Augustine: joy for the godly

Thursday, October 17, 2024
    Feast of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, Martyr, c.107
Meditation:
    Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
    —Jude 24-25 (KJV)
Quotation:
    There is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love Thee for Thine own sake, whose joy Thou Thyself art. And this is the happy life, to rejoice to Thee, of Thee, for Thee; this it is, and there is no other.
    ... St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Confessions [397], Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1886, X.xxii, p. 260 (see the book)
    See also Jude 1:24-25; Isa. 48:22; John 11:25-26; 14:6; Acts 3;15; Rom. 15:13; Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:4; 1 Pet. 4:13; 1 John 5:12
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are my true joy. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Pinnock: neutrality?

Wednesday, October 16, 2024
    Commemoration of the Oxford Martyrs, Hugh Latimer, Nicolas Ridley, and Thomas Cranmer, bishops and martyrs, 1555
Meditation:
    Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
    —John 12:42-43 (NIV)
Quotation:
    It is impossible to be neutral about Jesus Christ. We must either accept or reject his claims. Not to decide is to decide. He does not call us to a merely verbal confession or a merely intellectual commitment, but to an unreserved decision to build our lives on Christ as a foundation.
    ... Clark H. Pinnock (1937-2010), A Case for Faith, Bethany House, 1987, p. 90 (see the book)
    See also John 12:42-43; Matt. 7:21-27; 10:32; 28:17; Mark 3:35; Luke 12:8; John 1:11-13; 7:3-5; Rom. 10:10; 1 John 4:2
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are the cornerstone of my life. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Watson: a cause for joy

Tuesday, October 15, 2024
    Feast of Teresa of Avila, Mystic, Teacher, 1582
Meditation:
    And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
    —Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Quotation:
    To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that ALL things which fall out shall cooperate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over.
    ... Thomas Watson (c.1620-1686), preface, A Divine Cordial [1657], Religious Tract Society, 1848, p. 3 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 8:28; Deut. 8:5; Ps. 23:4-6; 91:9-10; 126:5-6; Pr. 3:11-12; Matt. 5:4; Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17; Heb. 12:7; Jas. 1:2-3; 5:11; 1 Pet. 1:6; 4:13-14; 5:10; Rev. 3:19
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, in faith I embrace Your discipline. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Kurosaki: the great Conductor

Monday, October 14, 2024
Meditation:
    Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
    —1 Corinthians 12:27-28 (NIV)
Quotation:
    God is the great Conductor, and the individual members of the orchestra [namely, the whole body of Christ] each play their varying parts on different instruments; but if all follow the Conductor the whole composition will be a complete and beautiful symphony in perfect harmony.
    ... Kokichi Kurosaki (1886-1970), One Body in Christ, Kobe, Japan: Eternal Life Press, 1954, ch. 5 (see the book)
    See also 1 Cor. 12:12-31; John 17:20-21; Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 1:10; 10:16-17; Eph. 3:6; 4:3-13; 5:19-20; Col. 3:15; 1 Pet. 3:8
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, help me to honor the many roles to which You have appointed Your people. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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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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