Merton: work known only to God

Saturday, December 10, 2022
    Commemoration of Thomas Merton, Monk, Spiritual Writer, 1968
Meditation:
    May [the Lord] strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
    —1 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Too often, people who take the spiritual life seriously may waste all their efforts on the scaffolding, making it more and more solid, permanent and secure, and paying no attention to the building itself. They do so out of a kind of unconscious fear of the real responsibilities of the Christian life, which are solitary and interior. These are difficult to express, even obliquely. They are almost impossible to communicate to anyone else. Hence one can never be “sure” whether he is right or wrong. One has very little evidence of progress or perfection in this interior sphere—while in the exterior, progress can be more easily measured and results can be seen. They can also be shown to others for their approval and admiration. The most important, the most real, and lasting work of the Christian is accomplished in the depths of his own soul. It cannot be seen by anyone, even by himself. It is known only to God.
    ... Thomas Merton (1915-1968), Life and Holiness, Herder and Herder, 1963, p. 68 (see the book)
    See also 1 Thess. 3:13; Matt. 5:48; Mark 9:50; Luke 6:45; John 4:13-14; 15:19; Rom. 2:28-29; 11:16; 12:1-2,9; 2 Cor. 10:5; Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:21-22; 4:22-24; Phil. 4:8; 1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Tim. 6:6; Tit. 1:15
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, from the depths I look to You in hope. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Newton: one like us

Friday, December 9, 2022
Meditation:
    For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
    —Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)
Quotation:
    [Jesus] knows our sorrows, not merely as he knows all things, but as one who has been in our situation, and who, though without sin himself, endured when upon earth inexpressibly more for us than he will ever lay upon us. He has sanctified poverty, pain, disgrace, temptation, and death, by passing through these states; and in whatever states his people are, they may by faith have fellowship with him in their sufferings, and he will by sympathy and love have fellowship and interest with them in theirs.
    ... John Newton (1725-1807), letter, Nov. 29, 1776, The Works of the Rev. John Newton, v. II, New York: Williams and Whiting, 1810, p. 20 (see the book)
    See also Heb. 4:15-16; Isa. 53:4-5; Luke 22:28; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 2:17-18; 5:2
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You know me more than I know myself. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Leighton: clear conscience

Thursday, December 8, 2022
Meditation:
    So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
    —Acts 24:16 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Now this is the great rule, not only for servants, but for all the servants of God, in what state soever, to set the Lord always before them, and to study with St. Paul, to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men; to eye, and to apply constantly to their actions and their inward thoughts, the command of God; to walk by that rule abroad, and at home in their houses, and in the several ways of their calling; (as an exact workman is ever and anon laying his rule to his work, and squaring it;) and for the conscience they have towards God, to do and suffer His will cheerfully in every thing, being content that He choose their condition and their trials for them; only desirous to be assured, that He hath chosen them for His own, and given them a right to the glorious liberty of the children of God.
    ... Robert Leighton (1611-1684), A Practical Commentary Upon the First Epistle of St. Peter, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1849, p. 397-398 (see the book)
    See also Acts 24:16; Ps. 16:8; Rom. 8:21; 1 Pet. 2:18-20
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I am content within Your will. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Ambrose: only through the Son

Wednesday, December 7, 2022
    Feast of Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher, 397
Meditation:
    Then [the Pharisees] asked him, “Where is your father?”
    “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
    —John 8:19 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Whatsoever thou dost conceive concerning the Father—yea, be it even His eternity—thou canst not conceive aught concerning Him save by the Son’s aid, nor can any understanding ascend to the Father save through the Son.
    ... St. Ambrose of Milan (Aurelius Ambrosius) (339-397), Exposition of the Christian Faith, tr. H. de Romestin, in A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, second series, v. X, Philip Schaff & Henry Wace, ed., New York: Christian Literature Company, 1896, I.x, par. 63, p. 211 (see the book)
    See also John 8:19; 1:18; 6:46; 10:7-9; 14:6-9; Acts 4:12; Col. 1:15; 1 John 2:23; 4:12; 2 John 1:9
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, through Your Son alone may I know You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Inge: heaven

Tuesday, December 6, 2022
    Feast of Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326
Meditation:
    Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
    —Deuteronomy 4:39 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Heaven is not a far-away place to which we hope to go; it is the presence of God in which we ought to live.
    ... William R. Inge (1860-1954), Personal Religion and the Life of Devotion, London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1924, p. 85 (see the book)
    See also Deut. 4:39; Gen. 28:16; Ps. 139:7-10; Isa. 57:15; Jer. 23:23-24; Hos. 6:6; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 17:24-28
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord God, You are fully present here. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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de Sales: humility

Monday, December 5, 2022
Meditation:
The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled
    and the pride of men brought low;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
The LORD Almighty has a day in store
    for all the proud and lofty,
for all that is exalted
    (and they will be humbled)...
    —Isaiah 2:11-12 (NIV)
Quotation:
    True humility does not affect to be humble, and is not given to make a display in lowly words.
    ... François de Sales (1567-1622), Introduction to the Devout Life [1609], London: Rivingtons, 1876, III.v, p. 149 (see the book)
    See also Isa. 2:11-12; John 13:14-16; 2 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:21; Phil. 2:3; 1 Pet. 5:5-6
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, keep my eyes on Jesus. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Tozer: the winsome God

Sunday, December 4, 2022
    Advent II
    Commemoration of Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637
Meditation:
Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the LORD.
    —Psalm 27:6 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The blessed and inviting truth is that God is the most winsome of all beings and in our worship of Him we should find unspeakable pleasure.
    ... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), Whatever Happened to Worship?, Christian Publications, 1985, p. 28 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 27:4-6; Ezra 6:15-16; Ps. 5:11-12; Rom. 15:13
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You lift Your people into joy. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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