PREFACE

Older sheep need better feeding than younger ones ( Hebrews 5:12-14 ) ; we cannot live on milk all of our life ( although many attempt it ). The old disciples are fast approaching a time when they shall almost be in view of Home, and their concern is to be ' ready to depart ' ( Philipp.1:23 ). The old are aware of a decline in many areas of their life, but there is no necessity for spiritual decline. These Readings are written to encourage elderly believers, to help lift the mind onward and upward, - a comfort which only God can give with His Word. May the Spirit work with His Word in us.

None of us knows if we are on the last page of the last chapter of our life in this world, and from that perspective these readings are profitable for all ages.

Rev J.Clark. BA(hons.) MA. BSc(hons) MSc. MEd. MTh.

NOVEMBER 1

" And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."  1 John 1:7.

The shedding and application of the blood of Jesus Christ is essential for eternal life. It alone can take away the guilt, penalty, power and ( finally the ) presence of sin ( Heb.9:22. 10;4,5). This is the reason why the Son of God took a human nature into union with Himself. We need to be ' whiter than snow ' ( Ps.51:7. Isaiah 1:18) before we can be accepted by God on earth, and thus be able to enter heaven.What matters first of all is not that we ' accept Jesus ' but that God accepts us - hence the importance of the blood of Christ. The OT saints were taught again and again that they could not approach God without the shedding of blood ( and that their own blood was not good enough). The death of the lamb reminded them again and again what their sins deserved, but also what God provided ( Heb.10:3. Gen.22:8. John 3:16).

This blood of Christ ' cleanseth ' ( present tense), ie. it goes on cleansing perpetually. The blood of the bird slain to cleanse the leper was to be shed over a flowing stream ( Leviticus 14:5) - a symbol of the continuous powerful flow of the blood of Christ to cleanse us from the leprosy of sin. The power of the blood never dries up ! Does the sinner value this blood ? What is your present sin ? The blood of Christ is present also. Exercise faith and apply it to yourself, as David did ( Ps.51:7), and go again and again !

NOVEMBER 2   

"His lovingkindness in the daytime,and in the night His song, ...and my prayer to the God of my life.."    Psalm 42:8.  

What changes David, and ourselves, experience in one day ! There are changes in every life, as extreme as darkness and light. The changes are to keep us close to God. By nature we do not want changes, but this would not be good for us ( Ps.55:19) ; faith seeks to agree with God's wisdom on this matter. We can be 'lifted up' and we can be 'cast down', we can pray joyfully in the sunshine of the day and we can struggle to find words in the numbness of the night. We can be so troubled that we struggle, often unsuccessfully, to get our thoughts away from it to God. The most notable characters in Scripture had their ups and downs, the latter sometimes in extremes eg. Job ( 2:10), David ( Ps.30:6,7), Peter etc. But God does not forsake His people when the night comes ( Ps.121. 17:3.), although, like Job, they may struggle to find him. We must therefore expect changes, even in one day, and every day in our life ; otherwise we shall be taken by surprise !

God does provide for the changes in life, He Himself does not change ; we sing to One unchanging ( Job 35:10. Ps.77:6). Whether in the light or in the darkness, Christ is the same to His people ( Heb.13:8). Faith is often put to the test in changes. Moreover, we are often nearer to God in affliction than in prosperity ; does not our own experience tell us that ? But soon we shall arrive at a land where happiness in His company, unlike here,is unchanging. Whether in the day or in the night, He is " the God of my life."

NOVEMBER 3  

" Whom, having not seen you love."  1 Peter 1:8.

Christ was seen on earth, but it was in His state of humiliation, not His state of glory, which was to follow. Stephen and Paul did see Christ after His ascension to heaven, but bodily eyes in this world cannot see that glory perfectly. The' brightness ' of it ( Heb.1:3) cannot be seen in our present state of weakness and imperfection. " But whatever sight some Christians have had formerly, no Christians now have a sight of Christ's Person. They have heard of Him with the hearing of the ear, but they have not seen Him with the seeing of the eye. They have seen representations of Christ in the Sacrament, but they have never seen His Person that is represented. They have seen His image upon their fellow Christians, but they have not seen the Original from whom this image has been drawn." ( Thomas Vincent)

How can we know if our love for Christ is genuine ? Do you have a desire for Christ's presence ? Do you value and frequent those places where Christ is to be found ? - where the Word is read, preached, where prayer is made ? Do you seek conformity to the image of Christ in your life ? Do you love and endeavour to keep His commandments, to be ' as holy as any sinner can be on earth ' ?( McCheyne). If you have these marks, then you may be assured that you have a genuine, though yet imperfect, love for Christ.

