Inge: inseparable virtues

Sunday, October 13, 2024
    Feast of Edward the Confessor, 1066
Meditation:
    We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
    —1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Faith, in the religious sense, is not simply belief; it is inseparable from the sister virtues of hope and love.
    ... William R. Inge (1860-1954), Faith and its Psychology, Scribner, 1910, p. 2 (see the book)
    See also 1 Thess. 1:3; 1 Cor. 13:2,13; Gal. 5:6; Col. 1:3-6; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:21
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your gifts recreated my life. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Bounds: the refreshed heart

Saturday, October 12, 2024
    Commemoration of Wilfrid, Abbot of Ripon, Bishop of York, Missionary, 709
    Commemoration of Elizabeth Fry, Prison Reformer, 1845
Meditation:
    Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
    —2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Prayer freshens the heart of the preacher, keeps it in tune with God and in sympathy with the people, lifts his ministry out of the chilly air of a profession, fructifies routine and moves every wheel with the facility and power of a divine unction.
    ... E. M. Bounds (1835-1913), Preacher and Prayer, Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South, Dallas, Tex., 1907, p. 28 (see the book)
    See also 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Cor. 1:22-23; Phil. 1:9-10; Col. 4:2-4; 2 Tim. 4:2
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I lift up those who minister to me, that they might always seek You in prayer. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Law: not good enough

Friday, October 11, 2024
    Commemoration of Ethelburga, Abbess of Barking, 675
Meditation:
    “Consider carefully what you hear,” [Jesus] continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.”
    —Mark 4:24 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Shall I withhold a little money or food from my fellow-creature, for fear he should not be good enough to receive it of me? Do I beg of God to deal with me, not according to my merit, but according to His own great goodness; and shall I be so absurd, as to withhold my charity from a poor brother, because he may perhaps not deserve it? Shall I use a measure towards him, which I pray God never to use towards me?
    ... William Law (1686-1761), A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life [1728], London: Methuen, 1899, p. 73 (see the book)
    See also Mark 4:24; Ps. 31:9; Matt. 5:42; 7:1-2; Luke 6:30,38; 14:12-14; Rom. 8:28; 2 Thess. 1:6-7; Heb. 13:16; Jas. 2:12-13; 1 John 1:9
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, loosen my grip on things, that I may be charitable. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Newbigin: inexplicable faith

Thursday, October 10, 2024
    Feast of Paulinus, Bishop of York, Missionary, 644
Meditation:
    But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
    —1 Corinthians 15:12-14 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The whole story in the New Testament is written... from the point of view of the Resurrection, and the Christian faith is inexplicable otherwise.
    ... Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998), Journey Into Joy, Christian Literature Society, 1972, reprint, Wm. B. Errdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1973, p. 45 (see the book)
    See also 1 Cor. 15:12-14,20; John 11:25-26; Rom. 4:24-25; 8:11; 2 Cor. 4:13-14; Col. 3:1-4; 1 Thess. 4:14; Heb. 13:20-21; Rev. 1:18
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your Resurrection is the turning point in every history. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Meyer: what's at stake

Wednesday, October 9, 2024
    Commemoration of Denys, Bishop of Paris, & his Companions, Martyrs, 258
    Commemoration of Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, Philosopher, Scientist, 1253
Meditation:
    The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
    —2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The glory of Jesus Christ is involved in every temptation by which we are threatened, and for His sake, if not for our own, we must stand firm.
    ... Frederick Brotherton Meyer (1847-1929), Saved and Kept: Counsels to Young Believers, New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1897, p. 61 (see the book)
    See also 2 Tim. 4:18; Luke 22:31-32; John 10:28-30; Rom. 8:15,28; 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:10-11; Heb. 6:4-6; 2 Pet. 2:9
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, for Your sake, lead me away from sin. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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de Sales: patient persistence

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Meditation:
    Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
    —Romans 13:8-10 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Love all your neighbors, but especially those to whom God has given the strongest claims upon your affection. Set yourself steadfastly to those duties which have the least attractive exterior; it matters not whether God’s Holy Will be fulfilled in great or small matters. Long ceaselessly after perfect union of your will with that of our Lord. Be patient with yourself and your own failings; never be in a hurry, and do not yield to longings after that which is impossible to you.
    ... François de Sales (1567-1622), A Selection from the Spiritual Letters of St. Francis de Sales [1622], New York: E. P. Dutton, 1876, p. 225 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 13:8-10; Matt. 22:39-40; Mark 12:33; Luke 10:29-37; Rom. 15:2; Gal. 5:14; Jas. 2:8
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, increase my love. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Murray: to be helpless

Monday, October 7, 2024
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
    —John 15:5 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Workers, here is your first lesson: learn to be nothing, learn to be helpless. The man who has got something is not absolutely dependent; but the man who has got nothing is absolutely dependent. Absolute dependence upon God is the secret of all power in work. The branch has nothing but what it gets from the vine, and you and I can have nothing but what we get from Jesus.
    ... Andrew Murray (1828-1917), Absolute Surrender, Bible Institute Colportage Association, 1897, p. 114 (see the book)
    See also John 15:5-6; 5:19,30; 6:36; Acts 20:24; Rom. 7:18; 2 Cor. 3:5; 12:11; Gal. 6:3; Phil. 2:5-8
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, all goodness in me comes from You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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