Tyndale: on Romans

Saturday, October 6, 2018
    Feast of William Tyndale, Translator of the Scriptures, Martyr, 1536
Meditation:
    ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
    —Romans 3:23-26 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Now go to, reader, and according to the order of Paul’s writing [in Romans], even so do thou. First behold thyself diligently in the law of God, and see there thy just damnation. Secondarily, turn thine eyes to Christ, and see there the exceeding mercy of thy most kind and loving Father. Thirdly, remember that Christ made not this atonement that thou shouldest anger God again; neither died he for thy sins, that thou shouldest live still in them; neither cleansed he thee, that thou shouldest return, as a swine, unto thine old puddle again: but that thou shouldest be a new creature and live a new life after the will of God, and not of the flesh. And be diligent, lest through thine own negligence and unthankfulness thou lose this favor and mercy again.
    ... William Tyndale (1492?-1536), “Prologue upon the Epistle to the Romans” [1531], in Doctrinal Treatises and Introductions, Cambridge: The University Press, 1848, p. 510 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 3:23-26; Ps. 119:104; Rom. 2:4; 3:5-8; 6:1-2; Gal. 5:13; Heb. 9:15; 1 Pet. 2:16; 1 John 2:2; 4:10
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, nourish the new creation within me. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Sadgrove & Wright: political salvation

Friday, October 5, 2018
Meditation:
    Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
    —Matthew 24:1-2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The Old-Testament doctrine of salvation gives us no encouragement, on strictly hermeneutical grounds, to argue from what was true politically of Israel to what could or should be true of any modern political state. Even if we were first to grant the presence of a “Christendom” situation in which Church and State would be virtually coextensive, the nation of Israel would still remain [unique]. The focus of salvation is on the historical action of God in forming a people for Himself, and there is no indication anywhere in the Bible that God promises political salvation even inside the context of the full salvation of His people, let alone outside it.
    ... Michael Sadgrove (b. 1950) & N. T. Wright (b. 1948), “Jesus Christ the Only Saviour”, in The Lord Christ [1980], John Stott, ed., vol. 1 of Obeying Christ in a Changing World, John Stott, gen. ed., 3 vol., London: Fountain, 1977, p. 66 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 24:1-2; 1 Kings 9:6-8; Jer. 26:18; Eze. 7:20-22; Dan. 9:27; Mic. 3:12; Luke 19:41-44; 2 Pet. 3:10-11
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have saved Your people. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Francis of Assisi: fear of God

Thursday, October 4, 2018
    Feast of Francis of Assisi, Friar, Deacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226
Meditation:
    Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
    —Hebrews 12:28,29 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Where there is fear of God to keep the house, the enemy can find no way to enter.
    ... St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), The Works of the Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi, London: R. Washbourne, 1882, p. 101 (see the book)
    See also Heb. 12:28-29; Job 1:8; Ps. 66:6-7; Eccl. 12:13; Eph. 5:8-10; 1 Pet. 2:17; Rev. 14:7
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, keep me ever mindful of Your authority. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Studd: sacrifice

Wednesday, October 3, 2018
    Commemoration of William Morris, Artist, Writer, 1896
    Commemoration of George Kennedy Bell, Bishop of Chichester, Ecumenist, Peacemaker, 1958
Meditation:
    I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
    —John 15:15 (NIV)
Quotation:
    If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.
    ... C. T. Studd (1860-1931), quoted in C. T. Studd—Cricketer and Pioneer [1933], Norman P. Grubb, World-Wide Revival Prayer Movement, 1947, p. 141 (see the book)
    See also John 15:15; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Phil. 2:17; Heb. 13:15-16; 1 Pet. 2:4-5
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, accept the sacrifice of my life for Your kingdom’s sake. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Underhill: love is the difference

Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Meditation:
    Then [Stephen] fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
    —Acts 7:60 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Love... makes the whole difference between an execution and a martyrdom.
    ... Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941), The School of Charity, New York: Longmans, Green, 1934, reprinted, Morehouse Publishing, 1991, p. 55 (see the book)
    See also Acts 7:60; Luke 23:34; John 10:11-15; 15:13; Rom. 5:6-8; Eph. 5:2; 1 John 4:7-11
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant that I may live the life of love. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Therese of Lisieux: To die of love

Monday, October 1, 2018
    Commemoration of Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, Apostle of the Franks, 533
    Commemoration of Thérèse of Lisieux, Carmelite Nun, Spiritual Writer, 1897
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
    —John 15:13 (NIV)
Quotation:
To die of love, O martyrdom most blest!
    For this I long, this is my heart’s desire;
My exile ends; I soon will be at rest.
    Ye Cherubim, lend, lend to me your lyre!
O dart of Seraphim, O flame of love,
    Consume me wholly; hear my ardent cry!
Jesu, make real my dream! Come Holy Dove!
        Of love I die!
    ... Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897), Poems of St. Teresa, Carmelite of Lisieux, Boston, Angel Guardian Press, 1907, “To Live of Love”, n. 14 (see the book)
    See also John 15:13; Matt. 22:37-40; John 15:12,17; Rom. 5:8; Eph. 5:1-2; 1 John 4:7-12
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have demonstrated Your love. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Mason: the long-buried gift

Sunday, September 30, 2018
Meditation:
    Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
    —2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NIV)
Quotation:
    One of the results of the Reformation,... which is somewhat difficult of explanation, was the attitude of the Protestant Church of the Reformation to missions during the Reformation period (1517-1650).
    Having themselves been emancipated from the superstitions and slavery of a false doctrine and a harsh ecclesiastical government, it would be thought most natural that the reformers and those who followed them should promptly turn their attention to spreading these glad tidings among non-Christian peoples; but here a strange anomaly is found in the fact that there had been hardly any period, in the entire history of the Christian Church, so destitute of any concerted effort to spread the gospel in heathen lands [as] just this period of the Reformation.
    ... Alfred D. Mason (1855-1923), Outlines of Missionary History [1912], New York: Doran, 1921, p. 53 (see the book)
    See also 2 Thess. 3:1; Acts 6:7; 12:24; 13:48-49; 19:20; 1 Cor. 16:8-9
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, let the flame of love for Your message burn brightly in our hearts. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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