NOVEMBER 4

" I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me."  Psalm 69:2.

Because of medical advances in addressing pain we have developed a sensitivity to pain when it comes, perhaps even a surprise at it ! David and others regarded it as inevitable and only regarded it with more attention than usual when it was extreme. They had learned to live with pain. Many Christians do not have this experience, but for some pain is their constant companion. Like the waters David refers to in Psalm 69 they are praying to keep their heads above water and make their best progress towards the shore of that ' better country ' where there is " no more pain " ( Rev.21:4). These are they who have their  ' thoughts on things above ' more than others ( Coloss.3:2)  but also have more temptations regarding God's providence with them. Poor Job is their hero. What defiance there was in that man ! " Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him ! "

These are the walking wounded, whose emphasises the Christian's basic survival skills ie. daily faith and repentance - this is their spiritual pulse, this shows they are still alive to God. The world is dead to them, it cannot help them, and so David prays, " Save me. O God..." ( Ps.69:1). These words spoke Christ also, the Psalm refers to Him too. He gave us the example of prayers in pain. If we struggle for words, let us use His - these His Father, and your Father, approves.

NOVEMBER 5    

" He shall glorify Me."   John 16:14.

This is why the Holy spirit came, giving to Christ and His atoning work the importance and glory which it demands from our minds and hearts. The Spirit convicts us of sin and empties us of all hope of forgiveness except in Christ the all sufficient Saviour. We reject the law, natural efforts, carnal decisions and good works as in any way contributing to our salvation, but rest on Him and His finished work alone.This work of the Spirit in us is the mark of having salvation. The covenant of works was to us a covenant of death, no-one could live by it. But ' the grace of God which brings salvation ' ( Titus 2:11) has been revealed through Christ and we flee to Him. 

It is grieving to the Spirit to take anything away from the glory of Christ. How do sinners do that ? Some say that we must ' allow ' Christ to save us because He cannot do it without our permission ie. He is a limited, rather impotent saviour ! Some say you cannot be born again until after you believe - but how can you believe unless you are first born again ? Some say that you must make great effort before you attain to faith, but God says faith is His gift ! The church in heaven glorifies Christ in accordance with the Holy Spirit, but much of the church here is trying to divide the work of salvation between Christ and themselves. Let us not be guilty of this, He needs no help.He has all the help we need ( Ps.89:19).

NOVEMBER 6   

" He is able."   Hebrews 7:25.

In the midst of suffering, perplexity, doubt, there is a need to trust. The devil says, " Why does He not intervene, why does he not do something to help 

you ? " and the unbelieving world will join in with him. Philosophers and scientists will give their ' expert ' opinions, all of them trying to ' play God ' with their pronouncements or to sow doubts and question established beliefs about the character of God. There is a need to trust God. It is a simple answer to all the questions in the universe. Those who are God's children affirm it, sometimes in great pain, because deep inside they know that everything here is temporary. This does not mean that they cannot pray, " How long ? " - this is a common prayer recorded in Scripture ( Ps.13:1. Rev. 6:10)." He is able,"- this is therefore not a question about God's power but about His wisdom and intention regarding the suffering of His people. Peace often comes with prayer. Perhaps God takes something away from us ; faith says, ' I will give it to Him ' and I will trust Him with myself, always. There is a ' needs be ' for each of us ( 1 Peter 1:6). Father knows best, there is a need to trust !

" Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to trust and die.

  Questions, they will come and go, His answer is,' It must be so.'   

NOVEMBER 7

" How are the dead raised up ? And with what body do they come ? "1 Corinthians 15:35.

The dead are raised by Christ's commanding power when He returns ( John 5:28) ; there will then be a universal resurrection, without exception. The bodies of believers shall be glorified because of their union to Christ ( Philipp.3:21), but the bodies of unbelievers will continue into eternity corrupt and in dishonour. Wherever the soul goes, the body goes. Believers will have perfected souls in perfected bodies - a new experience indeed ! We are so used to having trouble with our bodies here ; they are not fully under our control. ( Our bodies can succumb to decay and disease even before we are aware of it.) The body is also found to be a hindrance to our desire to serve the Lord efficiently and constantly.

