NOVEMBER 1

" That which we have seen...and our hands have handled of the Word of Life." 1 John 1:1.

What is so important about the humanity of Christ ? Is it not enough that He is the Son of God from everlasting ? His human nature is of primary importance to the child of God. Consider the consoling truths of Hebrews 4:15,16. He is a High Priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Because of His humanity our Lord understands all about temptation. We have been tempted and yielded many times. Always, when Christ faced temptation, He emerged victorious. As believers we too can overcome, as we unload our cares upon Him and trust Him for His power.

What believers need to realize is that overcoming sin is not something which is achieved [by our works ] but something which is received by His work for us and within us. He shall give us the victory which we cannot accomplish for ourselves ( Galat.2:20). God is the only source for eternal life, and we trust Him to maintain that life in us. ( J.A.Blair)

NOVEMBER 2

" Whom we have looked upon." 1 John 1:1.

This is not a passing look, but He has drawn and held our gaze, a gaze of wonder and admiration. " We beheld His glory." ( John 1:14), whereas many did not see this when they saw Him in the flesh ( Is.53). The Holy Spirit gives us a view of Christ in the Word which is unforgettable and life-changing ( 2 Corinth.4:6 ) and we have never looked back to our previous life in unbelief ( except with some shock and shame ). Philipp.3:13 sums up Paul's attitude also. Faith has a searching gaze as we seek to know more of this wondrous Person in our lives ; we spend the journey to heaven as learners, and even in heaven we shall go on learning ( having finite minds). To look upon Christ in glory is the pinnacle of our experience in God's plan and thus our aim also ( John 17:24. Rev.22:4. Job 19:25-27. 2 Corinth.3:18). The devil, the world, even the church will attempt to distract us, but the words of Christ echo in the faithful heart, " Follow Me."

NOVEMBER 3

" And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."  1 John 1:3.

Those who hear and believe the message concerning Jesus Christ, whom John saw, heard, touched and experienced, will be ushered into a permanent relationship with God through Him. John unpacks this profound truth when he states the twofold purpose of his proclamation of the Word of life in verses 3 and 4, fellowship and joy. [ cf. Shorter Catechism no.1 ] ; true communion and spiritual joy. The word " fellowship " has been weakened in the minds of most Christians, who use the word when they don't know what else to say. Too often " fellowship " means " coffee time " or a " get together " or " going out with friends ." None of these things come even close to the kind of relationship John had in mind. The word " fellowship " as used by first century Christians conveys an intimate, mutual participation in a Life shared with one another, Life in Christ. It's the outworking of a deep spiritual communion between God and the believer, and then between brothers and sisters in Christ ( 1 Corinth.1:19). As believers have this intimate communion ( verse 3), they will have the same kind of deep communion with one another through the work of the Holy Spirit. ( C.Swindoll)

NOVEMBER 4

" And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." 1 John 1:4.

This is the second aim of the proclamation of the Word, a joy based on knowing Christ. Like the word ' fellowship ', the word ' joy ' has also suffered in its use in the church, as if it was a deeper natural joy. But this joy has no natural spring ( Galat.5:22), but a Spiritual One ( Ps.87:7)." This joy is something very deep and profound, something that affects the whole and entire personality...It comes to this ; there is only one thing that can give true joy and that is a contemplation of the Lord Jesus Christ. He satisfies my mind, He satisfies my emotions, He satisfies my every desire. He and His great salvation include the whole personality and nothing less, and in Him I am complete. Joy, in other words, is the response and the reaction of the soul to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." ( D.M. Lloyd Jones )

NOVEMBER 5

" God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5.

This blaze of light is Self -revealing, He gives us the light to see Himself ( Ps.36:9. 2 Corinth.4:6). This light shines amid the darkness all around it ( John 1:5 ), a darkness which does not comprehend. Light is the symbol of God's purity and holiness, in Himself, His words and actions. There are no spots or blemishes in His character, and we must be wary of temptations to think so. Christ is Light, and the Light shows the way to God. The Light guides, giving light to see the path of life ( Ps.16), the path marked out by His Word. Darkness is the opposite of all this. It characterizes evil, ignorance, wandering in delusion, self-trust, making our own way to heaven ; in opposition to the Light ( John 8:12,35,46). God has called believers out of this ( 1 Peter 2:9. ). The world and the worldly church will not come to the light to have their beliefs and deeds examined, the Word of God is rejected for self examination ( John 3:19. Rom.13:12) - they love themselves and their own opinions too much to give them up. Such a life, separated from God and His truth, can only lead to eternal suffering in a yet greater darkness !( 2 Peter 2:9. Jude 13 )

NOVEMBER 6

" If we say that we have fellowship with Him.." 1 John 1:6.

