Calvin: the favors of grace

Saturday, June 16, 2012
    Feast of Richard of Chichester, Bishop, 1253
    Commemoration of Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham, Moral Philosopher, 1752
Meditation:
    Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
    —1 Timothy 1:13-14 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Our iniquity and depravity prevent us from enjoying that blessed life which is revealed to all men in the law. Hence the grace of God, which succours us without the assistance of the law, is rendered sweeter; and his mercy, which confers it on us, more amiable; from which we learn that he is never wearied with repeating his blessings and loading us with new favours.
    ... John Calvin (1509-1564), The Institutes of the Christian Religion, v. I [1559], tr. John Allen, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1921, II.vii.7, p.319 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your grace is never lacking. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Underhill: the virtue of a rule

Friday, June 15, 2012
    Feast of Evelyn Underhill, Mystical Writer, 1941
Meditation:
Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.
    —Psalm 145:2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    A simple rule, to be followed whether one is in the light or not, gives backbone to one’s spiritual life, as nothing else can.
    ... Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941), The Letters of Evelyn Underhill, Charles Williams, ed., London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 1991, p. 312 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant that I never miss a day of praising You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Baxter: the murderer of the world

Thursday, June 14, 2012
    Commemoration of Richard Baxter, Priest, Hymnographer, Teacher, 1691
Meditation:
    As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
    —Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Use sin... as it will use you. Spare it not, for it will not spare you. It is your murderer, and the murderer of the world. Use it therefore as a murderer should be used. Kill it before it kills you; and then, though it kill your bodies, it shall not be able to kill your souls; and though it bring you to the grave, as it did your Head, it shall not be able to keep you there.
    ... Richard Baxter (1615-1691), “A Treatise of Death”, in The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, v. IV, G. Virtue, 1838, p. 831 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, the world groans under the weight of sin. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Chesterton: is virtue unreasonable?

Wednesday, June 13, 2012
    Commemoration of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, Apologist and Writer, 1936
Meditation:
    Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
    —Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Quotation:
    As the word “unreasonable” is open to misunderstanding, the matter may be more accurately put by saying that each one of these Christian or mystical virtues involves a paradox in its own nature, and that this is not true of any of the typically pagan or rationalist virtues. Justice consists in finding out a certain thing due to a certain man and giving it to him. Temperance consists in finding out the proper limit of a particular indulgence and adhering to that. But charity means pardoning what is unpardonable, or it is no virtue at all. Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all. And faith means believing the incredible, or it is no virtue at all.
    ... Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936), Heretics [1905], New York: John Lane Co., 1909, p. 158 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, all Christian virtue must come from You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Phillips: a living sacrifice

Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Meditation:
    Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
    —Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Following the way of Jesus Christ and doing all we can for His cause and for our fellow men expresses something of our worship in action.
    But how to give Him a present to express our love is a bit of a problem. How can you give God anything when He owns everything? But does He? How about that power to choose, that precious free will that He has given to every living personality and which He so greatly respects?
    That is the only present we can give—ourselves, with all our powers of spirit, mind, and body—willingly, freely, given because we love Him.
    That is the best and highest worship that you and I can offer, and I am sure that it is this above all that God most highly appreciates.
    ... J. B. Phillips (1906-1982), Plain Christianity, London: Macmillan, 1954, p. 63 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, bend my will to Yours. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Aldrich: the music of the Gospel

Monday, June 11, 2012
    Feast of Barnabas the Apostle
Meditation:
    In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
    —Ephesians 3:4-6 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The music of the gospel must precede the words of the gospel and prepare the context in which there will be a hunger for those words. What is the music of the gospel? The music of the gospel is the beauty of the indwelling Christ as lived out in the everyday relationships of life.
    ... Joseph C. Aldrich (1941-2009), Lifestyle Evangelism, Multnomah Press, 1981, p. 20 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, the life within began with You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Campbell: finding self in finding God

Sunday, June 10, 2012
Meditation:
Blessed is the man
    who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
    or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.
    —Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The man who knows nothing of communion with God is a stranger to himself, and we find ourselves only as we find Him whom our hearts desire.
    ... R. J. Campbell (1867-1956), City Temple Sermons, New York: F. H. Revell company, 1903, p. 38 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are the only path to true self-knowledge. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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