This great change at the resurrection shall be done in a moment ( vs.52). The body is then prepared and adapted for life in heaven. Just as the Lord commanded the salvation of those whom He loves ( Ps.106:4), so He will command their glorification ( Rom.8:30). There will be qualities in the body and in the soul at glorification which are to us mysterious, but the principal promise is that ' we shall be like Him ' ( 1John 3:2) - and this is all that we desire.

NOVEMBER 8   

" There is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother."   Proverbs 18:24.

The great affliction of society is loneliness, and the only answer to eternal loneliness is to have Christ as our Friend. We need someone to listen to, someone reliable that you can trust. We need the wisest possible counsel, and who better than the only One who is infallible, and whose words are written down for our instruction ? We also need someone that we can speak to, who can understand and correct our thinking, who can forgive us and comfort us when we go wrong and hurt ourselves. He can pick us up when we fall and bind up our wounds and heal our broken hearts ( Ps.147:3). The world says that we are guilty of wishful thinking, that we are talking to someone who is not there. No, they cannot understand our experience of Christ, they prefer ' broken cisterns ' ( Jerem. 2:13 ) Moreover, we have had answers to prayer which cannot be explained by ' chance '. We do not always feel near to our Friend, but He assures us that we are always in His company ( which is not the same as being always sensible of it), and that He will never leave us. What has the world to offer the lonely one in comparison - positive thinking ? On what basis ? - A caring society ? It is an alienated ( from God ) society which reinforces loneliness, separation from God, and they don't have the remedy. But what a Friend we have in Jesus ! Yes, the answer to loneliness is to have Christ as your Friend.

NOVEMBER 9     

" If God be for us, who can be against us ? "   Romans 8:31

This is the comfort for those feeble in body and in mind - all that is in God is pledged to help them. In the end there can only be ' one winner ' - God, and those on His side ( Exodus 32:26). We have to keep reminding ourselves that there is no power greater than God ; neither sin, satan or death can keep the believer out of heaven. What is our duty ? - to be for God. A soldier said to Cromwell," It's alright, general, God is on our side ! " Cromwell replied, " Yes, if we remain on His side." We must also not neglect to use the means God has provided ; we have to avoid a careless impersonal fatalism. Another soldier said to Cromwell, " Trust in God, general." He replied, " Yes, trust in God...and keep your powder dry ! "  ie Trust in God, and be ready for battle.

Are we for God ? We need to know what God says in His Word in order to be sure. In the US civil war, each side, pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups, claimed to be on the side of God. But, as Abraham Lincoln said, " God cannot be on the side of both at the same time." We live in an ecclesiastical world of great deceptions. Many use God's name, but they are going to be disappointed of their hopes in the end ( Matt.7:22), because to live neglecting His Word is to live and die without Christ. If we follow Christ in the path of His Word, then God is for us, no matter who is against us !

NOVEMBER 10

" This is my infirmity."  Psalm 77:10.

Everybody has one, a weakness we are aware of but cannot get rid of. It seems it shall be with us till the death. It is good, however , that we recognise it, because the devil does, and perhaps a few others also. Some are weak in faith, always questioning whether they have sufficient. The fact is that we have nothing in ourselves sufficient, our sufficiency is in Christ. Why look at weakness when we can look at strength ? Looking at our infirmities can hinder us in serving Him. Some rashly run into temptation like Peter, with a zeal lacking knowledge. Others, like David, prefer the ease of advancing years ( and perhaps victories), but Satan finds work for empty minds to do ! And then we have Mr. Despondency and Miss Much-afraid ; such need tender patience - they cannot handle the dark forebodings of their own imaginations well. They bring up the rear, but they are not left behind ; they shall also be carried over ' the river that has no bridge.' Each can look in and say, " This is my infirmity," but Christ also sees it. No sheep are alike but they all have like,equal care from the Shepherd. Our infirmity is not a barrier to His power and faithfulness. We sigh over our infirmity, we are impatient to throw off our burden. But He is patient with us,He knows us, and He will bring us on through the days, until we shall sigh no more in His presence.

NOVEMBER 11

" He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."    Philippians 1:6.