John emphasizes that if God is light we cannot say that we have fellowship with Him and yet continue to walk in darkness, in ignorance ( is it deliberate ? ) of what fellowship means. Praying to obey the truth, and trying to put that truth of God into practice in our lives does matter ! It shows whether we are sincerely desiring holiness or not - and it will be a lifelong battle if we do ! ( Rom.2:8. Galat. 3:7) Discussion of the truth of God and moral failure often go hand in hand. Simply talking about the Bible never saved anyone." At verse 6, John begins a series of three ' If we say... ' clauses. The problem addressed is a contradiction between a believer's profession of faith and their lifestyle. John sets up the claim, describes the contradiction, and draws the reasonable conclusion. In this way he leads his readers through a self-evaluation of the very real issue of sin in a believer's life." ( C.Swindoll )

NOVEMBER 7

" But if we walk in the light...the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us [ goes on cleansing us ] from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

John includes himself among those who walk in the light and yet feel the defilement of indwelling sin. such are in constant need of forgiveness. The Fountain has been opened ( Zech.13:1) and faith draws daily pardon from that Source. There is thus a tension in the believer ( cf. Romans 7 ), but Christ has finished the work for them and He will finish the work in them ( Philipp.1:6. 2:13 ). The man or woman who says that they love Christ and yet deliberately ignores what Christ says is guilty of a lie. " If the Word is not in us, then a lie and fallacious thinking is in us. There are two evils, to walk in darkness and say it is light, and to practise and defend error. Faith cannot be mixed with the theories of men." ( Martin Luther ). Those who walk in the light can be assured that the blood of Christ will go on cleansing them as they battle on with faith and repentance. But they must be sure that they do walk in the Light of God's Word ; the Word alone shows us what holiness is.

NOVEMBER 8

" If we walk in the light ...we have fellowship One with another." 1 John 1:7.

The believer is not entirely pure and free from darkness, but he is said to be like God who aspires after His likeness, however distant from it he may yet be. He who walks in darkness is not ruled by the fear of God and does not aim with a clear conscience at devoting himself entirely to God nor seek to promote His glory. But he who in sincerity of heart spends all his life in God's fear and service and worships Him faithfully, may be regarded as walking in the light, for he keeps to the right way, even though in many things he may err and groan under the burden of the flesh. Therefore it is integrity of conscience that distinguishes light from darkness in us. He also shows what fruit comes from this, ' the blood of Christ cleanses us ', our sins are freely remitted. This is the blessedness that David describes in Psalm 32. We are most miserable until we are born again by God's spirit and serve Him with a pure heart. Who can be more miserable than the man that God both hates and abominates and over whose head hangs God's wrath and eternal death ? ( John Calvin)  Oh the joy and peace of reconciliation with God through that blood !

NOVEMBER 9

" If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves." 1 John 1:8.

The unconverted are full of self-deception, and of course they refuse to accept this truth ( Jerem.17:9). Some say they have no responsibility for their sin, others say that they cannot sin because all is forgiven ; they can sin and it does no harm to themselves.Some say the old man is dead and therefore they cannot sin now, because they only have the new man now. Some say, with John Wesley, that they have achieved perfect holiness, all is perfection now, so sin is only for the unconverted. There is therefore no meaningful confession in the lives of these people, their attitude is unBiblical. Some redefine ' sin ' differently from how God has defined it, and avoid the word. They prefer ' mistakes' or ' shortcomings ', as they know the traditional view of sin and what it deserves. Others accept that they may indeed ' sin ' but that God's character is all love and therefore the whole idea doesn't matter. These people have really no ' Gospel ', as there is nothing to be saved from ! Their idea of Christianity is akin to religious social work. The only remedy to the sinner's self deception is to prayerfully accept what God says of sin, and take themselves to Psalm 51 accordingly. " God be merciful to me the sinner " is the first and last prayer of the genuine Christian ( Augustine).

NOVEMBER 10

" If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not inus."  1 John 1:8.

