September
September 1st
“I have chosen you” (John 15:16).
The daily prayer of each one of us should be: ‘O Lord, I want these words to become real in my life, not only for today, but also for every day.”
If indeed we have been chosen of God then, whatever our difficulties or problem, God will surely provide a solution. All of us have problems, whether we are saved or unsaved, young or old in the faith, growing spiritually or not, spiritually mature or not, all of us will continue to have some problem or other until our last day on earth. We have no promise that if we trust in the Lord we shall be freed from all our problems and difficulties. Rather we may have increasing difficulties and greater problems. However, I do believe that these words have God’s answer for each one of us. ‘I have chosen you.’ What comfort and assurance are ours when we realize that we have been chosen by our neighbors do; knows all our inward corruption, rottenness, failures and shortcomings, how we have failed and grieved Him, yet He is saying these words to us who have been bought, purchased and cleansed by His blood.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.” Heb 10:23.
September 2nd
“I have chosen you out of the world” (John 15:19).
These words are addressed to those who have been definitely chosen by the Lord. In the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul uses seven names to describe God’s people. They are called the Church, His body, the New Man, God’s family or the household of God, God’s workmanship, an holy temple, and the bride of Christ. Why does he call God’s people by the name ‘church’? Eph 1:22. The word ‘church’ in the Greek is ecclesia, which has a special meaning. When the Lord said those words in John 15:16,19: “I have chosen you out of the world”. The word used is a very strong one. It does not mean simple: ‘ I have chosen you as I would choose a friend”. The word the Lord uses here means: “I have drawn or pulled you out by much power”. In other words our Lord has had to exercise His mighty strength in order to pull us out of the world. That is the meaning of the word ecclesia.
The Lord Jesus Christ alone has the power to pull men out of the miry clay of sin, and He came to this earth in order to do so. In that sense He uses the word ‘church’ to describe those who are drawn out, pulled or chosen. Before there can be the evidence of His choice in our lives, these must be the exercise of His choice in our lives, there must be the exercise of His drawing power. Has the Lord chosen you? Have you got that inward assurance which enables you to say: ‘The Lord Jesus has chosen me”? Can you say that evidence is in your life?.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Your eyes have seen all the great acts of the Lord”. Deutronomy 11:7.
September 3rd
“Heaven and shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away”. ( Matt 24:35).
Before you can understand what it is to be chosen by Him you must know the meaning of the word ‘Word’. Whatever you see now upon this earth will soon pass away. Heaven and shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away”. ( Matt 24:35). Things which cannot be shaken shall remain. That which will pass away is called the ‘world’ in the Bible. Even the sun, moon, and stars may pass away, but there are things which will not pass away. Our Lord has chosen us in order to bring us into ‘a kingdom which can not be shaken’. Heb 12:28. if you have been chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ, how much do you posses of that which will not pass away, and how much of that which will pass away? We do not want to know how much money you have in the bank, or how much property you have, and so on, or even how much of the Bible you know. Bible knowledge, however good it may be, will soon be forgotten. Our good deeds will not last forever, nor can we remain good forever, for our nature changes as life goes on, and all of us are full of weaknesses, wasting our time and energies on the things which will pass away.
When we realize that the Lord has chosen us, we realize also how transient is the world in which we live and that nothing in it can give true happiness. The things of the world will appear to us as miry clay in which we can only sink deeper in deeper. The Lord Jesus Christ says: ‘I have chosen you out of the world’. He has come to rescue us from the attraction of earthly things, to pull us out of those things which would drag us down, and to give us everlasting riches. Do not refuse Him, nor cling to the things that will pass away.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “With me… impossible,… with God… possible. Mark 10:27.
September 4th
“Henceforth I call you not servants… but I have called you friends” ( John 15:15).
The Lord says further: ‘I have chosen you out of the world, that I may make you my friend.’ These words are not meant only for the apostles to whom He was speaking. They are meant also for you and me. ‘I have chosen you, to make you my friend,’ He says. Only those who have divine life can understand these words, for how can a sinner living in sin and darkness be GPd’s friend? ‘All things which I have heard from the Father I have made known to you,’ He said, and we can prove to the whole world that we are the friends of the Lord Jesus Christ because day by day those truths and mysteries which have bee hidden even from the heavenly angels are being revealed to us.
The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us those things as we begin to walk with God and learn the secret of talking with Him, and receiving daily something fresh from Him. In Matthew 11:25-27, and 16.17, we read of a man who had been with the Lord Jesus Christ for three years, who had seen many miracles done by Him, and had also heard Him preaching, and who could therefore honestly say to the Lord Jesus Christ: ‘I know everything about you, ate with you, slept with you’. But the Lord Jesus Christ told him: ‘Simon, you do not know me by flesh and blood, but my heavenly Father has revealed this to you.’
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?”. Genesis 18:25.
September 5th
“Thou are my servant, O Israel in whom I will be glorified” ( Isa 49:3).