Just as Christ finished the work for you on the cross, so He will finish the work in you and complete it in your soul at your death and in your body on the day of His Coming back for the universal resurrection. For some it is a swift process ( as for the dying thief ), for others, like Methusalah, it is a long process. But the beginning of the work guarantees the end. There is no cessation by the Spirit, no turning away by Christ. The implantation of Divine life in the soul begins a growth in spiritual knowledge and progress through this world.Our dependence on the Divine Worker does not diminish as we go on. Rather, our sense of dependence deepens as we near Home. This is because our knowledge of ourselves, and our potential for damage, also deepens. Christ will be our Teacher and Guide to the end of the journey. The Holy Spirit will be our Corrector and Comforter to the last. The Father will not cease to draw us nearer and nearer, until we can rest with His other children at the end of our days here.Words of pardon, peace and encouragement are written on the milestones along the way, although it is difficult to make them out some days. However, He has promised, " As thy days, so shall thy strength be." ( Deut.33:25) The work goes on, and we go on.

NOVEMBER 12  

" A friend loves at all times."  Proverbs 17:17.

With a friend you can be yourself. Not every one who wants to be your friend, will be ; a selection is made. Discernment is needed, as mistakes can be made ( eg. Demas), especially through lack of experience. True friendship is sacrificial ; you will do things for your friend which you would not do for others. Jonathan and David were friends, Christ and His disciples were friends. Things were done in these circles which were not done for others. A friend stands by us, supports us, defends us, but also gives honest rebuke ; a true friend will not flatter you.We have all of this in Christ Jesus because of His commitment to us. Any failings are on our side of the relationship, and not on His.

Christ loves His friends at all times, but sadly we do not value Him as we ought. It can be said of us, " Is this how you treat your Friend ? " There are times we do not think of Him, yet He thinks of us at all times ; even at the times we think He has forgotten us. However, if we have faith He is out of sight but never out of mind ; He will always re-mind us of Himself. Let us not ignore our Friend, but speak to Him often. " The Lord thinketh upon me," is our great comfort ( Ps. 40:17).

NOVEMBER 13   

" Submit yourselves therefore to God. "  James 4:7.

This is what the humble do (vs.6), the proud resist - because they did not get what they wanted. Submission to God's Will as it comes to pass shows great progress in the matter of sanctification ; there is ' more of God and less of me.'Our experience of this ' progress ' usually comes through a taste of affliction and suffering. It is always easy to submit when things go according to our mind and there is no pain, mental or physical. The Christian life seems easy in such sunshine. But when clouds gather and the winds blow against us,the test comes ; do we trust Him or confront Him ? We,like our great Example, 'learn obedience by the things which we suffer '( Heb.5:8). Christ embodied the perfection of those words, " Thy Will be done." 

In such submission the harmony which we lost at the Fall is restored. This is the effect of grace and ' more grace' ( vs.6). To submit is to walk with God, to incline our wills to His direction. Sadly, we need this command ( in the text ) because there is yet some remnant of resistance in our wills ( which are not yet perfectly holy). This resistance can burst out suddenly, with selfish and hard thoughts. It is hard to have a composed mind in the midst of pain. It is always best to lie at His feet and hear His words ( Luke 10:39), praying for the strength to do them.

NOVEMBER 14   

" Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn." Job 5:26.   

It is thought that some of God's people died too soon. But no, they were ripe for glory. They had been planted in a season of Christ's grace ( Ps.92:13), grown and prepared for glory by His Spirit and then gathered in due time by His Father into the family Home. There was nothing untimely about their death. They had grace and were not unwilling to go, although others may have been unwilling to let them go. A ' full age ' is not necessarily an old age, but is when the wheat is fully grown, it rises in the field towards heaven ; God's eye is upon it.  In God's eyes we cannot die too soon; not all fruit ripens at the same time of year. God shall not keep us in this world longer than necessary. 

The ripe are ready to go, their thoughts increasingly ascend in their last days.This is often an indication of imminent departure, but not always. Death may give us warning of his approach but not always ; he is our Master's servant, and goes at His bidding. We lose nothing at death except our sins, we have everything to gain. Growing old in grace is the preparation for heaven ( Ps. 92:14. 84:11).We do not need the honours of the world when we die. If we are Christ's we are precious to God. Let us think more of our future.    

NOVEMBER 15    

" For God maketh my heart soft."   Job 23:16.