Of all forms of deception self-deception is the most deadly., and of all deceived persons the self-deceived are the least likely to discover the fraud ! The reason for this is simple. When a man is deceived by another he is deceived against his will. He is contending against an adversary and is temporarily the victim of the other's guile. Since he expects his foe to take advantage of him, he is watchful and quick to expect trickery. With the self-deceived it is quite different. He is his own enemy and is working a fraud against himself ! He wants to believe the lie and is psychologically conditioned to do so. He does not resist the deceit but collaborates with it against himself. There is no struggle because the victim surrenders before the fight begins - he enjoys being deceived. Thus our own soul goes deceived to judgement. And the deeply religious man is far more vulnerable than the easygoing fellow who takes his religion lightly. ( A.W.Tozer )

NOVEMBER 11

" If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." 1 John 1:9.

This is a gracious promise. The ground for the believer's confidence under this consciousness of the still adhering sin is presented as the faithfulness and righteousness of God. The faithfulness of God includes in itself His truthful fulfilment of the promises which He has given. Forgiveness is a matter of righteousness - God does not punish the same sins twice. If the sins of God's elect were laid upon Christ, then they have received their punishment. The past, present and future sins ( in this world ) of God's chosen people have been died for by Christ. The debt has been paid, the punishment has been exacted. what sin deserved has been inflicted upon the glorious substitute, the Surety provided by God's grace. " Grace reigns through righteousness," ( Rom.5:21) God's righteousness has not been compromised when He forgives sinners, He is ' just and the Justifier ' of believers. 

" Our confession of sin is not a mere outward one but an inward act, grounded in the whole inward direction of the spirit ; forgiveness is inward also. " ( A.Neander )

NOVEMBER 12

" and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

Forgiveness of sin is by the blood, as is the cleansing of sin. Forgiveness is an act of God ( justification ), cleansing is a purifying process, a work in progress ( Ephes. 5:27. Coloss. 1;22). " Thus a twofold fruit comes from forgiveness ; That God, who is reconciled by the sacrifice of Christ, forgives us ; and that He corrects us and reforms us." ( Calvin ) Sin is both a debt and a stain ; Christ has paid the debt and removes the stain, making us fit for heaven. He is true to His word and faithful in His covenant ( Heb.10:23).He has promised forgiveness and righteousness to believers. Our answer to sin is by repentance and faith - " I have sinned, but Christ has died." said John Newton under conviction. ( Rom.8:32-34) 

" Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power. 

 All for sin could not atone, Thou must save and Thou alone." ( A.M. Toplady )

NOVEMBER 13

" If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." 1 John 1:10.

 Those who claim for themselves purity, blaspheme God. They reject this great truth which shuts us all up under guilt. For we see that He everywhere condemns the whole human race of sin. Therefore, whoever attempts to evade this accusation wars against God, as if He persecuted them without a cause. To confirm this he adds, and His Word is not in us. - because he rejects this great truth that we are all guilty before God. From this we learn that we only progress properly in the Word of the Lord when we are really humbled, so as to groan under the burden of our sins, and learn to flee to God's mercy, and rest only in Him. ( John Calvin )" The believer is cleansed from all unrighteousness. This includes forgiveness of all deceitful and dishonest dealing about sin, with God and with our own conscience." ( R.S.Candlish)

NOVEMBER 14

" And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1.

This reminds us of the daily sins of God's people after conversion, they still need the Mediator. ' We must not seek other advocates to recommend us to God ', says Luther. When sin or the devil accuses, we call upon One to help us, to speak for us in intercession ( Rom.8:33,34. Heb.7:25). He has been appointed in the court of God for this purpose ( Heb.9:24), that our souls may run to Him with confidence when they are in distress. The advocate has to deal with the Law, and Christ pleads His merit and His blood to defend His people. " They still sin in this world and are guilty, but it is not a guilt which requires atonement." ( Rutherford ) This is because the debt has been paid, and the resurrection is ' God's receipt.' ( Rom.4:25) " The heart of Christ in heaven is still toward these sinners on earth." ( Thomas Goodwin )" Christ is our representative. He defends us at the Father's throne. Satan may stand as the accuser of the brethren ( Zech.3:1-5. Rev.12:10 ), but Christ stands there as our Advocate, He pleads on our behalf. Continuing forgiveness, in response to HIS prayers, is God's answer to our sinfulness." ( W.Wiersbe )

NOVEMBER 15

" And He is the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 2:2

" The word ' propitiation has to do with satisfaction. The righteous demands of the law were satisfied by the sacrifice of Christ." ( J.A.Blair )

A sacrifice of propitiation was appointed by God to take away His wrath against sin and thus sinners. This is the word used by the Publican when he said, ' God be merciful to me,' - propitiation removes the barrier to mercy so that it goes forth to the sinner. The wrath has been taken away ( Isaiah 12:1), laid upon Another, who willingly bore the penalty inflicted by the offended justice of God ie. His wrath and curse against sin. This aspect of God's character has been effaced by the modern church, another symptom of how the Bible is under attack. Christ was more than a Teacher, an Example - He came as a sacrifice to take away sin. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews is full of this truth ; the Old Testament Scriptures prepared the world for it. 

