pinnacle shall be raised. If the plummet were in the hand of any merely human being, we might fear for the building, but the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in Jesus' hand. The works did not proceed irregularly and without care, for the master's hand carried a good instrument. Had the walls been hurriedly run up without due superintendence, they might have been out of the perpendicular, but the chosen overseer used the plummet. Jesus is evermore watching the erection of his spiritual temple, that it may be built securely and well. We are for haste, but Jesus is for judgment. He will use the plummet, and that which is out of line must come down, every stone of it. Hence, the failure of many a flattering work and the overthrow of many a glittering profession. It is not for us to judge the Lord's church since Jesus has a steady hand and a true eye and can use the plummet well. Do we not rejoice to see judgment left to him?

The plummet was in active use—in the Builder's hand, indicating that he meant to puBuilder's work to completion. O Lord Jesus, how would we be glad to see thee at thy great work. O Zion, the beautiful, thy walls are still in ruins! Rise, thou glorious BuilderBuilderake her desolations to rejoice at thy coming.

 C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).

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 Wisdom acquired from life experience. However, Wisdomnd, the author of Proverbs, tells us that it is not something we gain with a little age and some good direction. Wisdom is inseparable from the fear of God.

The author of Proverbs says Wisdom is "knowledge and discretion"; it's associated with the desire of God, and it is a reward to those who seek it out. "I love those who love me," says WisWisdomrsonified. "Those who seek me diligently shall find me" (ProWisdom). Paul speaks of Wisdom in light of understanding the grand story of salvation we wisdWisdomen 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 him (the eyes of your hearts having been enlightened), so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe" (Eph 1:17–19).

The Ephesian believers were brought into this family of faith through the work of Christ as part of God's plan (Eph 1:3–14). Paul prays for them to understand what it means to live as a hope-filled, adopted community—a treasured inheritance in God's great plan of salvation. The Ephesians will receive this type of Wisdom revelaWisdoms God gives, not on their own accord. Understanding their place in this story will, in turn, shape their entire existence.

Both Paul and the author of Proverbs note that we need to seek Wisdom, which God will give us if we ask. Stop considering your place in WisdWisdWisdom'sative work on your behalf. Pray for a spirit of knowledge and understanding of HWisdomk in your life.

Do you pray for wisdWisdomat WWisdompe of rWisdome do you offer because of God on yWisdomhalf?

Rebecca Van Noord

 John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

November 26

The concentration of spiritual energy

… save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gal. 6:14.

If you want to know the energy of the CrosCrosse., 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. "Loo" unto Me," pay" attention to the objective Source, and the subjective energy will be there. We lose power if we do not concentrate on the right thing. The effect of the crosCrosssalvation, sanctification, healing, etc., but we are not to preach these; we are to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The proclaiming of Jesus will do its own work. Concentrate on God in your preaching; 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 to me, but when I speak the truth of God, you will meet it again, and so shall I. We have to concentrate on the great point of spiritual energy, CrossCross, to keep in contact with that center where all the power lies and the theCrossgy will let loose. In holiness movements and spiritual experience meetings, the concentration is apt to be put not on the Cross of Christ but on the effects of the CrosCrosse feebleness of the churches is being criticized today, and the crCrosssm is justified. One reason for the feebleness is that there has not been this concentration of spiritual energy; we have not brooded enough on the tragedy of Calvary or the meaning of Redemption.

 Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986).

November 26

The concentration of spiritual energy

… save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gal. 6:14.

If you want to know the energy of the CrosCrosse., 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. "Loo" unto Me," pay" attention to the objective Source, and the subjective energy will be there. We lose power if we do not concentrate on the right thing. The effect theoss Cross is salvation, sanctification, healing, etc., but we are not to preach these; we are to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The proclaiming of Jesus will do its own work. Concentrate on God in your preaching; 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 to me, but when I speak the truth of God, you will meet it again, and so shall I. We have to concentrate on the great point of spiritual eneCrossthe CrosCross keep in contact with that center where all the power lies and the theCrossgy will let loose. In holiness movements and spiritual experience meetings, the concentration is apt to be put not on the Cross of Christ but on the effects of Crossross.

The feebleness of the churches is being criticized today, and the crCrosssm is justified. One reason for the feebleness is that there has not been this concentration of spiritual energy; we have not brooded enough on the tragedy of Calvary or the meaning of Redemption.

 Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986).

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, and 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 fish fisherman's 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 him. There is a sunny place. Their care is lost, and toil is forgotten. There is joyous freedom, happy calm, rest, and the renewing of our strength—at home with God.

Mark Guy Pearse

 Samuel G. Hardman and Dwight Lyman Moody, Thoughts for the Quiet Hour (Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997).