=December 5th.=
_Belshazzar the king made a great feast. Dan. v. 1._
There was one Guest not invited, but He came, and the work of His finger
glowed upon the wall.--_Selected._
=December 6th.=
_He that watereth shall be watered also himself. Prov.
xi. 25._
The effective life and the receptive life are one. No sweep of arm that
does some work for God but harvests also some more of the truth of God,
and sweeps it into the treasury of life.--_Phillips Brooks._
=December 7th.=
_And they came unto Him, bringing one sick of the
palsy. Mark ii. 3._
Had it not been for the palsy, this man might never have seen
Christ!--_Selected._
=December 8th.=
_Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His
benefits . . . who crowneth thee with loving kindness
and tender mercies. Ps. ciii. 2, 4._
We talk about the telescope of faith, but I think we want even more the
microscope of watchful and grateful love. Apply this to the little bits
of our daily lives, in the light of the Spirit, and how wonderfully they
come out!--_Frances Ridley Havergal._
=December 9th.=
_When thou passest through the waters I will be with
thee. Is. xliii. 2._
God's presence in the trial is much better than exemption from the
trial. The sympathy of His heart with us is sweeter far than the power
of His hand for us.--_Selected._
=December 10th.=
_Then shall ye discern between the righteous and the
wicked. Mal. iii. 18._
Said Anne of Austria to Cardinal Richelieu: "God does not pay at the end
of every week, but He pays at last!"--_Selected._
=December 11th.=
_What is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeared
for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James iv.
14._
"Only one life; 'twill soon be past--
And only what's done for Christ will last."--_Selected._
=December 12th.=
_He (Jesus) . . . looked up to heaven. Mark vi. 41._
In working for God, first look to heaven. It is a grand plan. Over and
over again our Lord Jesus Christ looked to heaven and said, "Father."
Let us imitate Him; although standing on the earth, let us have our
conversation in heaven. Before you go out, if you would feed the world,
if you would be a blessing in the midst of spiritual dearth and famine,
lift up your head to heaven. Then your very face will shine, your very
garments will smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory
palaces where you have been with your God and Savior. There will be
stamped upon you the dignity and power of the service of the Most High
God.--_McNeil._
=December 13th.=
_The disciples were called Christians first in
Antioch. Acts xi. 26._
This name suggests that the clear impression made by our character, as
well as by our words, should be that we belong to Jesus Christ. He
should manifestly be the center and the guide, the impulse and the
pattern, the strength and reward, of our lives. We are Christians. That
should be plain for all folks to see, whether we speak or be silent.