( Ps.40:6-9 ) God gave and sent His Son, and the Son sacrificed Himself, all freely done without constraint or obligation. To change the character of God to fit our modern views is to change the character of sin and what it deserves - perhaps this is the reason behind it ! Alas, the pride of sin. But a name change will not take it away, only Christ can do that.

NOVEMBER 16

" And not for ours only, but also for the [ sins of ] whole world." 1 John 2:2.

This can mean Gentiles as well as Jews. It certainly does not include the damned in hell, the devil, Cain, Pharaoh, Judas. ' Many sinners were already in hell when Christ died.' ( Spurgeon )" This propitiation made by Christ embraces all who believe the Gospel. I pass over the dreams of the fanatics, who make this a reason to extend salvation to all the reprobate, and even to Satan himself.Some have said that ' Christ died sufficiently for the whole world but effectively for the elect ' - I deny that it fits this passage. For John's purpose was only to make this blessing common to the whole church. Therefore under the word ' all ' he does not include the reprobate, but refers to all who would believe and those who were scattered through various regions of the world." ( John Calvin)

Christ's death accomplished all that God intended. To say otherwise is to make Christ a failure, defeated by man's will.

NOVEMBER 17

" He that says, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments is a liar."  1 John 2:4.

The Christian's knowledge is not unfruitful ( 2 Pet.1:8) but brings forth the fruit of obedience. " You shall know them by their fruits," said the Lord. A painted tree, be it ever so beautiful, brings forth no fruit ; but a living tree bears fruit. A careful and diligent keeping of God's commandments shall keep our confession true, our conscience void of offence, and we shall have an evidence that we know Christ. This will keep your grace sound. The more you are obedient and fruitful, the more grace is increasing. If there is no sincerity in you, you cannot keep God's commandments as your way. But, on the other hand, although you may stumble in your endeavours, if it is the grief of your soul when you go out of the way ; then you may have comfort, your profession is sincere. ( John Cotton )

NOVEMBER 18

" I write to you, little children...I write to you, fathers..I write to you, young men."  1 John 2:12-14.

The word of God has something for all stages of the Christian life. a Christian has his degrees of growth ; childhood, 1 Corinth.3:1,2 ; youth or well grown age, no longer spoon fed ; old age, acts 21:16. It is a wise child that knows his father, and God has no child who does not know Him. Old men love to speak of ancient things ( 1 Chronicles 4:22). The old know God with a knowledge of acquaintance, with much familiarity. They are not far from knowing Him as they also are known ( 1 Corinth. 13:12. To this pitch of perfection all of God's people must aspire, as all men do follow after old age. The you men shall show their strength ( Prov.20:29 ) by resisting the devil. Weak grace may evidence pardon of sin, but it is strong grace that can overcome the temptations of Satan. ( John Trapp )

NOVEMBER 19

" Love not the world."  1 John 2:15.

John makes it plain that you cannot love God and the world at the same time ; one love will overcome the other, disprove the other. Sin's power within us will be indifferent to God's character, it will not make us wary of the world and its dangers. The world appeals to our eyes, our innate ( fallen ) desires and our pride, our self-bias. The world's advertising industry, which is everywhere, appeals to our appetites and not our conscience. It also influences us to judge by our appetites and not by God's guidelines on morality. We live in a moral society, where clear standards of right and wrong, absolute truth and falsehood, are banished, often by government laws. But those who attach themselves to the world's aims and ways are devoting their lives to something which literally has no future. Moreover, many in the visible are like Demas who sacrificed the next world for the temporary pleasures of this one, ' having loved this present world ' ( 2 Tim.4:10)

NOVEMBER 20

" Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." 1 John 2:15.

