Phillips: the obsession for security

Saturday, December 19, 2015
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
    —Matthew 24:36 (NIV)
Quotation:
    In my judgment, the description which Christ gave of the days that were to come before his return is more accurately reproduced in this fear-ridden age than ever before in human history. Of course we do not know the times and the seasons, but at least we can refuse to be deceived by the current obsession for physical security in the here-and-now. [Continued tomorrow]
    ... J. B. Phillips (1906-1982), Good News: Thoughts on God and Man, New York: Macmillan, 1963, p. 159-160 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 24:36,3-31; 25:13; Mark 13:7-8,32; Luke 21:9-28; Acts 1:7; 1 Thess. 5:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 3:3
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You remind me that my home is with You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Augustine: Christ in the heart

Friday, December 18, 2015
Meditation:
    As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
    He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
    —Luke 11:27-28 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Mary is more blessed in receiving the faith of Christ, than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. For to a certain one who said, “Blessed is the womb, which bare Thee,” He Himself made answer, “Yea, rather, blessed are they who hear the Word of God, and keep it.” Lastly, to His brethren, that is, His kindred after the flesh, who believed not in Him, what profit was there in that being of kin? Thus also her nearness as a Mother would have been of no profit to Mary, had she not borne Christ in her heart after a more blessed manner than in her flesh.
    ... St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430), De Virginitate [ca. 401], III (see the book)
    See also Luke 11:27-28; Matt. 7:20-21; 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 1:41-42; 2:19; 8:19-21; John 6:29
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, let Christmas reign in my heart. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Grou: the adoration

Thursday, December 17, 2015
    Commemoration of Eglantine Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of ‘Save the Children’, 1928
Meditation:
    While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
    —Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)
Quotation:
    To be in silent humility before the Presence of God is really to serve Him “in spirit and in truth.” He does not need our glowing lights and moving imaginations, which may be feeding self-complacency more than the soul’s true health; but that silent, lowly prayer which is joined in intention to the Child Jesus praying in His Manger, will bring us very near to God.
    ... Jean Nicolas Grou (1731-1803), The Hidden Life of the Soul, London: Rivingtons, 1870, p. 95-96 (see the book)
    See also Luke 2:6-7; Ps. 46:10; Luke 9:46-48; Luke 22:27; John 4:23; Eph. 4:2; Phil. 2:5-7
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, in my need, I kneel before You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Anstice: When came in flesh the Incarnate Word

Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Meditation:
    And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
    —Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)
Quotation:
When came in flesh the Incarnate Word,
    The heedless world slept on,
And only simple shepherds heard
    That God had sent His Son.

When comes the Saviour at the last,
    From west to east shall shine
The awful pomp, and earth aghast
    Shall tremble at the sign.

Then shall the pure in heart be blest;
    As mild He comes to them,
As when upon the Virgin’s breast
    He lay at Bethlehem:

As mild to meek-eyed love and faith;
    Only more strong to save;
Strengthened, by having bowed to death,
    By having burst the grave.

Lord, who could dare see Thee descend
    In state, unless he knew
Thou art the sorrowing sinner’s Friend,
    The gracious, and the true?

Dwell in our hearts, O Saviour blest,
    So shall Thine advent-dawn
Twixt us and Thee, our bosom-Guest,
    Be but the veil withdrawn.
    ... Joseph Anstice (1808-1836), [1836], A Library of Religious Poetry: a collection of the best poems of all ages, Philip Schaff, New York: Dodd, Mead, 1880, p. 606-607 (see the book)
    See also Luke 2:8-12; Ps. 99:1; Matt. 5:8; John 1:14
Quiet time reflection:
    Your Advent, Lord, has changed everything.

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Owen: with our eyes

Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Meditation:
    Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
    —1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Christ himself, in his own person, with all his glory, shall be continually with us, before us, proposed unto us. We shall no longer have an image, a representation of him, such as is the delineation of his glory in the Gospel . We “shall see him,” saith the apostle, “face to face...” “We shall see him as he is,” not as now, in an imperfect description of him...
    There will be use herein of our bodily eyes... That corporeal sense shall not be restored unto us, and that glorified above what we can conceive, but for this great use of the eternal beholding of Christ and his glory... It is not, therefore, the mere human nature of Christ that is the object of it, but his divine person, as that nature subsisteth therein... In the immediate beholding of the person of Christ, we shall see a glory in it a thousand times above what here we can conceive.
    ... John Owen (1616-1683), The Glory of Christ [1684, 1691], in Works of John Owen, v. I, London: Johnson & Hunter, 1850, p. 378-379 (see the book)
    See also 1 Cor. 13:12; Job 19:25; Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36; John 1:14; 7:39; 12:23; 13:31-32; 1 John 3:2
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, may that day come soon when I will know You as I am known. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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John of the Cross: the sole means

Monday, December 14, 2015
    Feast of John of the Cross, Mystic, Poet, Teacher, 1591
Meditation:
    Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
    —Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Faith is the sole proximate and proportionate means of the soul’s union with God, seeing that there is no other alternative, but that God is either seen, or believed in.
    ... St. John of the Cross (1542-1591), The Ascent of Mount Carmel, London: Thomas Baker, 1906, p. 99 (see the book)
    See also Heb. 11:1; Luke 1:45; John 20:29; 2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:6; 1 Pet. 1:8-9
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have blessed those who believe though we have not seen. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Johnson: prayer against loose thoughts and idleness

Sunday, December 13, 2015
    Advent III
    Feast of Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304
    Commemoration of Samuel Johnson, Writer, Moralist, 1784
Meditation:
    For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
    —1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Almighty and most merciful Father, who hast created and preserved me, have pity on my weakness and corruption. Deliver me from habitual wickedness and idleness; enable me to purify my thoughts, to use the faculties which Thou hast given me with honest diligence, and to regulate my life by thy holy word.
    Grant me, O Lord, good purposes and steady resolution, that I may repent my sins, and amend my life. Deliver me from the distresses of vain terror, and enable me, by thy grace, to will and to do what may please Thee; that when I shall be called away from this present state, I may obtain everlasting happiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    ... Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), Prayers and Meditations, London: Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe, 1806, April 22, 1764, p. 43-44 (see the book)
    See also 1 Thess. 4:7; Ps. 31:1-2; 69:14; 109:21; Rom. 7:24-25; Phil. 3:10-11; 2 Tim. 1:8-9
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, make this my prayer for Your honor and glory. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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