Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Lawrence: drawing us to Himself

Tuesday, March 19, 2024
    Feast of Joseph of Nazareth
Meditation:
In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
    even as we put our hope in you.
    —Psalm 33:21-22 (NIV)
Quotation:
    God has many ways of drawing us to Himself. He sometimes hides Himself from us; but faith alone, which will not fail us in time of need, ought to be our support and the foundation of our confidence, which must be all in God.
    ... Brother Lawrence (c.1605-1691), The Practice of the Presence of God, New York, Revell, 1895, Twelfth Letter, p. 40-41 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 33:21-22; 10:1; 13; 22:1-2; 89:46; 147:11; Pr. 3:25-26; John 20:29; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 4:16; 1 John 5:14
Quiet time reflection:
    Am I trusting in God alone?
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Monday, March 18, 2024

Orchard: Breathe on us, breath of God

Monday, March 18, 2024
Meditation:
    The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
    Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
    Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
    —1 Kings 19:11-13 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Breathe on us, breath of God; not as the mighty rushing wind, lest the dimly burning flax be quenched; but with the quiet breath that shall fan to flame our smouldering faith. Inward Presence of our God, we cannot do without Thee! Unless first we hear the gentle whisper of Thy voice, the majesty of fire and storm, the glories of earth and heaven will pass in meaningless pageantry before us. The sacred page of the past and the slowly-traced bible of today will alike be closed to us. As we address ourselves to seek our God, light Thou our hearts with His presence. As we turn to think of Jesus, make our hearts to burn with love. Spirit of the Living God, Spirit of Jesus, Spirit who choosest man’s mind for Thy dwelling; make Thyself known to us now. Amen.
    ... William Edwin Orchard (1877-1955), The Temple: a book of prayers, 3rd ed., New York, E. P. Dutton, 1918, p. 146 (see the book)
    See also 1 Kings 19:11-13; Ps. 46:1-7; Joel 2:28-29; John 14:16-17,23; Rom. 5:5; 8:10-11; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21-22; 1 John 4:4; Rev. 3:20
Quiet time reflection:
    Can I open up more to the indwelling Spirit?
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Sunday, March 17, 2024

Martin: the unity that is true

Sunday, March 17, 2024
    Feast of Patrick, Bishop of Armagh, Missionary, Patron of Ireland, c.460
Meditation:
    But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
    —Romans 3:21-22a (NIV)
Quotation:
    The Churches belong together in the Church. What that may mean for our ecclesiastical groupings we do not know. We have not discovered the kind of outward manifestation which God wills that we shall give to that inner unity. But we must seek it.
    ... Hugh Martin (1890-1964)
    See also Rom. 3:21-22; Ps. 133:1; Matt. 23:8; John 17:20-21; Acts 4:32; Rom. 8:1-2,13-14; 12:16; Gal. 3:7-9; Phil. 2:1-2; 3:8-9; 1 John 1:3,7
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, lead Your people into visible unity.
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Saturday, March 16, 2024

Hovey: the Comforter

Saturday, March 16, 2024
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
    —John 14:16-17 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The word “Comforter” as applied to the Holy Spirit needs to be translated by some vigorous term. Literally, it means “with strength.” Jesus promised His followers that “The Strengthener” would be with them forever. This promise is no lullaby for the faint-hearted. It is a blood transfusion for courageous living.
    ... E. Paul Hovey (1908-1996), The Treasury of Inspirational Anecdotes, Quotations, and Illustrations, Revell, 1959, p. 211 (see the book)
    See also John 14:16-17; Ps. 138:3; Isa. 40:31; Luke 21:14-15; Acts 2:4; 4:31; 1 Cor. 1:8; 2 Cor. 1:8-11; 12:9-10
Quiet time reflection:
    Have I asked for the Strengthener?
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Friday, March 15, 2024

Kurosaki: Christ the Head

Friday, March 15, 2024
Meditation:
    We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
    —1 John 1:3 (NIV)
Quotation:
    [Continued from yesterday]
    If we will practice this living union with Christ, loving each other without any concern about sects and denominations, doctrines or forms, then we shall have the Body of Christ with Him as Head. This is the Ekklesia in its truest and purest sense. Therefore, the Ekklesia is not an institution, not a system, not theology, not the words of the Bible, and not any ritual or ceremony. The Ekklesia exists where there is this life union with God through Christ.
    ... Kokichi Kurosaki (1886-1970), One Body in Christ, Kobe, Japan: Eternal Life Press, 1954, ch. 4 (see the book)
    See also 1 John 1:3; Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:29-30; Col. 1:18-20; 1 Tim. 3:14-15; Heb. 12:22-24
Quiet time reflection:
    Have I valued something else above my union with Christ in the church?
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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Kurosaki: direct fellowship with God

Thursday, March 14, 2024
Meditation:
    For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
    —1 Corinthians 15:22 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Fellowship between God and man, interrupted by the sin of the first Adam, was reopened by redemption bought with the blood of the last Adam. Now anyone can have direct koinonia with God and share His very life—anyone can live a life of love and unity with Christ. This is really the center of Christianity, and “faith” is nothing other than the state of having this life union with God. To be justified by faith means that God has access to repentant sinners through Christ and is thus able to enjoy this koinonia with them. [Continued tomorrow]
    ... Kokichi Kurosaki (1886-1970), One Body in Christ, Kobe, Japan: Eternal Life Press, 1954, ch. 4 (see the book)
    See also 1 Cor. 15:22; John 1:4; 3:6; 5:21; Acts 2:42; Rom. 5:1-2; 1 Cor. 1:9; Gal. 3:24; Phil. 2:1-2; 3:10-11; 1 John 1:3; 5:12
Quiet time reflection:
    Have I grasped fellowship with God as above all other relationships?
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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Hammarskjold: dead to self

Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Meditation:
    If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
    —Romans 6:5-7 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There is a pride of faith, more unforgivable and dangerous than the pride of the intellect. It reveals a split personality in which faith is “observed” and appraised, thus negating that unity born of a dying-unto-self, which is the definition of faith. To “value” faith is to turn it into a metaphysical magic, the advantages of which ought to be reserved for a spiritual elite.
    ... Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961), Markings, tr. Leif Sjöberg & W. H. Auden, (q.v.), New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1964 (post.), p. 106 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 6:5-7; Mic. 6:8; Matt. 7:1-5; 2 Cor. 4:10; Gal. 2:20; 5:24; Phil. 3:8; Col. 2:13
Quiet time reflection:
    Have I ranked my faith above that of others?
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