Tozer: the eye of faith

Saturday, December 17, 2016
    Commemoration of Eglantine Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of ‘Save the Children’, 1928
Meditation:
    And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
    —John 19:37 (ESV)
Quotation:
    Like the eye which sees everything in front of it and never sees itself, faith is occupied with the Object upon which it rests and pays no attention to itself at all. While we are looking at God, we do not see ourselves—blessed riddance. The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One.
    ... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), The Pursuit of God [1948], Christian Publications, 1982, p. 84 (see the book)
    See also John 19:37; Isa. 45:22; Zech. 12:10; Mic. 7:7; John 1:29; 3:14-15; Heb. 12:1-2; Rev. 1:7
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, keep my eyes focused on you. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Newbigin: chosen to be sent

Friday, December 16, 2016
Meditation:
    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
    —1 Peter 2:9-10 (KJV)
Quotation:
    Wherever the missionary character of the doctrine of election is forgotten; wherever it is forgotten that we are chosen in order to be sent; wherever the minds of believers are concerned more to probe backwards from their election into the reasons for it in the secret counsel of God, than to press forward from their election to the purpose of it, ... that they should be Christ’s ambassadors and witnesses to the ends of the earth, wherever men think that the purpose of election is their own salvation rather than the salvation of the world: then God’s people have betrayed their trust.
    ... Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998), The Household of God, London, SCM Press, 1953, New York: Friendship Press, 1954, p. 111 (see the book)
    See also 1 Pet. 2:9; Ps. 22:30; 33:12; 73:11-17; Matt. 5:16; Eph. 1:14; 2:10; 6:19-20; 2 Tim. 1:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rev. 5:9-10
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, keep us faithful to Your purpose. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Studdert Kennedy: Come worship the King

Thursday, December 15, 2016
Meditation:
    And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
    —Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)
Quotation:
Come worship the King,
    That little dear thing,
Asleep on His Mother’s soft breast.
    Ye bright stars, bow down,
    Weave for Him a crown,
Christ Jesus by angels confessed.

Come, children, and peep,
    But hush ye, and creep
On tiptoe to where the Babe lies;
    Then whisper His Name
    And lo! like a flame
The glory light shines in His eyes.

Come strong men, and see
    This high mystery,
Tread firm where the shepherds have trod,
    And watch, ’mid the hair
    Of the Maiden so fair,
The five little fingers of God.

Come, old men and grey,
    The star leads the way,
It halts and your wanderings cease;
    Look down on His Face
    Then, filled with His Grace,
Depart ye, God’s servants, in Peace.
    ... G. A. Studdert Kennedy (1883-1929)
    See also Luke 2:8-14; Matt. 2:9-11; Luke 2:6-7,15-20
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, your peace has come to earth.

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John of the Cross: the incomparability of God

Wednesday, December 14, 2016
    Feast of John of the Cross, Mystic, Poet, Teacher, 1591
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
    —John 15:9 (ESV)
Quotation:
    No knowledge, therefore, and no conceptions in this mortal life, can serve as proximate means of this high union of the love of God. All that the understanding may comprehend; all that the will may be satisfied with; and all that the imagination may conceive; is most unlike unto God, and most disproportionate to Him.
    ... St. John of the Cross (1542-1591), The Ascent of Mount Carmel, London: Thomas Baker, 1906, p. 96-97 (see the book)
    See also John 15:9; Job 36:26; 37:5; Ps. 86:10; 98:1; Eccl. 3:11; Isa. 40:28; 55:8; Lam. 3:22-23; Rom. 11:33; Eph. 3:18
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You loved me when I was Your enemy. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Johnson: the purpose of affliction

Tuesday, December 13, 2016
    Feast of Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304
    Commemoration of Samuel Johnson, Writer, Moralist, 1784
Meditation:
    Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
    —2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)
Quotation:
    It is by affliction chiefly that the heart of man is purified, and that the thoughts are fixed on a better state. Prosperity ... has power to intoxicate the imagination, to fix the mind upon the present scene, to produce confidence and elation, and to make him who enjoys affluence and honours forget the hand by which they were bestowed. It is seldom that we are otherwise, than by affliction, awakened to a sense of our imbecility, or taught to know how little all our acquisitions can conduce to safety or to quiet; and how justly we may ascribe to the superintendence of a higher power, those blessings which in the wantonness of success we considered as the attainments of our policy and courage.
    ... Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), The Works of Samuel Johnson, L. L. D., v. III, New York: William Durell, 1811, p. 251-252 (see the book)
    See also 2 Tim. 3:12; Luke 12:15; Rom. 8:18; 1 Cor. 1:23-29; Col. 3:1-2; Heb. 12:5-8; Jas. 5:1-5
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant me patience in trouble and a quiet heart, anxious only to please You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Brooks: the Word made flesh

Monday, December 12, 2016
Meditation:
    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
    —John 1:1-5 (ESV)
Quotation:
    Christ is the Word of God. It is not in certain texts written in the New Testament, valuable as they are; it is not in certain words which Jesus spoke, vast as is their preciousness; it is in the Word which Jesus is, that the great manifestation of God is made.
    ... Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), Life and letters of Phillips Brooks, v. III, Alexander V. G. Allen, New York: E. P. Dutton, 1901, p. 104 (see the book)
    See also John 1:1-14; Ps. 2:7; Matt. 1:23; Rom. 9:5; Phil. 2:6; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:1-3; 1 John 5:20
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have spoken Your Word in Jesus. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Underhill: achieving Christian temperament

Sunday, December 11, 2016
    Advent III
Meditation:
    ... give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
    —1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)
Quotation:
    This power of being outwardly genial and inwardly austere, which is the real Christian temper, depends entirely upon the time set apart for personal religion. It is always achieved if courageously and faithfully sought; and there are no heights of love and holiness to which it cannot lead.
    ... Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941), Concerning the Inner Life, London: Methuen, 1927, p. 31-32 (see the book)
    See also 1 Thess. 5:18; Ps. 119:80; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 5:19-20; 2 Tim. 1:7-8
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant me a heart that seeks You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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