Of all the calamities that have been visited upon the world, the surrender of the human spirit to this present world and its ways is the worst, that we should accept this world as our ultimate home. No oriental monarch ever ruled his cowering subjects with any more cruel tyranny than things - visible things, audible things,tangible things - these rule mankind. That we who were made to communicate with angels and with the God who made them all, should settle down here like a wild eagle come to settle down in a barnyard ! Man, made in the image of God, is now a fallen being, and has all but forgotten the place from which he came. This is why the devil sees to it that we seldom get alone with time to think and meditate on the reality of the other world, a better world. ( A.W.Tozer )

NOVEMBER 21

" And the world passes away. " 1 John 2:17

John is contrasting two ways of life ; a life lived for eternity and a life lived for time. A worldly person lives for the pleasures of the world, a Christian lives for the joys of the Spirit. One lives for seen realities, the other for unseen realities ( 2 Corinth. 4:8-18), like Noah ( Heb.11:7.) Some live for the world's approval, or the church's approval, and some live for God's approval." This present world system is not a lasting one, " The fashion of this world passeth away. ( 1 Corinth.7:31). Everything around us is changing, but the things that are eternal never change. A professing Christian who loves the world will never have peace or security, because he has linked his life with that which is in a state of flux."( W. Wiersbe ). " He is no fool who gives away what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." ( Jim Elliot, martyred missionary )

NOVEMBER 22

" Even now are there many antichrists ; whereby we know that it is the last time."  1 John 2:18.

The ' last time ' is the time between Christ's first and second Coming, the ' last days '( Heb.1:2.) The New Testament era would be characterised by religious deception and growing worldwide opposition to Christ's reign. The prefix ' anti ' can mean 'opposed to ', it can also mean to ' take the place of.' And certainly there are some opponents of Christ who want to take His place, which is a subtle way of opposing Him. These boast of their status, and want to lead God's people, but not according to Christ's words. This describes the rise of the Papacy in the fifth century AD. cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4.)" You cannot make yourself great and Christ great at the same time ! " ( Hugh Martin ) Paul said that this would happen in the church ( Acts 20:29,30 ), and it has. The antichrist is a usurper, and has many followers. This is his plan, to come between the sinner and Christ, to draw attention to Himself, and thus, as a consequence, away from Christ. We live in the age of religious deception, and amid the ' poison of subjectivism.' ( C.S. Lewis)

NOVEMBER 23

" They went out from us...that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. " 1 John 2:19.

If we depart from Christ's word, how can we still say that we are following Him ? That would be contradictory, if not defiant, and yet many say this while they openly contradict or ignore Christ's words. But, He said, " My sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me. " ( John 10 ) John is describing how the church is sifted on the basis of the truth taught by Christ ; external membership was no proof of Spiritual union to Christ ( Rom.9:6). The genuine disciples would adhere to the Apostolic teaching derived from Christ the Head of the church ( Rom.6:17). This departure happens in every generation ( John 6:60-71). These men and women were attractive to others, but they themselves were not attracted to all the truths that Jesus taught in the Gospels and also through the inspired Apostles. Not all of them will admit it, some, like Judas, will stay until they fall. Alas, how many in the visible church fail to believe all the truth of the Bible - the devil believes Genesis to Revelation, unlike them. No one can go to heaven by contradicting God, nor by lip-service either. Believers confess that they need Christ to teach them, and fear to be left to their own wisdom. " The object of John's epistle was not to communicate something new, but to bring into active and decisive use the knowledge they possessed already." ( B.F.Westcott)

NOVEMBER 24

" Let that therefore abide in you..remain in you, you shall continue in the Son."1 John 2:24.

The Apostle John emphasizes how we must continue in the truth, abide in Christ's teaching, taught by the Holy Spirit ( vs.27,28 ). We must be able to say with the Apostle before we die, " I have kept the faith." ( 2 Tim.4:7) amidst the modern Downgrade. " Persevere and hold fast the faith of the Gospel without wavering in it, Ephes.4:14, or separating from it, 2 Peter 2:20. Stand fast, for you are sure to be shaken ; the tree must be shaken so that the rotten fruit may fall off. There are those who wish to carry you into the by-ways to hell. Your enemies are many and crafty. The children of God must resemble their Father ( vs.29). " ( John Trapp)

NOVEMBER 25

" Beloved, now are we the sons of God. " 1 John 3:1.