When the very life of God comes into you, you will be able to say: ‘Now I know the Lord, because His very life is flowing into me, constantly and abundantly, and that life brings to me the revelation of His will and purpose. Now He may punish me and chastise me, yet I know He has chosen me. Nor has He chosen me for only a few days, as the world chooses its favored ones.’
God has chosen us. He has chosen us for a purpose, and He knows how to make us fit for that purpose. Isa 49:3. God had to rebuke Jacob many times, yet He had chosen him, and His choice never changed. It took many years and much patience for God to shape Jacob as a chosen vessel. God could have said: ‘Now Jacod, you are no good. I have made a mistake, and there is no hope for you. You are so weak and hopeless.’ But God never said anything like that. He went on rebuking Jacob and chastising him, till he became Israel. God had chosen him before he was born, and His choice would never change. Whoever you may be, and though you may bear a hopeless testimony before your neighbors; yes, even though your father and mother may have cause to say before your friends that there is no hope for you, and that they think you are worthless and entirely useless, yet God will never cast you off. If you are a true believer He still says to you: ‘My child, I have chosen you; even though you are grieving me and failing me, yet I have chosen you’. The Lord is still saying to you: ‘You may leave me, but I will never leave you. I have chosen you for eternity.’ Oh, what love! What grace! What a Salvation! Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”. Phil 2:11.
September 6th
“Remember me O Lord, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance” (Psa 106:4,5).
I believe the Lord has something to say to us from these words. Read them for yourself on your knees. Read them with faith. Read them again and again, and you will find a change coming into your heart. God uses many situations and circumstances to awaken in us spiritual desire. Very few of us have naturally a real longing and hunger for God. Many of us think of Him only when we want something, or when we are in trouble, in distress, in sickness or in poverty. Very few of us go to God for His own sake. We go to Him only because we want something earthly or perishing, and alas! With many of us, the desires which we have in our hearts are for perishing things which have no real value.
In the beginning, perhaps, we do not know what we are doing, because we have been so carried away by our own childish ideas. We find that those who do not know how to discern the things of God, are carried away by outward appearances, and alas! They do not know it. They are wasting their time, money and energy upon worldly things.
What about you? Have you really a true appreciation of the things of OGd? Can you truthfully say that your hunger and thirst is far greater for the things of God than for perishing things? Alas! In every heart is some desire, some longing and yielding which drags the heart away from God.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “He sent His word and healed them.” Psa 107:20.
September 7th
“O Lord thou knowest, remember me, and visit me” ( Jer 15:15).
We need to pray continually that our loving God may give us that spiritual desire which the Psalmist breathes in these words: ‘Remember me, O Lord’. It does not require a very long prayer to express our desire to know God. It requires only simple faith.
Once a small child was learning English in school. He was learning the letters: a b c. Then one day he began to pray. He said:’ Lord a b c d.’ After a moment’s silence he prayed again: ‘e f g h I j k l m n o p q….’. ‘My child, what are you doing? Interrupted his mother. ‘I am praying, said the child. ‘what are you praying?. ‘Mother, I don’t know how to spell, but God can spell. You say b a t is bat, c a t is cat, f a t is fat. I do not know how to spell even simple words, so I am giving the letters to God and He can do the spelling.’ That child had the right attitude. He was praying with faith. Whether or not you know how to use proper words in prayer does not matter. The question is, do you pray in faith? Can you truthfully say: ‘Yes, Lord, I believe you, you will remember me. Remember me, O Lord, remember!’ These are only simple words, but let them come from the heart. Do not look at yourself, or your condition, or even at your sins and failures. Look away to Him, your loving and living Savior who loves you more than anybody else, whether father, mother, wife, brother, sister, child or friend.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom 14:12.
September 8th
“According to thy mercy, remember thou me for thy goodness sake, O Lord”. Psalm 25:7.
The psalmist says in Psalm 27:10: ‘When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” It is quite possible for the day to come in your life, when your father, mother, brother, sister or loved ones may turn against you. Many fathers and mothers have turned against their wayward children, but God says that though your parents leave you, He will never do so. Do not look at yourself. It does not matter who you are, or how shameful and great your sins may be, or how much you have failed the Lord after new birth; are you willing to say these words before God: ‘ Lord, remember me, even me, to whom shall I go? All my hope is only in thee. O Lord, remember me.’ You will find that simple prayer will bring you nearer to God and God to you.
Look again at the same verse from Psalm 106:4. The Psalmist began: ‘O Lord, remember me’. Then He adds: ’remember me with the favor which thou didst show to thy people’. In John 8:40, 41 and 44, the people were saying:’ We belong to God; we have Abraham as our father’, but the Lord Jesus reminded them: ‘No, you are not God’s people; ye are of your father the devil’. These are very strong words, and such words may offend, but we must remember that they are not the words of men. They were spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ.
To which group do you belong? I do not want to know you nationality, or profession, or wealth or Bible knowledge or name or fame. Are you one of God’s people or do you belong to the second group? It is only by receiving the divine life of God that you can become one of the family of God.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “O our God… our eyes are upon thee”. 2 Chronicles 20:12.
