Barclay: the final proof

Saturday, November 10, 2012
    Feast of Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, 461
Meditation:
    For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
    —Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The fact of Jesus’ coming is the final and unanswerable proof that God cares.
    ... William Barclay (1907-1978), in Presbyterian Survey, v. 55 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have shown Your love to me while I am unworthy. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Peterson: ducking responsibility

Friday, November 9, 2012
    Commemoration of Margery Kempe, Mystic, after 1433
Meditation:
    Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
    —2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    People like to make their pastoral leaders feel necessary so that they can cop out of their responsibilities in the “priesthood of all believers.” If we rediscover our pastoral call, however, we know that we are merely equippers, prodders, encouragers, and promoters of all the people so that each one fulfills his or her vocation in the Church. Then no one is more “necessary” than any others, but all are set free to “be Church,”to live in a way corresponding to the priesthood to which each Christian has been called.
    ... Eugene H. Peterson (b. 1932), The Unnecessary Pastor, Marva J. Dawn, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000, p. 228 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant Your people growth into the measure of our priesthood. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Moody: the one thing lacking

Thursday, November 8, 2012
    Feast of Saints & Martyrs of England
Meditation:
    Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
    —Mark 10:21 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The “one thing” that the rich young ruler lacked was eternal life. The only thing a dead man lacks is life. The only thing a sick man lacks is health. The only thing a beggar lacks is money... The “one thing” a man lacks who is not a Christian is eternal life. Believe in Christ, and then go to work.
    ... Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899), from “Five ‘One Things’,” in Homiletic Review, v. XXXIII, I. K. Funk & D. S. Gregory, eds., New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1897, p. 236 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, what You have is what I need. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Chadwick: learning without the Spirit

Wednesday, November 7, 2012
    Feast of Willibrord of York, Archbishop of Utrecht, Apostle of Frisia, 739
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”
    —Matthew 23:23-24 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Learning without the Holy Ghost blinds men to the realities of Divine truth.
    ... Samuel Chadwick (1860-1932), The Way to Pentecost, Hodder and Stoughton, 1932, p. 36 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your Spirit teaches me. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Temple: my contribution

Tuesday, November 6, 2012
    Feast of William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher, 1944
Meditation:
    For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit...
    —1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
Quotation:
    All is of God; the only thing of my very own which I can contribute to my own redemption is the sin from which I need to be redeemed.
    ... William Temple (1881-1944), Nature, Man and God, London: Macmillan, 1934, 1949, p. 401 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I place my sins at the foot of the Cross. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Grou: nothing but trust

Monday, November 5, 2012
Meditation:
    Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
    —1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Self-rule will probably err. Moreover, those who choose their own path must be responsible for the consequences thereof, however serious; whereas when God rules, we need nothing save patient trust. He loves us far more than we can love ourselves, and He watches over us with more than a Father’s love. Trust in Him, and it is impossible for devil or man to hinder His grace.
    ... Jean Nicolas Grou (1731-1803), The Hidden Life of the Soul, London: Rivingtons, 1870, p. 1 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, help me to trust You more deeply. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Amiel: the witness

Sunday, November 4, 2012
Meditation:
    Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
    —1 Peter 2:12 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Every life is a profession of faith and exercises an inevitable and silent influence.
    ... Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821-1881), The Journal Intime of Henri-Frédéric Amiel, tr. Mrs. Humphry Ward, New York: Macmillan, 1885, p. 36 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You show Yourself even in Your weakest people. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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