This is not what we are when we come into this world. From then on we can become softer or harder. It is grace that takes away the hard heart and replaces it with ' a heart of flesh ', a soft heart ; sensitive to God now and many other things also ( vs.25). As we near the end of life grace softens us even more, into increasing childlikeness. But without grace there is only the hardness and often bitterness of despair, as the unbeliever sees time running out. Not that the believer is satisfied with his condition even at the end of life. Rather, he is more sensitive to his dissimilarity to God, and looks forward to that complete conformity to Christ promised.

We are sensitive to suffering, our own and that of others, for we have experienced all kinds of it over many years. " There is a gracious softness, like that of Josiah, whose heart was tender, and trembled at the word of God." ( M. Henry). But, as Matthew Henry also suggests, there can be a softness " which apprehends everything that is present to be pressing us and everything future to be threatening." God can make the heart soft in both of these ways and, as in the case of Job, in both ways simultaneously. But Christ is strong enough to carry us through the days.

NOVEMBER 16  

" I would not have you to be ignorant...that ye sorrow not as others do."   1 Thessalonians 4:13.

The Bible does not say that ' you are not to sorrow ', but that the sorrow of believers for other believers is a sorrow which has a difference, a sorrow which distinguishes them from other mourners. The reason given is that they have a Bible, they are not ignorant of where the departed have gone. They therefore have hope, and it ought to be expressed along with sorrow at such a time. This does not mean that we are to abound with spiritual platitudes. Our words should centre on Him who is the Resurrection and the Life, as the Lord taught us in John 11 ( and 1 Corinthians 15). 1 Thessalonians 4 abounds in consolation ; it does not prohibit our sorrow but  directs it with words for thought. But notice how brief the words of Christ (and Paul) are. He knows that we cannot ' take in ' much at such a time. We need His words of consolation, as it is difficult to think at such a time.

" Nice little plastic phrases don't help people unlock their grief. It is often better just to put your arm around a grieving person...Don't try to reason with people in grief to persuade them to accept their loss. When a believer dies, it IS wonderful to know that person is with God, but at the moment, when those who are left behind are bruised and bleeding, the simple truth is this : When grief is the freshest, words should be the fewest ! " ( B. Johnson)

NOVEMBER 17  

" Quicken ( revive ) Thou me according to Thy word." Psalm 119:25.

This is a living man complaining of his deadness. He lies down ' in the dust ', discouraged, and feels unable to rise.There are times in life when we feel we cannot do anything, but lie down.This is a relapse, a ' falling down ', and the soul is in need of renewal ; a word in the New Testament often applied to believers, to those who have grace already. Faith, hope and love all have their ups and downs. The heart needs strengthened, the feet steadied, the mind re-focussed. David pleads God's promise, His word. He does not want to be as he is, but feels powerless to change himself. The power of God which began the work in the soul must maintain it. We do not begin in the ( power of the ) Spirit and end in the flesh ( Galat.3:3). If we are aware of our dependence we shall pray like David. If not, we shall only look to ourselves or others ! God promises that He shall come " as the dew " to refresh His people ( Hosea 14:4) ; silently and without any warning. There can be no growth or refreshing without it. David rightly sees the word as necessary. The Holy Spirit works within but also uses the word to bring His work into our consciousness ; He gives the power and the word gives direction to it. Where there is His power, there is His knowledge given with it. But even if we feel no power, we shall still trust in God.

NOVEMBER 18

"Kept by the power of God through faith into salvation."  1 Peter 1:5.

By God's power we are kept to the end, His power never fails when our own does. Peter had personal experience of this.God's power snatched him out of Satan's grip. Satan got a sinful hold on him, and tempted him to give in to it. Did he cry out to God for help when he was pressurised by those around him at the fire, and look for the exit ? No, he panicked, and backed himself into a corner, and took the way out by sinning, by denying Christ.In the aftermath, Peter learned how God kept him from Satan, from himself and from despair. We can sometimes feel we are abandoned to Satan's attack, but we are still kept, even when we feel we are not kept. This promise in the text is given to saved persons, to God's elect, to those who believe - these shall not perish ( John 3:16). They are kept although they go through failures, despite sinning every day in thought, word and deed. Faith is not the condition of salvation, but the channel by which salvation comes. God's power shall never fail, and so our faith cannot fail - as Christ publicly affirmed by His prayer ( Luke 22:32). They are ' kept into salvation.'

