The Christian Quotation of the Day: 2020-06-21

Tertullian: through Christ

Saturday, June 27, 2020
Meditation:
    Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
    “For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
    For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    —Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)
Quotation:
    We say, and we say openly, and while ye torture us, mangled and gory we cry out, “We worship God through Christ:” believe Him a man: it is through Him and in Him that God willeth Himself to be known and worshipped.
    ... Tertullian (Quintus S. Florens Tertullianus) (160?-230?), Tertullian: Apologetic and practical treatises [2nd-3rd century], Oxford: J. H. Parker, 1842, Apology, ch. XXI, p. 52 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 8:35-39; Ps. 44:22; John 16:2; 1 Cor. 15:30; 2 Cor. 4:11
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I acknowledge it is through Christ alone. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Taylor: the source of power

Friday, June 26, 2020
Meditation:
    [Peter:] “These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’”
    —Acts 2:15-17 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Since the days before Pentecost, has the whole church ever put aside every other work and waited upon Him for ten days, that [the Spirit’s] power might be manifested? ... We give too much attention to method and machinery and resources, and too little to the source of power.
    ... J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905), “The Source of Power for Christian Missions”, in The Missionary Review of the World, v. LIII, Missionary Review Publishing Co., Inc., 1930, p. 516 (see the book)
    See also Acts 2:15-17; 1:4-5; 4:31; 1 Thess. 1:4-5
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your gift of the Holy Spirit alone makes the mission of the church possible. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Swete: inarticulate longing

Thursday, June 25, 2020
Meditation:
    In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
    —Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There are times when we cannot pray in words, or pray as we ought; but our inarticulate longings for a better life are the Spirit’s intercessions on our behalf, audible to God who searches all hearts, and intelligible and acceptable to Him since they are the voice of His Spirit, and it is according to His will that the Spirit should intercede for the members of His Son.
    ... Henry Barclay Swete (1835-1917), The Holy Spirit in the New Testament, London: Macmillan, 1909, p. 221 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 8:26-27; Neh. 9:19-20; Rom. 8:15,34; 15:13
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You make my prayers acceptable to You when I cannot. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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John: the source of unity

Wednesday, June 24, 2020
    Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist
Meditation:
    And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
    —Acts 13:52 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The Holy Spirit [is] the source of spiritual unity! He is the Fount of all true joy! ... We as missionaries need the fullness of this joy. Without it our work will be a burden to us, and we shall toil on with the hearts of slaves; and the hearts of slaves are never strong.
    ... Griffith John (1831-1912), “The Holy Spirit in Connection with our Work”, in Records of the General Conference of the Protestant Missionaries of China, Shanghai: Presbyterian Mission Press, 1878, p. 36,38 (see the book)
    See also Luke 11:13; John 7:37-39; Acts 13:52; Rom. 15:13; 1 Cor. 12:7-12; Phil. 2:1-2
Quiet time reflection:
    Joy from the Holy Spirit unites Your people, Lord. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Smith: the Spirit's guidance

Tuesday, June 23, 2020
    Feast of Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, c.678
Meditation:
Good and upright is the LORD;
    therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.
    —Psalm 25:8-9 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The guidance of the Spirit is generally by gentle suggestions or drawings, and not in violent pushes; and it requires great childlikeness of heart to be faithful to it. The secret of being made willing lies in a definite giving up of our will. As soon as we put our will on to God’s side, He immediately takes possession of it and begins to work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.
    ... Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911), Christian’s Secret of a Holy Life, M. E. Dieter, ed., Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan 1994, p. 134 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 25:8-9; 23:1-3; Isa. 40:11; John 10:3-4; 16:13
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I feel the gentle touch of Your Spirit. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Wallis: apostolic preaching

Monday, June 22, 2020
    Feast of Alban, first Martyr of Britain, c.209
Meditation:
    But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
    —Matthew 10:19-20 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Apostolic preaching is not marked by its beautiful diction, or literary polish, or cleverness of expression. It has laid aside “excellency of speech or of wisdom”; it has no confidence in “persuasive words of wisdom” but operates in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
    ... Arthur Wallis (1922-1988), In the Day of Thy Power: the Scriptural principles of revival, Fort Washington, Pa.: Christian Literature Crusade, 1956, p. 85 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 10:19-20; Mark 13:11; Luke 21:14-15; 1 Cor. 2:1-4
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You originate all true faith. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Tabb: Christ and the Pagan

Sunday, June 21, 2020
Meditation:
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
—Matthew 21:42-44 (KJV)
Quotation:
Christ and the Pagan

I had no God but these,
The sacerdotal trees,
And they uplifted me,
“I hung upon a Tree.”

The sun and moon I saw,
And reverential awe
Subdued me day and night,
“I am the perfect light.”

Within a lifeless stone—
All other gods unknown—
I sought Divinity,
“The Corner-stone am I.”

For sacrificial feast
I slaughtered man and beast,
Red recompense to gain.
“So I, a Lamb, was slain.”

“Yea, such My hungering Grace
That whereso’er My face
Is hidden, none may grope
    Beyond eternal Hope.”
    ... John Banister Tabb (1845-1909), Later Poems, New York: M. Kennerley, 1910, p. 11-12 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 21:42-44; Ps. 118:22; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; 1 Pet. 3:15; Rev. 5:12
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, you have rescued me from unbelief.