Irvine: the characteristics of the Kingdom

Saturday, July 10, 2010
Meditation:
    For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
    —Romans 14:17-18 (NIV)
Quotation:
    When Christians join together to accomplish certain things, one may expect the organizations they form to reflect the characteristics of the Kingdom, but that will only happen as a consequence of the way people live and relate to each other in Christ. It will not necessarily follow from structures, policies, or documents.
    ... Graeme Irvine, former president, World Vision International, in a private communication from World Vision
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your Spirit is the organizing principle of Your church. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Luther: faith a work of God

Friday, July 9, 2010
Meditation:
    For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
    —Romans 8:13-14 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Faith is a work of God in us, which changes us and brings us to birth anew from God. It kills the old Adam, makes us completely different people in heart, mind, senses, and all our powers, and brings the Holy Spirit with it.
    ... Martin Luther (1483-1546), “Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans”, par. 14 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I hear Your Spirit’s voice. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Coleridge: despise it not

Thursday, July 8, 2010
Meditation:
    [Gamaliel’s] speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
    —Acts 5:40-41 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The Jews would not willingly tread upon the smallest piece of paper in their way, but took it up; for possibly, they say, the name of God may be on it. Though there was a little superstition in this, yet truly there is nothing but good religion in it, if we apply it to men. Trample not on any; there may be some work of grace there, that thou knowest not of. The name of God may be written upon that soul thou treadest on; it may be a soul that Christ thought so much of, as to give His precious blood for it; therefore despise it not.
    ... Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834), Aids to Reflection [1825], London: W. Pickering, 1839, Aphorism XXVIII, p. 76 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, make me honor each heart that belongs to You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Soper: meekness

Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Meditation:
    But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
    —Psalm 37:11 (NIV)
Quotation:
    What we call the meekness of Our Lord is more than an aspect of His character: it is its fundamental principle. There is nothing in it of the “inert door-mat”; it was, and is, the practice of uncompromising and unyielding love, the exposition of a new technique in dealing with evil. I believe it to be the business of Christians, especially to-day, first to realize, and then to proclaim, this revolutionary technique as the only way to peace and justice. It won’t be easy, for meekness has little “face value” compared with armaments; but, if the Cross means anything at all, it is the vindication of meekness as the most dynamic and explosive force that humanity has ever known.
    ... Donald O. Soper (1903-1998), Popular Fallacies about the Christian Faith, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1938, p. 76 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, correct my mind, for I resist meekness. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Kraemer: informal Church?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010
    Feast of Thomas More, Scholar & Martyr, &
    John Fisher, Bishop & Martyr, 1535
Meditation:
    Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness...
    —Colossians 1:24-25 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The way of the Church as a body that has the mandate to express the ministry of the great Diakonos [Servanthood] is not spectacular. The “first fruits” of fraternities, house-churches, para-parochial congregations, retreats (not for retreat’s sake, but for the sake of going out into the world) etc. should not continue to exist alongside the Church. They should be acknowledged as really doing the business of the Church.
    ... Hendrik Kraemer (1888-1965), A Theology of the Laity, London: Lutterworth Press, 1958, p. 179 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are calling me to the true work of the church. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Tozer: the conquest of self

Monday, July 5, 2010
Meditation:
Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,
    the man you teach from your law;
you grant him relief from days of trouble,
    till a pit is dug for the wicked.
    —Psalm 94:12-13 (NIV)
Quotation:
    We might well pray for God to invade and conquer us, for until He does, we remain in peril from a thousand foes. We bear within us the seeds of our own disintegration... The strength of our flesh is an ever present danger to our souls. Deliverance can come to us only by the defeat of our old life. Safety and peace come only after we have been forced to our knees... So He conquers us and by that benign conquest saves us for Himself.
    ... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), The Divine Conquest, Harrisburg, Penn.: Christian Publications, Inc., 1950, Revell, 1950, p. 57 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, lead me to surrender to You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Lucado: a timely reminder

Sunday, July 4, 2010
Meditation:
    From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
    —John 1:16-17 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Remind us, O Lord, that you do not exist to bless America. We exist to bless you.
    ... Max Lucado (b. 1955), from a prayer at the RNC, 2004 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are blessed. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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