September 9th
“The redemption of the soul is precious. Psalm 49:8.
Are you one of God’s people? Be honest with yourself. Let your first prayer be: ‘Remember me, O Lord with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people.’ What a privilege, what an honor to be one of God’s people. The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world that the son of the devil might become the son of God. How I thank God that He can call me ‘My Son!’; but it is only by receiving the life of God, eternal spiritual life, new divine life, that you can become a child of God. Then even without your asking, you will also have His divine favor. The Psalmist says next: ‘O Visit me with thy salvation’. His real thought is ‘Lord show me fully thy salvation’.
There are many so-called Christians who think that by learning some bible verses, they will receive salvation. But this salvation is great and eternal. It can not be understood with in a few days or even years. It will take eternity itself to know Christ fully. The psalmist says :’O visit me with thy salvation’. He is not saying :’Lord, teach me more about the bible’. He is saying with hunger: ‘Lord, teach me more fully about thy salvation’. You must seek to understand the full purpose and thought of God in everything He does. Why is He seeking you? Why should He take so much time and trouble in searching for you and calling you?
God knows your value better than even your father or mother does. In the eyes of God the value of one soul is far greater than all the wealth of the world. Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “The Lord your God which goeth before you, He shall fight for you.” Deut 1:30.
September 10th
“Things which are despised hath God chosen… that no flesh should glory in His presence.” I Cor.1:28-29.
God is after you, because He knows what He can make of you His partner and a co-worker for eternity. The psalmists desire for God’s salvation is a prayer: ‘O God make me thy chosen vessel’, and in verse 5 he gives the reason:’ That I may see the goodness of thy chosen.’
I went once to a house and saw there on the mantel piece many beautifully painted articles. I asked the master of the house:’ what are these things?’. He answered that they were only ordinary egg shells. He had made a tiny hole and removed the contents, and had been collecting shells in this way for many years. Being a good artist, He had painted a beautiful design on each egg shell. That shell is of no use to you, but an artist can make something beautiful out of it.
God also had a purpose in choosing and calling you, even though you have been ruined and marred by sin, and men can see the marks upon your face. In God’s word we are compared to filthier rags, dry grass, faded flowers, and withered leaves. That is what we are in God’s sight, yet He has chosen us. He wants you and me, to make of us chosen heavenly vessels for His honor and glory. Only God can do such a thing. Man can not do it. Are you willing to be one of God’s chosen vessels? He is willing even if you are utterly worthless. God can make you something useful to Himself for eternity, provided you come and surrender yourself wholly and solely to Him.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Sing unto the Lord, for He hath done excellent things”. Isa 12:5.
September 11th
“O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob His chosen”. Psalm 105:6. Here Jacob is called a chosen vessel, and God chose him knowing all about him. Now how do we choose? Because we are buying for ourselves we choose carefully. We say this is good; that is no good; this is too big and that is too small; this is too old and that is too crushed. That is how we choose. But God says it does not matter if you are ugly and defiled and ruined by sin. Man may say you are useless, but when you go to God He will ask only :’Are you willing to be my vessel? Are you willing to surrender yourself to me?’. That is all. He knows how to wash you, cleanse you and transform you, if you leave yourself in His hands.
Christ knows how to cleanse any filthy sinner and transform him into something glorious. For your part you must only be prepared and willing to become His chosen vessel. God chose Jacob and transformed him into a prince with God even though it took Him 20 years to do so. What would you think were you to take clothes to the laundry, and get them back only after 20 years? Alas! We are much more dirty than our clothes, and our Lord goes on cleansing us till we become like Him. God will not be satisfied till we are ‘confirmed to the image of His Son’. Do you want to be His chosen vessel?. Are you willing to be washed and purified till He is satisfied?
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “The Lord is my strength and song, and He become my salvation.” Psalm 118:14.
September 12th
And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost.” ( Acts 6:5).
I want you to note those words in Acts 6:5, ‘and they chose Stephen’. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the man called Stephen was chosen by the whole multitude. They did not elect him by voting, but chose him with one accord or unanimously. The word ‘chosen’ in the Greek includes the meaning that the choice is ‘without opposition of any kind, unitedly ’. There was no strife, no discouragement, no quarrel. All knew that he had been chosen. The word ‘Stephen’ means ‘crown’, and how triumphant was that man’s life, even though he lived for so short a time. This one man of God accomplished much more in his brief life than we who have been many years in the Lord, and he was indeed worthy to receive a crown, a crown of glory.
