Simeon: thy increase, my decrease

May 30, 2009
    Feast of Josephine Butler, Social Reformer, 1906
    Commemoration of Apolo Kivebulaya, Priest, Evangelist, 1933

Meditation:
    For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
    -- 2 Corinthians 5:14,15 (NIV)

Quotation:
    I would have the whole of my experience one continued sense—first, of my nothingness, and dependence on God; second, of my guiltiness and desert before Him; third, of my obligations to redeeming love, as utterly overwhelming me with its incomprehensible extent and grandeur.
    ... Charles Simeon (1759-1836), letter to Miss Mary Elliott, Nov. 21, 1834, Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. Charles Simeon, Pittsburgh: R. Carter, 1847, p. 430 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You alone give value to anything of mine.

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Luther: the ideal preacher

May 29, 2009

Meditation:
    If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
    -- 1 Timothy 4:6 (NIV)

Quotation:
    A good preacher should have these qualities and virtues: first, to teach systematically; second, he should have a ready wit; third, he should be eloquent; fourth, he should have a good voice; fifth, a good memory; sixth, he should know when to make an end; seventh, he should be sure of his doctrine; eighth, he should venture and engage body and blood, wealth and honor, in the world; ninth, he should suffer himself to be mocked and jeered of everyone.
    ... Martin Luther (1483-1546), Table-Talk [1566], CCCXCVII. (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, strengthen the character of Your ministers, for the sake of Your name.

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Owen: the source of unity

May 28, 2009
    Commemoration of Lanfranc, Prior of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1089

Meditation:
    I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.
    -- John 17:11 (NIV)

Quotation:
    I should be very sorry that any man living should outgo me in desires that all who fear God throughout the world, especially in these nations, were of one way as well as of one heart. I know I desire it sincerely; but I do verily believe that when God shall accomplish it, it will be the effect of love, and not the cause of love. It will proceed from love, before it brings forth love.
    ... John Owen (1616-1683), Sermon XXI. "Gospel Charity," in Works of John Owen, D.D., London: Johnson & Hunter, 1851, vol. IX, p. 269 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, bring that day of unity in Your name.

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Calvin: persevering

May 27, 2009
    Commemoration of John Calvin, renewer of the Church, 1564

Meditation:
    All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
    -- Matthew 10:22 (NIV)

Quotation:
    It behooves us to accomplish what God requires of us, even when we are in the greatest despair respecting the results.
    ... John Calvin (1509-1564), Letters of John Calvin, Jules Bonnet, ed., letter to Philip Melanchthon, March 5, 1555, vol. 6, p. 158 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I cannot see the end, but Your blessing finds me along the way.

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Robinson: where Scripture leads

May 26, 2009
    Feast of Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605

Meditation:
    Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
    -- Acts 17:11 (NIV)

Quotation:
    I am verily persuaded that the Lord has more Truth yet to break forth out of His holy Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the Condition of the Reformed Churches, who are come to a Period in Religion and will go at present no farther than the instruments of their Reformation. The Lutheran can’t be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things... I beseech you, remember, ’tis an Article of your Church Covenant, that you be ready to receive whatever Truth shall be made known to you from the written Word of God.
    ... John Robinson (1576?-1625) [1620], quoted in The History of the Puritans, or Protestant Noncomformists, Daniel Neal, Harper, 1844, vol. 1, p. 269 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, open our hearts to Your word, wherever it may lead.

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Calvin: faith secure

May 25, 2009
    Feast of the Venerable Bede, Priest, Monk of Jarrow, Historian, 735
    Commemoration of Aldhelm, Abbot of Mamsbury, Bishop of Sherborne, 709

Meditation:
    Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
    -- Psalm 116:7 (NIV)

Quotation:
    When we inculcate that faith ought to be certain and secure, we conceive not of a certainty attended with no doubt, or of a security interrupted by no anxiety; but we rather affirm, that believers have a perpetual conflict with their own diffidence, and are far from placing their consciences in a placid calm never disturbed by any storms. Yet, on the other hand, we deny, however they may be afflicted, that they ever fall and depart from that certain confidence which they have conceived in the divine mercy.
    ... John Calvin (1509-1564), Institutes of the Christian Religion [1559], iii.2.17 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant me faith to get over the hard parts.

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Wesley: why the gifts declined

May 24, 2009
    Feast of John and Charles Wesley, Priests, Poets, Teachers, 1791 & 1788

Meditation:
    But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
    -- 1 Corinthians 12:31 (NIV)

Quotation:
    The cause of [the cessation of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost] was not, ... “because there was no more occasion for them,” because all the world was become Christians... The real cause was, “the love of many,” almost of all Christians, so called, was “waxed cold.” The Christians had no more of the Spirit of Christ, than the other heathens. The Son of man, when he came to examine his church, could hardly “find faith upon earth.” This was the real cause, why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were no longer to be found in the Christian church; because the Christians were turned heathens again, and had only a dead form left.
    ... John Wesley (1703-1791), Sermons on Several Occasions, New York: Carlton & Phillips, 1855, Sermon XCIV. "The More Excellent Way", vol. 2, p. 266. (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, we turn away from dead tradition towards Your living word.

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