11/20
We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:11
My Peace and Joy
My peace and joy are not in the success of my works, not in the ever new attainment of knowledge, and not in the satisfaction of my conscience, but in Christ and His Cross. By looking at the Cross and waiting upon Him, there are in me peace and joy that pass all understanding. They who think I am a man of works, they who think I am a man of thought, and they who treat me as a moralist, they are they who know not the Redeemer who is at the foundation of my very being.
11/21
The love of God was revealed in us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us. 1 John 4: 9-10
Let God love
God first loved us; not we loved Him. First we are loved by God, and then we are enabled to love Him. Unlike the ruler of this world, God shows us his love without our presentation of something praiseworthy. For God is our Father, and not an exploiter. We should not expect Father's gift by pressing a certain doctrine. Let Himself do that best rejoice Him. Let us stand before Him as His pure children. It is beyond our power to become a warrior of Christian faith. Even if this is possible, we shall not count it praiseworthy of faith. Let God fight on our behalf. We, Christians, should be proud of this highest and greatest gift.
11/22
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but servants by whom you believed, even to each the Lord gave? I have planted, Apollos watered, but only God gave the increase. 1 Corinthians 3: 5-7
Seek God Directly
The Father who raised Jesus Christ from the dead saves each person directly, not through humans or institutions (Galatians 1: 1). Salvation is precious because God directly involves the salvation of each person. Thus it is the grave misconception to seek salvation through a priest or a guru of humans, instead of God Himself. Each person is a child of God and therefore should go to the Father directly without medium of others. One will disappoint to others to whom one asked what should be asked to God directly. The want of the soul is only fulfilled by God; it cannot be made up by any person even Paul, Peter, or the Pope. Human warship is a serious obstacle to pure faith. Rely on God alone and leave from dependence on humans.
11/23
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened so that it cannot save, nor is His ear heavy so that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have come between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, from hearing. Isaiah 59: 1-2
Moral Causes of Affliction
Affliction has to have its physical causes or moral reasons. To us, it is the failure to obey the voice of God, calling to repentance. Are we not hiding in our hearts anything accursed? Are we not clouding clear righteousness? Is there not a Cain among ourselves? (Joshua 7: 1-26) Are we not invoking God's anger on ourselves by pocketing unlawful wealth and possession? These are the questions we have to ask and answer ourselves whenever confronted with any trials. Happy is the human who discovers one's own sin each time one gets strokes of God's lash.
11/24
The gospel which was preached of me is not after human. For I neither received it of human, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:11-12
Influences and Spirit
Not influences, but the Spirit of God is essential. Influences are circumstances, atmospheres both material and moral, social surroundings, church-connections, and anything involved with one's won interest; they are of earth. But the Spirit is an essence, a will-power that works from within, revelatory, individualistic, and without one's own interest; it is of heaven. A person cannot be converted by influences, social or ecclesiastical; but he or she is truly converted by the all-powerful Spirit of God. Paul was an apostle, not by Jerusalemite or Antiochian influences, but by the will of God, according to his own confession. Let us cease to speak of influences, as do pagans and materialists, but of the Spirit of God, as all true Christians ought to do.
11/25
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Jeremiah 1:11
Prophet is Poet
A prophet is a poet, and a poet is a prophet. It is difficult to make distinction between them. One may say, "the prophet is a spokesperson of the will of God, while the poet is a speaker of the heart of the nature." But this distinction does not stand. For a poet cannot understand the heart of the nature without knowing the will of God, and a prophet cannot know the will of God without understanding the nature. Every prophet understands the nature, and every poet knows the will of God. Both the prophet and the poet are the messenger of God, who are directly called by God, not by humans or institutions. Both are the same type of person, who stands closest to living God, in contrast to the priest who manipulates ritual magic and the theologian who disputes letters.
11/26
The days of our years are 70 years; and if by strength they are 80 years, yet their fruit is labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psalms 90:10
Life is Perfect
Life is perfect for the purpose for which it is designed. Although life is imperfect as an end, it is perfect as a means for perfecting our personality. "Tribulation works patience; patience, probation; and probation, hope" (Romans 5: 3-4). Life through its many tribulations raises in us the sure hope of glory. Life properly used is a perfection. Though the days of our years are 70 years, and their fruit is labor and sorrow, yet life by its very transitoriness prepares us for the bliss that fades not away. Knowing the meaning of life, no one like Job curses the day of his birth: "Let the day perish wherein I was born" (Job 3: 3).
11/27
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:14
Jesus, Eternal Friend
Some people may feel loneliness even surrounded by many friends. Some may, however, be ever joyful and happy even without a friend. A friend of eternal is alone and always lives in loneliness. And Christ alone is the only friend. With Him as the friend, one can ever enjoy happiness even stripped of any friend on earth.
11/28
Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the Nation prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. . . Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me. Matthew 25:34-36, 40
Angel in Sickbed
My eyes have not seen an angel. But my eyes saw my beloved in sickbed with her marble countenance, with her "bell-ring" voice and with her tears of morning dew. None but an angel could she be. Such a one, even if unable to rise from sickbed and stays by my side lifelong, will never afford me grief. She must be my daily consolation. Purifying and elevating me, she impresses me with the guardianship of an angel. Need you see an angel? Go and see a chaste lady sick in bed. She has already become an angel spiritually.
11/29
Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I consecrated you, and I predestined you a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1: 5
Mission of Japan
Japan is a laboratory of Asia, as Greece was for Europe. The future of Asian is determined by Japan, as the history of Europe was by Greece. The character that Japan adopts and the religion, the philosophy and the arts that Japan develops will influence over the Asian and endure as their model. It will be compared to the Greek such as Solon, Phidias, and Plato, who founded the Western civilization. Thus we know the responsibility of Japan is not just for the welfare of millions of fellow people, but for the future of trillions of people in the east of Himalaya. How heavy responsibility we have to bear.
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