We are not told much about Stephen. We do not know anything about his parents or family or qualifications. Suddenly he appears on the scene life a bright shining star, and becomes the very first martyr, calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the moment of death. The meaning of divine choice is revealed to us by the life and ministry of Stephen. Do we, like him, also want to be chosen, or called of God with a heavenly calling? Is there a longing in your soul as had the psalmist in Psa 106:1, where he begins the psalm with the words: ‘Praise ye the Lord’? Praise is a heavenly thing. We praise God for the blessings of eternity, for heavenly, eternal and glorious things, and not merely for earthly things. If we want to live a triumphant life, we must first of all understand what it means to be one of God’s people. ‘Remember me, O God, with the favor that thou barest into thy people, and visit me with thy salvation’.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lird.” Prov 21:30.
September 13th
“If ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me, above all people”. Exo 19:5.
Have you that spiritual conviction that you are one of heavenly people, God’s chosen people, a people that have been pulled out by God’s mighty hand, who have become a heavenly peculiar treasure. Mark that word ‘peculiar treasure’. Man’s standard of choice is based on rank or position or wealth or fame. But God has different standard. Even though we are as filthy rags, ruined by sin and absolutely worthless and useless, yet He says: ‘Oh my son, my daughter, I want you to be my peculiar treasure’. He knows what He can make of you and me for eternity, if we only we place ourselves in His hands. So do not resist God’s hand, when it is His desire to choose you. In Psalm 106:4,5 the Psalmist prays: ‘That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation and glory with thine inheritance’. All these things are exemplified in the life of Stephen, who, in becoming God’s chosen vessel brought to many heavenly joy and as a believer, gloried with all the saints in the great heavenly inheritance.
In the sight of God one soul is more value than all the wealth of the whole world. In this way God teaches the spiritual meaning of heavenly truths brought out in the life of Stephen, an unknown person, about whose family, native village, country or qualifications we know nothing, but who in the eyes of God was most precious.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “all the earth shall be filled with the flory of the Lord”. Num 14:21..
September 14th
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people… and they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake”. (Acts 6:8,10).
This passage in Acts, however, shows how you and I can be chosen for heavenly fame and an eternal name. For example there may be some believers living in a village and you go there and ask: ‘Do you know Subbarao?’ and they will reply: ‘No!’ Though it is only a small village there are few who know his name. How different things are when such a man is chosen of God. Then you could fo to heaven and ask any angel: ‘Do you know Subbarao?’ and he would say: ‘Yes, I know him very well.’ ‘How do you happen to know him?’ ‘He has been chosen by our heavenly king, and our king Himself has told us of His choice.’ Upon earth a man may be nothing, but when he is chosen by God he will be acknowledged with joy and gladness by the heavenly host. The pity is that there are so few believers who are willing to be His chosen vessels.
You may indeed be a fine Christian. Your standards may be high. But God wants more than that. He loves you; He bought you His blood, so as to make you His chosen vessels, His peculiar treasure, His vineyard. His co-worker, and His eternal partner. The first essential thing is to be like Stephen, not working for the sake of position. There are some people who, if you give them some position, will work day and night; but if you do not give them a position, will hang back and do nothing. They are only working for a name. but we are told that Stephen did not work for honor or position. He worked quietly and lovingly.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I wll do it.’ John 14:14.
September 15th
“When the number of disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring… Brethren, look ye out among you, seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word’ ( Acts 6:1,3,4).
When the number of the disciples was multiplied, and the Lord was working mightily, the devil brought in murmurings and grumblings among the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration, thus subtly bringing strife and quarrelling amongst God’s people. Throughout the centuries the devil has been using two weapons to hinder the work of God and to prevent His servants from true service. Firstly, when God begins a work and His power is being manifested in lives, there come murmurings, complaints, and quarrelling among God’s people, and through this the work is upset and hindered. A few of that type of murmuring believers can quench the Spirit of God and the work suffers.
Secondly, the devil tries to hinder God’s servants from ministering the Word, and compels them instead to serve tables. He wanted the apostles to leave their important ministry and do this. First things must be kept first; and by His grace we can do so. He will give us wisdom, even as He gave divine wisdom to His servants in Acts 6:5. ‘ And the saying pleased the whole multitude’, and they chose men like Stephen, who went from house to house helping the people, and caring for the widows and poor people. They were known to nobody; their birth and history is a secret: they sought simply to serve wherever they saw the need; and when the time came, the whole multitude with one accord chose them because they had been watching their lives and had noted how they served without any show, and were yet at the same time dull of the Holy Spirit and of divine wisdom for every service.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” I Thess 5:24
September 16th
“Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men… for ye serve the Lord Christ” ( Col 3:23-24).
We too need the anointing of the Holy Spirit whatever the service may be, however small or howsoever great. It may be only to serve the widows and the poor, or to look after the building, or to serve food or to lay mats or any similar job in the house of God. Whatever it is we must have the anointing, and be filled with wisdom and the Holy Ghost, not seeking glory of men. We require Holy Ghost wisdom and divine anointing to find out what should be done in God’s house and God’s service, and we must do everything as unto Him and not as unto men.