NOVEMBER  19   

" For a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness. "  1 Peter 1:6.

Although we have all sinned and therefore are liable to suffering, we are still perplexed when we experience or see other believers  experience extreme suffering, eg as Job, who was so faithful to God. It is because we know God's perfect character that this is a mystery to us, a mystery to us and ammunition for the world's criticism of God. We must pray not to join in that criticism, and thus join Job's 'friends.' God does use suffering as a means to an end eg. to grow in faith, to develop sympathy for others, to shine as witnesses to the world, like Job, who said, ' Though He were to slay me, yet would I continue to trust in Him !' The greatest sufferers have often been those who thereby developed the strongest faith.

The Lord Jesus said that suffering for Him would bring blessedness ( Matt.5;10-12). It also gives us an insight into Christ's sufferings - so undeserved, but bringing blessedness to others. " By His stripes ( wounds ) we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5). In this world (only) we are subject to all kinds of trials. They last only a little while, but ' praise, honour and glory ' last forever ! ( 1 Peter 1:7). A father and son took a long walk into a dense forest. They stopped, and the father asked the son, ' Do you know the way home, son ? ' The reply, " No, but you do, father." We must trust our Father also.

NOVEMBER  20   

" I will cause the sun to go down at noon." Amos 8:9.

This is unexpected and quite shocking. Such a description fits when a young person dies, full of potential. Such also describes a middle aged woman serving the Lord and then suddenly collapses. Such describes an older man who is busily teaching others with great profit to them, suddenly interrupted by death. Our life is in the hands of God. He arrests the progress of the sun, He can intervene in any life. We should be ready to leave this world at all stages of life, not just when old age comes. We need the future state for the free and full development of our nature ; life here is full of limitations, outside and inside. We are transferred by God to develop elsewhere. Fundamentally, it is all for the better, but a concept difficult for our minds to grasp here.What blighted hopes there are here, what empty spaces, what silent voices ! Contrary to popular belief, there is something unnatural about our lives here. There is something missing...and God needs to teach us what it is, otherwise we shall die despairingly searching. The sun can go down here at noon, light is gone, but it rises again in a ' better country ', and ' there is no night there.'

NOVEMBER 21   

" For I know the thoughts that I have toward you...thoughts of peace." Jeremiah 29:11.

As we approach the time of death it becomes increasingly important to know what God thinks of us. If He has thoughts of peace toward us, it can only be because we are reconciled to Him through the death of Christ - there is no other way of having peace with God. There is no peace if our sins are unforgiven, and only the blood of Christ gives us that peace, the peace in which to die in.God's thoughts make things happen, in us and for us ; human thoughts cannot do this. How do we know God's thoughts toward us ? From His word. Christ said to sinners who had faith in Him, " The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me," ( John 16:27) ) - this is the evidence we need. Do we love Christ, and have evidence in our lives of this ?

Jeremiah's words were addressed to those living in exile from the Promised Land. The believer on earth is likewise still distant from heaven, but the `word of God assures them that God shall shall bring them home. His words alone give that ' hope and expectation.' ( vs.11) 

  " Hope opens doors where despair closes them.

    Hope draws its power from trusting in God, not man.

    Hope lights a candle in the darkness.

    Hope resists hardness and cynicism. 

    Hope is the lone voice in a world of despair. "  ( Anon.)

NOVEMBER   22   

" Christ who is our life."   Colossians 3:4.

If we are spiritually alive there is movement, and if there is movement there is a Mover, One whose life comes into us, by His Spirit (1 Corinth.15:45). In Christ there is life and light to see that life ( John 1:4 ) ; every effect has a cause. He is the Head, giving life to His Body, the church joined to Him, living to Him. Just as in a body, there are signs of life in those who have a true profession of faith. This life of Christ has invaded the deadness of our souls, and those who were spiritually dead ( Ephes.2:1) now walk with God, follow Christ obediently, and have the fruit of the Spirit ( Galat.5:22ff) in their lives. This is not something we can take for granted. Those in good bodily health have regular check-ups. Christians are also encouraged to ' examine themselves.'Christ is the life of His people, they shall live as long as He does. " Because I live, you shall live also." ( John 14:19) This life is deathless, secure and developing in its effects. This life is ' hid with Christ ' ( vs.3) but its effects, inside and outside, are noticed. It is a life sovereignly given and Divinely kept, and one day we shall see Him who is our Life.

