October 26th.
Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke ii. 10.
It is true that these good tidings of great joy were to be "for all people," but not first. The message falls on our own ears, and is first for our own souls.
Oh, ponder this well! Take all God's truths home first to thine own heart. Ask in earnest prayer that the Spirit may write them with the pen of heaven on thine own conscience. Then wilt thou be a vessel fitted for the Master's use, and carry His message with spiritual power to the souls of others.—F. Whitfield.
October 27th.
Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth. Heb. xii. 6.
Earthly prosperity is no sign of the special love of heaven: nor are sorrow and care any mark of God's disfavor, but the reverse. God's love is robust, and true, and eager—not for our comfort, but for our lasting blessedness; it is bent on achieving this, and it is strong enough to bear misrepresentation and rebuke in its attempts to attune our spirits to higher music. It therefore comes instructing us. Let us enter ourselves as pupils in the school of God's love. Let us lay aside our own notions of the course of study; let us submit ourselves to be led and taught; let us be prepared for any lessons that may be given from the blackboard of sorrow: let us be so assured of the inexhaustible tenacity of His love as to dare to trust Him, though He slay us. And let us look forward to that august moment when He will give us a reason for all life's discipline, with a smile that shall thrill our souls with ecstasy, and constrain sorrow and sighing to flee away forever.—F. B. Meyer.
October 28th.
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you. John xvi. 23.
Prayer must be based upon promise, but, thank God, His promises are always broader than our prayers! No fear of building inverted pyramids here, for Jesus Christ is the foundation.—Frances Ridley Havergal.