This is now what we were before ( Ephes.2:3). He adopted us into His family, by regeneration we became His children ( John.1:10-13. Ephes.2:19 ), with all the privileges of adoption, including the inheritance of heaven. Now they may enjoy this new state. Rich and poor, learned and unlearned, partake alike of this honour ; nor does God withhold it from any on account of their remaining infirmities ( Ps.89:30-34). Even now, while the world despises them, does God own His relation to them. How sweet a sense of this to their souls is this relation to them. To what a glorious state does it lead them in a better world ! Well might the apostle break forth in wonder and admiration, Behold ! ( Charles Simeon ). In verses 3 and 4 the Apostle goes on to say what these children should be like while they live in this world and prepare for the next.

NOVEMBER 26

" When we see Him we shall be like Him." 1 John 3:2.

This likeness begins to be formed at the new birth, and complete conformity when we see Him ' with these eyes ' ( Job 19). " We shall glorify Him in beholding Him, and shall be glorified in the beholding." ( Augustine ) This sinless state is what believers groan for and pray for. Then they shall at last love Him with all their hearts and sin no more against Him. The glory of Christ is somewhat veiled to us, ' it does not yet appear '. Nor could we see it now in this world without being overwhelmed ( as John was, in Revelation ch.1). This continuous transformation is unstoppable ( 2 Corinth.3:18), despite the powers ranged against us, outside and inside. The soul is at death made perfect in holiness ( Heb.12:23 ) and the body at the resurrection ' made like to His glorious body ( Philipp.3:21) " Which, when I saw, I wished myself among them " ( John Bunyan at the conclusion of the Pilgrim's Progress).

NOVEMBER 27

" Little children, let no man deceive you." 1 John 3:7.

" Very seldom do I hear ' prophecy experts ' spend time on how the Second Coming should affect the way we live today, before He comes.. One of the goals of the deceivers in John's day was to persuade people that a life of righteousness really wasn't all that important. Your lifestyle, these antichrists urged, has no relation to the condition of your eternal soul. John severely strikes back at this false teaching. Those who make a continual practice of sin (vs.9) are ' of the devil.' ( vs.8) Jesus taught the same ( Luke 6:43-45. John 8:44). Thus, there are people claiming to be followers of Christ who live such remorselessly wicked lives that they appear to be children of the devil rather than children of God. " ( C.Swindoll )

NOVEMBER 28

" That He might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8.

There is in the world an enemy that we dare not ignore. This enemy is not the creation of religious fancy, not a mere personification of evil for convenience, but as real as man himself. He is a liar, a deceiver and a murderer who achieves his ends by guile and trickery. While he is not omnipresent, ( a Divine attribute alone), he is ubiquitous. He does not grow weary as we do. Satan hates God and everything dear to Him, and, since the Christian is doubly dear to God, he is hated by the powers of darkness with an aggravated fury. In view of this, it cannot be less than folly for us Christians to disregard the reality and presence of such an enemy. ( A.W.Tozer )

Luke 11:14-23 shows the work of Christ in this matter of defeating the devil.

NOVEMBER 29

" For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.    1 John 3:8.

The devil was the author of sin, but Christ came as the Redeemer, the Saviour from sin. We could not undo the devil's work, but Christ came to overcome Him ( Coloss. 2:14,15). " Thus He was the Son of God before the Incarnation ; the Incarnation only manifested it. It manifested what He was before, and to this end, that He might destroy the works of the devil, and the devil himself. He would take away all his dominion and power, particularly his power over death. The works of the devil are especially the sins of men, which he puts upon them, influences them to do and takes delight in. These are destroyed by Christ by His sacrifice and death, being taken upon Him, carried, removed away, finished and made an end of by Him, as verse 5 explains." ( John Gill ) The devil is a defeated foe, but still a dangerous one. However, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ! ( Rev. )

NOVEMBER 30

" If our heart condemns us [ of hypocrisy ], God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things. " 1 John 3:20.

The heart here means the conscience ; our accuser, witness and judge. By its own testimony the conscience accuses, judges, pronounces guilty and condemns. But God's condemnation is greater." God is greater than our heart because He is the Maker of it. He has power over it and the management of it, and He is the Searcher of it. He is the superior Judge, and presides. He knows all things that are in the heart ( and what we are trying to hide ) ; the principles behind the actions of men. He knows them more perfectly, judges them more exactly and condemns them more severely. Hence, if the judgement by the conscience is so great, and sometimes it is intolerable and unsupportable, what will the righteous and dreadful Final Judgement be like ! ' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God '. ( John Gill ) 

" Man sees the deed, but God knows the intention. He sees the heart behind the thoughts and plans." ( T.Kempis )

Our prayer must be that of David, " Search me O God..." Psalm 139:23,24.