NOVEMBER  23  

" Be not faithless, but believing."   John 20:27.

The difficulty of the backsliding soul ( and Thomas was such ) is to return to honest self-evaluation of their condition. The soul in declension is encrusted with a layer of hardness over the heart, with a deceitful self-confidence to further influence it. The Lord pinpoints the problem, " Be not faithless," - put your faith into action instead of a lazy complacency. When faith languishes it affects the whole life. Someone has said, " We should be living as if the crucifixion were yesterday, the resurrection was today and Christ's return is tomorrow." This kind of thinking would recapture our escaped zeal in the Christian life. Thomas neglected his duties and thought nothing of being absent

from Christ ; as if he could live on memories alone.

Thomas had misinterpreted God's providence and had become discouraged in his life. His expectations had not come to pass, or so he thought. But " thinking makes it so." Looking back afterwards, he must have felt very foolish. This is a good effect if it leads us to a stronger believing, ignoring appearances and the arguments put up by emotions within.There was no ground for his lack of faith, but solid ground for his forgiveness when he acknowledged it. When was the last time we acknowledged our own lack ? Christ encourages us to keep on ' believing.'

NOVEMBER 24

" And Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good."   Genesis 32:12.

Sometimes something bad happens in our life and we ask ourselves,' How can this be good for me ?' If it's good for me why do I feel so dreadful ? Of course, what we have is a ' snapshot ' of the event, a limited view of it in the present time. We cannot see the future, but our imagination usually leans on the side of pessimism. Some say, ' God can bring good out of evil.' - but there is no good in evil to bring out ! Rather ought we to look at the dread event as something like a missile, which God can overrule, limit it and re-direct it so that it explodes far from us. On the other hand, it is there to test our response - shall we trust or waver ? Most of our life is spent not in producing situations but in responding to them. Jacob was right to go to God in prayer. He needed the strength to respond to this looming threat ( Esau ) in the best way, the right way. However, God disarmed the threat, by changing the attitude of Esau - something Jacob did not expect.

Many Christians under persecution doubtless prayed to God that He would remove Saul of Tarsus from the earth, but God did the unexpected - He converted Him, and the Apostle Paul now lived. We must continue to expect the unexpected from God. The promise abides, " I will surely do thee good ! "

NOVEMBER 25.   

"  He healeth the broken in heart. "  Psalm 147:3)

While there is the highest happiness in heaven, there is also the deepest brokenness in heart on earth. Who can sufficiently describe either ? He has the power to create stars ( vs.4) but also has the tenderness and gentleness which no creature can match (Isaiah 57:15).There are sometimes sorrows in this life which no creature, however near, can reach - they are too deep for them to grasp. But God can reach the parts which no-one else can. He does not only comfort, He heals. Not that all are healed as swiftly as others, there is an individuality in both grief and the treatment given. There are differences in the stars, and there are differences in the sorrows. The stars remind us of our littleness, but none of God's people are insignificant. All have equal access to treatment, and none are turned away. This was one reason why Christ came, not only to redeem but to restore. Only He can put the pieces back together again  in broken lives ( Luke 4:18).

   " Can He be troubled by the griefs I bear,

     Which sadden the heart and whiten the hair ?

     Amid laments and sobbing prayers,

     My heart cries out for the God who cares."   ( Anon.)

NOVEMBER 26

" Have the gates of death been opened to thee ? "  Job 38:17.

The Maker of the universe does not answer Job's questions ( and he has a lot in this Book), but gives him more questions, to reinforce his sense of ignorance. None of us ( apart from those to whom the Lord in the Gospels gave a temporary resurrection to ) have looked through the gates of death. No-one knows what that valley is like until we go into it, and when we go into it there is no going back ; we go forward on the path we are on. There is much we are ignorant of as we continue here on our pilgrimage into the future ; He spares us much, until we enter into the experience of it. The gates of death open and close to admit ; the souls do not return to this world, the bodies are ' caught up to meet them ' in reunion ( 1 Thess.4:17) at the return of Christ.We have many questions about our time in this world, but must await His time for the answers ( John 13:7). Who knows how close we are to these gates ? We may be in the vicinity without knowing it. Every step is a step towards these gates. Through these gates is eternal life. " I am the Way, " says Christ.

NOVEMBER 27 

" And they sung, as it were, a new song before the throne."  Revelation 14:3.

