Owen: approaching God

Sunday, October 26, 2025
    Feast of Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons, Scholar, 899
    Commemoration of Cedd, Founding Abbot of Lastingham, Bishop of the East Saxons, 664
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
    —Mark 11:24 (NIV)
Quotation:
    No heart can conceive that treasury of mercies which lies in this one privilege, in having liberty and ability to approach unto God at all times, according to His mind and will.
    ... John Owen (1616-1683), A Discourse Concerning Holy Spirit, bk. VI-IX [1674], in Works of John Owen, v. IV, London: Johnson & Hunter, 1852, p. 316 (see the book)
    See also Mark 11:24; Matt. 7:7-8; 18:19; 21:22; Luke 11:9-10; John 14:13; 15:7; Rom. 8:15-17; 10:13; Eph. 3:12; Heb. 4:16; 10:19-23; Jas. 1:5-6
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You opened up Your holiest place for me to enter and speak with You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Calvin: law and grace

Saturday, October 25, 2025
    Commemoration of Crispin & Crispinian, Martyrs at Rome, c.285
Meditation:
    But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
    —Romans 5:8 (NIV)
Quotation:
    In the precepts of the law, God is seen as the rewarder only of perfect righteousness (a righteousness of which all are destitute), and, on the other hand, as the stern avenger of wickedness. But in Christ his countenance beams forth full of grace and gentleness towards poor unworthy sinners.
    ... John Calvin (1509-1564), The Institutes of the Christian Religion, v. I [1559], tr. John Allen, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1921, ii.7.8, p. 320 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:15-16; Heb. 7:26; Jas. 4:8
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, apart from You, I am beyond hope. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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John Wesley: the aid of the Spirit

Friday, October 24, 2025
Meditation:
    As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
    —1 John 2:27 (NIV)
Quotation:
    General rules are easily laid down. But it is not possible to apply them accurately in particular cases, without the anointing of the Holy One: this alone, abiding with us, can teach us of all things. Thus our general rule is, “Thou shalt do no murder;” which plainly forbids every thing that tends to impair health; and implies that we use every probable means of preserving or restoring it. But when we come to apply this to particular instances, we are presently in a labyrinth, and want that anointing which alone can make plain the way before our face, and direct us to do, in every minute circumstance, what is acceptable to God.
    You have abundant reason to praise God, both for spiritual and temporal blessings. Beware of indulging gloomy thoughts: they are the bane of thankfulness. You are encompassed with ten thousand mercies, let these sink you into humble thankfulness.
    ... John Wesley (1703-1791), in a letter, Apr. 26, 1777, The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, v. X, New York: J. & J. Harper, 1827, p. 310 (see the book)
    See also 1 John 2:27; Matt. 26:53; John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:9-13; 1 John 2:20
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your Spirit instructs me. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Pusey: in stillness

Thursday, October 23, 2025
Meditation:
Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD—
    that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
    —Psalm 83:18 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Yes! blessed are those holy hours, in which the soul retires from the world, to be alone with God. God’s Voice, as Himself, is every where. Within and without He speaks to our souls, if we would hear. Only the din of the world or the tumult of our own hearts, deafens our inward ear to it... Learn to commune with Him in stillness, and He Whom thou hast sought in stillness, will be with thee when thou goest abroad.
    ... Edward B. Pusey (1800-1882), Sermons during the season from Advent to Whitsuntide, Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1848, p. 193,201 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 83:18; 19:1-2; 46:10; Hos. 2:14; Hab. 2:20; Zech. 2:13; John 11:28
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, still my inner voice that I may perceive You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Willard: the use for God

Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
    —Matthew 16:25 (NIV)
Quotation:
    I fear that many people seek to hear God solely as a device for securing their own safety, comfort and righteousness. For those who busy themselves to know the will of God, however, it is still true that “those who want to save their life will lose it” (Matt. 16:25). My extreme preoccupation with knowing God’s will for me may only indicate, contrary to what is often thought, that I am over concerned with myself, not a Christlike interest in the well-being of others or in the glory of God.
    ... Dallas Willard (1935-2013), Hearing God, Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1999, p. 33 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 16:25; Est. 4:16; Matt. 10:39; Mark 8:35; Luke 17:33; John 12:25; Acts 20:24; Rev. 12:11
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, my life is wasted if not spent for You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Law: pray to love

Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Meditation:
    I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
    —1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There is nothing that makes us love a man so much, as praying for him.
    ... William Law (1686-1761), A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life [1728], London: Methuen, 1899, p. 415 (see the book)
    See also 1 Tim. 2:1-2; Ps. 122:6; Eph. 6:18; Heb. 13:18; Jas. 5:14-18; 1 John 5:16
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I pray for _____ and _____ that they may come to know you in faith. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Moltmann: for us, His enemies

Monday, October 20, 2025
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
    —Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Humanly speaking, love of one’s enemies is impossible, “contrary to nature”: the leopard cannot change his spots, as we say. So love of our enemies is the thing that is different, the thing that is divine. “He makes his sun rise upon the evil—on the evil first of all—and on the good.” Love of our enemies is the secret of Jesus that corresponds to God himself. Jesus blessed the people who cursed him. He prayed for the people who tortured him. He did not retaliate, but took suffering upon himself for love’s sake. He died for his enemies on the cross. And so he died for us.
    ... Jürgen Moltmann (1926-2024), The Power of the Powerless, San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1983, p. 56 (see the book)
    See also Luke 6:27-28; Matt. 5:44-45; Luke 6:34-35; 23:34; Rom. 5:10; 12:14,20-21; 1 Pet. 2:23; 3:9
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You must change my nature, so that I may follow Your word. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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