Do you also want to be a divinely chosen vessel? Then be willing and ready to do simple things joyfully, not for man’s sake, but for God’s; and God himself will fill you with His Holy Spirit and wisdom. That is how Stephen came to be chosen as God’s vessel. Acts 6:8; ‘ And Stephen full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people.’ He was appointed only to look after the widows and business details, but it was soon manifest that he was a man of faith.
If you are willing to do His will choose and make you a man of faith. You will be made to see the wonders of God’s working. He is the Living god. In acts 6:10, we read: ‘And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the power and the spirit by which he spake.’ Stephen went about doing his job, and at the same time he gave the Word to all he met. He was a humble ordinary man, but a man also full of the spirit of God, and a divine wisdom that could shut the mouths of the learned. It is only as you obey God that He will give you the divine wisdom to meet any situation and make of you a chosen vessel.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation’. Isaiah 61:10.
September 17th
“O my Lord, I am not eloquent… but I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue, and the Lord said unto him; who hath made man’s mouth?... have not the I the Lord? No therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say”. Exodus 4:10-12.
I would like to tell you my own experiences, for I count it a great and wonderful thing that my Lord has chosen me. I want others also to realize how simple are the means by which He calls and speaks to us, lest they have failed to hear when they are called by Him.
Soon after my conversion in the year 1930 in Winnipeg, Ca, I went to a service one Sunday morning. After the meeting I was standing outside, when a man came up and shook my hand. I can still feel his strong grip as he said to me: ‘Brother, why don’t you go and preach in India?’. I replied: ‘Brother, I am an engineer. I have spent so many years studying engineering; and to make things worse I stutter and stammer and am so nervous that I can not stand before even a small group of people. When I see them, my knees begin to shake. How can a stammering and stuttering man ever be a preacher?’ He said nothing more, but for two full years those words were brought before me again and again. I could feel the hand-grip, with the same words ringing in my heart: ‘ why don’t you? Why don’t you?’
I told the Lord: ‘Lord, I promise that I will give all my money. By this means I can employ so many preachers; but please do not make me a preacher!’ But God said to me: ‘ I do not want your money. I want you!’. But for two full years these words came to me again and again. It is a mystery indeed why our God should ever choose us. It is because He has a right over us. He is my creator and the mighty God, and He knows that when we yield ourselves to Him, and obey and follow Him, we shall no more fully and completely the power by which He works in and through us.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “What aileth thee? Fear not; for God hath heard.” Gen 21:17.
September 18th
“And all that sat in the council, looking stead fastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel” ( Acts 6:15).
Stephen was just an ordinary man, concerning whose family or parents or circumstances we know nothing; but suddenly he comes on the scene, and we find this chosen vessel being occupied with simple jobs, doing ordinary service for poor people and widows without any reward. All men began to see, however, that he was indeed no ordinary person. His longing was to please God, and his life was full of victory. Because he chose to obey God, he was full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, full of faith and power. This is the privilege of those who are chosen by Him. When you have a longing in your heart to do God’s will, wait on God, and you will see that, in His own way, He will give you the desire of your heart. You do not have to shout and fight for the fulfillment of your hopes. Just begin to obey Him and His Word, and receive the Word into your heart, and you will find the virtues you have linged for manifested in your life. You will become God’s chosen vessel according to His purpose.
In Acts 6:13-15, we see how the leading men of the nation set up false witnesses against Stephen. Then elders and the scribes were stirred up and came upon Stephen and caught him and brought him to the council, and began to bring accusation against him, and while they were saying false things, all in the council looked upon his face, and were surprised to see it shining like an angel’s. there were so many people against one person. The whole Sanhedrin was against him; one by one they brought false accusations, and yet his face was shining like an angel’s. it shone even more brightly in that time of persecution. What a salvation! What a vessel! What a privilege to have such a shining face!
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Go thy way, and as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee” Matt 8:13.
September 19th
“The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia” ( acts 7:2 ).
When we come to the Lord Jesus Christ, His light will first of all come into the heart, then on the face, then on the path. A threefold divine light. Have you become in this sense God’s chosen vessel? What has happened? The Lord, not preachers nor sermons, but the living God, has given you a shining face, and if this is so, your face will shine more and more day by day, in spite of trials, troubles, tribulations and difficulties. It is by such a shining face that we defeat the enemy. There was no need for an advocate to defend Stephen. His shining face that we defeat the enemy. There was no need for an advocate to defend Stephen. His shining face was an advocate for him. It should be the same with you. Even though others may hate you, persecute you or ill-treat you, you should still have the light upon your face as a witness and testimony to them. 2 Cor 4:6. as you are found waiting upon the Lord, there will be even more light upon your face. Unknown to you, others will see the light of God upon your face, and in that day you will thank God even for suffering. Note how Stephen defends himself in Acts 7:2. He is not saying: ‘O enemy, hearken!’ He says: ‘My brethren, hearken!’ The whole crowd is against him, yet he is calling them ‘brethren’, and his face is shining so brightly. Somehow he knew what they were thinking in their hearts, and his message gave the answer: ‘The God of glory appeared to Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran’. He speaks of God as ‘the God of glory’. For what purpose? That as a nation the seed of Abraham might have that very same glory. But Israel had forgotten all about it. Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins”.Acts 10:43.
