Luther: why we believe

Saturday, June 20, 2015
Meditation:
    That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
    —1 John 1:1-2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    It is for Christ’s sake that we believe in the Scriptures, but it is not for the Scriptures’ sake that we believe in Christ.
    ... Martin Luther (1483-1546) (see the book)
    See also Matt. 22:43; John 1:1; 1 John 1:1-2; 4:1-3
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have made Yourself known to us. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Singh: rest for my heart

Friday, June 19, 2015
    Commemoration of Sundar Singh of India, Sadhu, Evangelist, Teacher, 1929
Meditation:
As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?
    —Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The hunger and the thirst of this heart of mine can be satisfied only with Thee who hast given it birth. O Creator mine! Thou hast created my heart for Thyself alone, and not for another, therefore this my heart can find no rest or ease save in Thee, in Thee who hast both created it and set in it this very longing for rest. Take away then from my heart all that is opposed to Thee, and enter and abide and rule for ever. Amen.
    ... Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929), At the Master’s Feet, Fleming H. Revell, 1922, p. 13 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 42:1-2; 63:1; 84:2; 143:6-7; Isa. 26:8-9; John 4:13-14; 7:37
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are the source of true nourishment. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Schaeffer: the material and the spiritual

Thursday, June 18, 2015
Meditation:
    Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
    —1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The resurrection and ascension prove there is no reason to make false dichotomy between the spiritual and the material. That is a totally non-biblical concept. The material and the spiritual are not opposed. The fact that our bodies are going to be raised also speaks of this.
    ... Francis A. Schaeffer (1912-1984), Pollution and the Death of Man [1970], reprint, Good News Publishers, 1992, p. 56 (see the book)
    See also Luke 24:39-43,50-51; John 20:19-20,27; 1 Cor. 15:42; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 1:7
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your Son is flesh and spirit united. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Crashaw: Come Love, come Lord

Wednesday, June 17, 2015
    Commemoration of Samuel & Henrietta Barnett, Social Reformers, 1913 & 1936
Meditation:
    But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
    —2 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)
Quotation:
Come Love, come Lord, and that long day
For which I languish, come away;
When this dry soul those eyes shall see,
And drink the unseal’d source of Thee;
When glory’s sun faith’s shades shall chase,
Then for Thy veil give me Thy face.
    ... Richard Crashaw (1613-1649), The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, London: J. R. Smith, 1858, p. 192 (see the book)
    See also 2 Cor. 3:16; Song of Solomon 2:10; Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:18-19; 2 Tim. 4:8; Tit. 2:12-14; Heb. 9:27-28; Rev. 22:20
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You will show us Yourself. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Newbigin: indwelling the Bible

Tuesday, June 16, 2015
    Feast of Richard of Chichester, Bishop, 1253
    Commemoration of Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham, Moral Philosopher, 1752
Meditation:
    [The two travelers on the road to Emmaus] got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
    —Luke 24:33-35 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Just as character can only be truly rendered in narrative form, so the answer to the question “Who am I?” can only be given if we ask “What is my story?” and that can only be answered if there is an answer to the further question, “What is the whole story of which my story is a part?” To indwell the Bible is to live with an answer to those questions, to know who I am and who is the One to whom I am fully accountable.
    ... Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998), The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1989, p. 100 (see the book)
    See also Luke 24:33-35; Ps. 22:30-31; 102:18; Mark 16:12-13; John 1:14; 16:13; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 3:16
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I embrace Your story and Your salvation. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Underhill: reflecting the light

Monday, June 15, 2015
    Feast of Evelyn Underhill, Mystical Writer, 1941
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “You are the light of the world.”
    —Matthew 5:14 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Every Christian is, as it were, part of the dust-laden air which still radiates the glowing Epiphany of God, catch and reflect His golden Light. Ye are the light of the world—but only because you are enkindled, made radiant by the One Light of the World. And being kindled, we have got to get on with it, be useful.
    ... Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941), The Light of Christ, New York: Longmans, Green, 1949, p. 41-42 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 5:14; Isa. 9:2; Acts 2:3; Eph. 5:13-14; Phil. 2:14-15; 1 Thess. 5:5; 1 Pet. 2:9; 2 Pet. 1:19; 1 John 1:7
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, may Your light shine from us. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Baxter: Lord, it belongs not to my care

Sunday, June 14, 2015
    Commemoration of Richard Baxter, Priest, Hymnographer, Teacher, 1691
Meditation:
I will praise you forever for what you have done;
    in your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you
    in the presence of your saints.
    —Psalm 52:9 (NIV)
Quotation:
Lord, it belongs not to my care,
    Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
    And this Thy grace must give.

If life be long I will be glad,
    That I may long obey;
If short—yet why should I be sad
    To soar to endless day?

Christ leads me through no darker rooms
    Than He went through before;
He that unto God’s kingdom comes,
    Must enter by this door.

Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet
    Thy blessèd face to see;
For if Thy work on earth be sweet,
    What will Thy glory be!

Then shall I end my sad complaints,
    And weary, sinful days;
And join with the triumphant saints,
    To sing Jehovah’s praise.

My knowledge of that life is small,
    The eye of faith is dim;
But ’tis enough that Christ knows all,
    And I shall be with him.
    ... Richard Baxter (1615-1691), in Memoirs of Margaret Baxter, London: Richard Edwards, 1826, p. 403 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 52:9; 91:16; Matt. 6:27; 7:13; John 13:15; Rom. 6:4-5,8; 2 Cor. 13:4; 1 Pet. 2:21; 3:10-11
Quiet time reflection:
    May I enter Your gates, Lord, with thanksgiving and praise.

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