This is the scene in heaven, the happy redeemed surrounding Christ with their praises.This is what they always wanted but failed to achieve here, to give Christ their full attention. There could be no doubt that Christ was at the centre  of their lives now. They were redeemed, a definite number of them.They are distinguished by having His name (vs.1) upon them ( Numbers 6:27); this is the eternal benediction of the redeemed. Now they can follow the Lamb without temptation or deviation. Only the redeemed knew this song of heaven, they were prepared on. earth for it ; a new song for a new experience ie. glorification.( They had a new song at redemption, a new experience for prisoners of the pit, Psalm 40:3). There is no deceit and no faults there (vs.5). Heaven is a happy place because it is a holy place, and the training begins here". Heaven and Christ are the same thing." ( Rutherford). What is our motive in desiring heaven ? Is it to escape earth, or is it to see Christ at last ? If it is the latter, how much thought do we give that purpose here ? It would be strange if we did not think of our destination, who we shall see and what we shall do. 

NOVEMBER 28

" And the Lord shall deliver me...and will preserve me into His heavenly kingdom."   2 Timothy 4:18.

Paul did not have many days left in this world, and his trust seemed greater than ever. He knew there would be a final confrontation and he trusted that God would deliver him to come through that, just as He had in all other dangers ( 2 Corinth.1:10). His words were written to encourage ( timid) Timothy and all others like him. The words of the Lord's Prayer are echoed here : Deliver us from evil...Thine is the kingdom. If we are in the kingdom before death we shall still be in it afterwards.There is a last time for everything in this world, and Paul was contemplating his last day. His final deliverance would be accomplished at his death, the heavenly kingdom awaits. " The man who has a firm grip of Christ's hand sees all things differently from him who has no such support." ( A.Maclaren) Paul had challenged death before ( 1 Corinth.15:55-57)  in the name of Christ. Death had not changed...but neither had Christ !

" My Lord says come up hither, my Lord says Welcome Home." ( Rutherford)

NOVEMBER 29   

" For I know that Thou shalt bring me to death."   Job 30:23. 

Job knew it and wanted others to know it too. His death would not be ' accidental ', but part of God's plan. By knowing this in advance he framed his life accordingly ; he was ready to live and he was ready to die. He knew also that ' his Redeemer liveth,' and therefore He would be with him in life and death. Because of Christ death had lost its power to terrify him ; he could look death in the face, because He saw another Face ( 2 Corinth.4: 6). He balanced the certainty of death with the certain knowledge of Christ, 'God that cannot lie.' He will not die apart from Christ. Sin brought death into the world, but Christ brought life. Job had a quiet expectation as he looked by faith beyond what was presently seen. What great unseen things Christ is accomplishing ! 

Each day another child of God is brought to heaven - bringing simultaneous sorrow here and joy in heaven. Job knew what it was to mourn, and knew the comfort which other mourners needed. " Did I not weep for him that was in trouble ? " ( vs.25) Job knew how hard such a day was for mourners. He did not think only of his own trouble but also that of others. He was a shining example of Christ's example in this sphere of sorrow, this land of the dying. Comfort needs more than words, it needs the personal presence of Christ. Meanwhile, there is much to ' know ', much to pray about, much to leave to Him - as He shall bring us all to death. His Father has given Him this to do.     

NOVEMBER 30 

" Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him."   Isaiah 3:10.

We need to hear this from God, as our sense of assurance ebbs and flows. There are days when we dare not rely upon our senses but upon what He alone says. " There are tides in the faith and comfort of a child of God." ( O.Winslow) There are days when you are tempted to question the reality of your previous experience, a temptation to approach atheism. There are times when you can say with Robert Bruce ( successor of John Knox in Edinburgh ), " I think it a great matter to believe there is a God." Faith brings righteousness from Christ, it is the empty hand to receive it. And faith receives the promise from God. It is well for those whose sins are forgiven, who are accepted in the Beloved Son by God. There are painful exercises of the soul in the path to heaven, but God's promise holds us. Nothing outside us can ' pluck us out of His hand ', and nothing inside either.  And they have tried to ! God says, " I will be their God, and they shall be my people," ( Jerem.31:33) and this means forever. Sin has shaped this world into a hostile environment against faith and faithfulness to God. But hope is faith looking forward. What God says is what matters, now and ever - It shall be well !