September 20th
“YE are the temple of the living God, as God hath said; I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people’ ( 2 Cor 6:16).
From the very beginning it was God’s plan for Israel that His glory might fill them. For this reason, when the work on the tabernacle, and later on the temple, was finished, we read that ‘ the glory of the Lord filled the place.’ Exod. 40:34, and 2 Cron 7:1. Solomon’s temple and the tabernacle were both filled with the glory of God. God had not asked for gold or silver from them, but a place to be filled with His glory. They were taught how they themselves could be filled with God’s glory. But they had entirely forgotten about it. Their eyes were only on themselves, and on the temple and its magnificence. They were so proud of the temple which was made with hands; but the God of glory had appeared that they might see His glory, and might themselves be indwelt by His glory. God does not live in buildings made by hands. He wants to live in a living temple. God wants a temple that His people may learn the divine law by which they can be indwelt by Him. This does not mean that they shall see God’s glory for a moment only, but shall be filled and indwelt by that glory for eternity.
What is God’s purpose in choosing you? He does not want your money, your gold or your silver, but He wants you. He wants you that His glory may fill you, that His presence may be with you, that you may live anew and walk anew. God wants your body to be His temple, so that His glory may come into you. That is the reason why He has chosen you. When you have allowed the God of glory to enter into your heart as His temple, you will know the truth of the indwelling of the God of glory.
May God help us to see His glory and to reflect it in our faces.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse:
“I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication.” I king 9:3.
September 21th
“and the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house!” ( 2 Chronos 7:2 )
The first necessity is to be God’s chosen vessel and to come into the hand of the Lord. This demands a willing-ness on our part. After this step it will be made clear how the Lord will bring us into the other two experiences, which lead the one into the other.
Now we come to the second part: ‘that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation.’ In verses 1 to 50 Stephen narrated the whole history of the nation of Israel to show God’s purpose in choosing that nation. We can divide the story into seven types. The first three are represented by Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. From these we pass to Egypt, the wilderness, Canaan, and the divine temple built by King Solomon, Stephen began his account with Abraham and ended with Solomon. He could go no further, for his accusers were very angry with him, but he had said all that was necessary. Stephen had revealed the secret that God had been preparing His nation that they might receive from Him a great heavenly joy. ( 2 Chron 7:1-3). That was the happiest day for them as God’s people, the zenith of the whole history of the nation. When the work of the temple had been completed according to the heavenly plan given by God, the fire came down and consumed the sacrifice, and then God’s glory filled the whole temple. All the children of Israel bowed themselves with their faces to the ground, and worshipped and praised the Lord. They were filled with heavenly joy, for they had never seen such a thing before
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”. Luke 6:46.
September 22nd
“Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” ( Rom 6:4).
First, God chose Abraham and through him Isaac and Jacob. In the lifetime of Jacob they went to Egypt, from whence they came to the wilderness, and after wandering there for forty years, came into the promised land of Canaan. Even in the land they had many years of waiting and suffering but at last in the temple, they saw the fulfillment of God’s plan when He filled His house with His glory.
There is a deep significance in the way God chooses His men for His purpose. Id there not something in the fact that Abraham’s wife was barren, Isaac’s wife was barren, and Jacob’s wife, Rachel also was barren? Surely God is showing how, of ourselves, we are barren. Sin came into the world, and brought the whole world into a state of barrenness, and that barrenness cannot be removed by human effort. Israel was barren for many years that men might know that because of sin we remain barren. The first lesson God wants us to learn as human beings is that we are by nature barren and unfruitful.
Do you want heavenly joy; the joy of fruitfulness? Then the first thing is to learn the power of His resurrection, and to know that the same power is available to you to conquer death and barrenness in your life. He died and was buried and rose again, that He might make available to us the power of His resurrection. Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “A soft answer turneth away wrath”. Prov 15:1.
September 23rd
“These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me, ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’ John 16:33.
Isaac is another type. Genesis 26:12 :’The Lord blessed him’, and ‘He became very great’: ( Verse16 ) :He being God’s chosen vessel, prospered where ever he went. Then all the men of the land became jealous and said: ‘Go away from us!’ but God told him to go to a new place. There again, Isaac became prosperous and very great and again the men became jealous of him. But he kept on moving under the guidance of God till he came to a place called Beersheba, a far better place. God was with him because he refused to be led into strife, hatred and enmity; and finally when he came to Beersheba, the place of covenant, God said to him: ‘Fear not, for I am with thee; and will bless thee’ (Verse 24).
When a man is blessed by God, he is bound to be opposed and hated. The devil will try many means to bring God’s people into strife, hatred, and seek somehow take away their joy, peace and faith. Is it thus with you? Then keep on moving in the direction God indicated and refuse to be involved in hatred, strife and jealousy, and God will bring you at last to Beersheba. He will give you much more than you ever had before. Our Lord said in John 16:20,22 :’Your sorrow will turn into joy, and you joy no man taketh from you’. Refuse to be dragged into strife, hatred and jealously. That is the message of Isaac.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart”. Psalm 31:24.
September 24th
“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against… the rulers of the darkness of this world… Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God”. ( Eph 6:12-13). Even before the birth of Jacob God purposed to make him a prince, but Jacob was deceived by his own mother. She loved him so much, and he did what she commanded, and tried to realize the promise of God in a wrong way. It was only after many years of struggle that he became a prince with God and men. From the life of Jacob God wants to teach us how to become princes and partners with God. Then came Egypt. The children of Israel remained there for four hundred years. Their numbers multiplied and Pharaoh became bitter against them. God allowed them to remain in bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt for so long that they might learn how cruel and unkind and wicked was the enemy.
They had to work from early morning till night, carrying heavy stones, and bearing heavy burdens, without proper wages, till at last, in their misery, they prayed: ‘O God, deliver us; see our affliction and our tears,’ and God heard their crying and sent then a savior. But before they could be delivered God sent tem plagues upon Egypt. Why? That the people might realize the deceptiveness of the enemy. Every servant of God must learn how wicked and cunning is the enemy who is trying to drag God’s children into darkness. When he forgets the power of the dominion of Satan and darkness, the servant of God will surely come into bondage. Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us”. Isaiah 26:12.
September 25th
“As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). When the children of Israel came into the wilderness they were made to wander there for forty years, doing no work, having no field and owning no building. As for their food the Lord said: ‘I will send manna every day.’ They had to do one thing, however, and that was to remain in the place where they had pitched their tents till God’s cloud over the tabernacle moved forward ( Num 9:18-22).
Immediately the cloud moved they had to go forward, whatever the time of day or night, and whatever the direction it might take. They could not go as and where they liked while they were in the wilderness. They were God’s people, and they must be led, governed and controlled by God in everything. It was a simple lesson, but one which was very hard for them to learn. God wants you and me to learn the same lesson; to learn to be led by the Spirit, (Rom 8:14). God’s people are given the gift of the holy Spirit. He is Savior and also Guide. The child of God must be controlled and governed by Him alone. This is only possible when we die to our own will, and it takes many years to learn that lesson.
From the wilderness God’s people came to Canaan, the land of promise, the land flowing with milk and honey, in itself a symbol of God’s provision for His people. God commanded them never to make any covenant or league with the inhabitants of the land, nor to intermarry with them, yet by disobedience they failed God. When the men of Gideon came to Joshua, without seeking God’s counsel, Joshua made a league and the same men became a snare to them. Gradually mixed marriages were entered into, idol worship and other forbidden things became the rule of the day, and the people became blind spiritually.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell”. Num 35:34.
September 26th
“The world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever”. ( I John 2:17 ).
If a child of God wants to enjoy the heavenly Canaan there has to be a life of utter separation from the world and worldly ways and pleasures. Why is there barrenness among God’s people everywhere? They have good teaching and yet they are blind and barren. One cause is the league and covenant so many make with the world. Some in the matter of clothing and fashions, some by marriage, and others by business. How can such know the provision in the Lord Jesus Christ? He is our heavenly meat and drink, and gives abundant satisfaction; but you must be true to Him. Perhaps it will mean that some will have to remain unmarried for many years, because of the difficulty of finding a truly spiritual husband or wife; but it is better so than to live a life of pleasure and to remain spiritually barren.
Latter came the building of the temple. God chosen David, and after many years of suffering, he was given the heavenly plan. ( I Chron 28:19 ). God also showed David the site for the temple. David gave the plan and material to Solomon was a man of peace, and the work was done, not only in times of peace, but the very labor also was performed in conditions of peace and quietness till every small detail given in God’s plan was complete. Then the king and the people brought sacrifices and offerings, and suddenly fire fell from heaven, and the whole temple was filled with God’s glory.
Note the steps by which God led His nation. He led Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob as individuals, then He led His people to Egypt, then through the wilderness, then into Canaan, then to the building of the temple, and to the glory of God dwelling in the midst of His people with heavenly splendor and power. Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him”. Lam 3:15.
September 27th
“If children then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ”. ( Rom 8:17 ).
Note the deep longing of the psalmist in the verses from Psalm 106:4,5, and, with him, make the last part of verse 5 your own ‘that I may glory with thine inheritance.’ When we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personnel savior, we become partakers of the great inheritance. For us as believers sometimes it takes many years to learn the value of our heavenly inheritance. Let us learn it now. The Word of God is so clear and plain that when we receive our Lord as our personnel savior, we are given the right and authority to become the sons of God. We are God’s sons for eternity, because of His everlasting love, which we have received by faith. We have a share in the inheritance of the Lord Jesus Christ. The enjoyment of the inheritance depends upon your faith. Rom 8:17,18: ‘And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.’ These things go together. If you can say: ‘ I am a child of God’, then automatically you can say also: ‘ I am a heir of God, and fellow-heir with the Lord Jesus Christ.’
You must believe that you are called and chosen for a great and everlasting inheritance. By receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord we enter into a full spiritual partnership. First of all we become partakers of the divine nature: 2 Peter 1:4, Secondly, we are partakers of the Holy Spirit; Heb 6:4, thirdly, we are partakers of the heavenly calling; Heb. 3:1. Fourthly we are partakers of the God’s holiness; Heb 12:12. Fifthly, we are partakers of the glory to be revealed; 1 Peter 5:11. Sixthly, we are partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; Col 1:12. Seventhly, we are partakers of the Lord Himself; Heb 3:14.
“Trust in Him at all times… God is a refuge for us”. Psalm 62:8.
September 28th
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in Light.” Col 1:12.
How wonderful to be partakers of God’s heavenly inheritance. Our loving God has chosen us to bring us into that spiritual, incorruptible and glorious inheritance which He wants us to enjoy. You must believe that you have a share in that inheritance. There are so many believers who think only of Salvation in terms of going to heaven. They think that God is merciful and forgives sins so that they can go to heaven, and it does not matter whether they are given even only a small corner, so long as they are there.
That is how the enemy deceives and deprives you of your share in the heavenly inheritance. You have to claim your share and enjoy it by living an overcoming life. The Lord Himself says in Revelation 21:7 :’He that over-cometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son’. Even if you inherit all the things of the new creation, you will have no greater claim than that over your Lord. You will be able to say: He is my Lord, my own God; I can go to Him at any time and anywhere’. In this way we are giving a for-taste of heaven upon this earth.
In the early days of you life, as you kneel to pray, you may think of prayer in terms of earthly things. We ask God only for earthly things. If God answer our prayers, we say: ‘He is a very good God!’, but when troubles, trials and sorrow come, or someone dies in the family, then we ask: ‘ where is God? Where is He?. I have done so many good deeds yet the Lord has laid upon me so many trials. He has forsaken me and forgotten me’. Is that true?. You are His child. His ways are higher than your ways. He has called you to a glorious heavenly inheritance, and the enjoyment of the inheritance depends upon your ability to overcome. Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life”. I tim 6:12.
September 29th
“Walk worthy of God who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory”. ( I thess:2.12).
In Romans 8:18, we read that it does not matter how great and painful our sufferings are, for they are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed in and through us. We must believe from our hearts that God has called us to His glorious kingdom: I thes 2:12. I believe God has called me to His glorious kingdom; and if we believe that truth, we shall walk worthy of His calling. You are a child of God, His partner and vessel, and a king, a prince and a priest. Walk worthy of Him. We have to be prepared for that glorious heavenly calling through manifold trials and temptations, hardships and difficulties, and we have no right to tell Him how to train us. God only knows what is best for us, God only knows how to train us, and His chastening, rebuke and trial are for some purpose.
There is an inheritance bound up with the nationality which we receive from our parents. In the same way, as God’s children, the character of our heavenly Father, and the traits of our heavenly nationality must be manifested in us. As sinners we are full of sins, shame and defilement, but after conversion we find some divine virtues in evidence. These are not from family or generation, nor from earthly nationality, but from our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord’s qualities and virtues are being transferred to us; kindness, gentleness, love, long-suffering, patience and forbearance. This is our heavenly inheritance, which we have not received from our parents or teachers or preachers or professors, but from the life of God in us. However, there must be a willingness on our part for these virtues to be manifested in our lives.
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life”. I tim 6:12.
September 30th
“He that over-cometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he shall be my son.” Rev 21:7.
As children of God we have become Kings and priests. That is our privilege; Revelation 1:6 Do not think these words are meant only for apostles, martyrs, and prophets. They are for everyone. All those who are washed, cleansed and purged by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are born into the heavenly family, and are made princes and priests unto God. By inheritance you have also a future. If you are born into God’s Royal family, you know that one day, you will have to reign in His kingdom for ever and ever, and you are being prepared for that. Finally, we are chosen to thy inheritance of God Himself. Our heavenly father loves us with an everlasting love. That is our heavenly inheritance. Let us enjoy His love in its fullness, the love of the heavenly father, friend and bridegroom. But He also longs to be satisfied in us. How much do we love Him. Alas! How often we are ashamed for our heavenly inheritance and our heavenly father.
Alas! There are many believers who are ashamed to own the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior. When they go among friends and neighbors, they are ashamed of Him, and yet when they are in trouble they cry: ‘Oh Lord, help me; help me; I want your help!’. The Lord readily helps, but that does not satisfy His heart. He wants us to be perfectly one with Him, to be fully possessed by Him, to be to Him as the bride to the bridegroom. That is our eternal heavenly inheritance and His. May the Lord give us a deeper longing for that glorious inheritance and the true understanding of all it means.
Today’s calendar’s Bible verse: “Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”. Eph 3:20