Fox: understanding the Scriptures

Saturday, October 10, 2026
    Feast of Paulinus, Bishop of York, Missionary, 644
Meditation:
    When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
    —John 16:13 (ESV)
Quotation:
    It be a certain truth, that none can understand [the prophets’ and apostles’] writings aright, without the same Spirit by which they were written.
    ... George Fox (1624-1691), Journal, v. I, Philadelphia: B. & T. Kite, 1808, p. 110 (see the book)
    See also John 16:13; Rom. 8:16; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 1 John 5:6
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant that I may hear and respond the Spirit’s prompting in Scripture. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Augustine: the yoke is light

Friday, October 9, 2026
    Commemoration of Denys, Bishop of Paris, & his Companions, Martyrs, 258
    Commemoration of Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, Philosopher, Scientist, 1253
Meditation:
    Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
    —2 Timothy 2:20-22 (ESV)
Quotation:
    Thou knowest how far Thou hast already changed me, who first healed me of the lust of vindicating myself, that so Thou mightest forgive all the rest of my iniquities, and heal all my infirmities, and redeem my life from corruption, and crown me with mercy and pity, and satisfy my desire with good things; who didst curb my pride with Thy fear, and tame my neck to Thy yoke. And now I bear it and it is light unto me, because so hast Thou promised, and hast made it; and verily it was so, and I knew it not, when I feared to take it.
    ... St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Confessions [397], Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1886, X.xxxvi, p. 278 (see the book)
    See also 2 Tim. 2:20-22; Matt. 7:24; 11:29-30; John 13:17; 14:21-24; 15:10-14; Heb. 5:8-9
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I rejoice to be in Your service. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Thomas a Kempis: the spirit of understanding

Thursday, October 8, 2026
Meditation:
    At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
    —Matthew 18:1-4 (ESV)
Quotation:
    The more a man hath unity and simplicity in himself, the more things and the deeper things he understandeth; and that without labour, because he receiveth the light of understanding from above. The spirit which is pure, sincere, and steadfast, is not distracted though it hath many works to do, because it doth all things to the honour of God, and striveth to be free from all thoughts of self-seeking.
    ... Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), Of the Imitation of Christ [1418], Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1877, I.iii.3, p. 34 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 18:1-4; Rom. 12:6-8; 14:1-8; 2 Cor. 3:11; 1 Thess. 4:11-12
Quiet time reflection:
    Show me the way to simplicity in You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Braithwaite: the claim of Good News

Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
    —John 13:13-15 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Although we have different ways of worshipping and doing things, we have only one God. So how can we claim to have... “Good News” unless people can see in us that Jesus Christ is breaking down barriers and bringing us together?
    ... Albert Braithwaite
    See also John 13:13-15; 17:23; 1 Cor. 1:11-13; 8:4-6; Rom. 15:5; Eph. 4:3-6
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, lead us to tear away our divisions. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Davidman: endless youth

Tuesday, October 6, 2026
    Feast of William Tyndale, Translator of the Scriptures, Martyr, 1536
Meditation:
    Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
    —Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV)
Quotation:
    “Thou shalt not” is the beginning of wisdom. But the end of wisdom, the new law, is, “Thou shalt.” To be Christian is to be old? Not a bit of it. To be Christian is to be reborn, and free, and unafraid, and immortally young.
    ... Joy Davidman (1915-1960), Smoke on the Mountain, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1955, reprint, Westminster John Knox Press, 1985, p. 20 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 5:11-12; Ps. 143:8-10; John 16:13; Gal. 4:6; 5:16,18,22-25; Rom. 8:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:7
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I long for the full measure of life You promise. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Coslett: the qualified gardener

Monday, October 5, 2026
Meditation:
    And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.”
    —Matthew 15:10-13 (ESV)
Quotation:
    Unless we know the difference between flowers and weeds, we are not fit to take care of a garden.
    It is not enough to have truth planted in our minds. We must learn and labor to keep the ground clear of thorns and briars, follies and perversities, which have a wicked propensity to choke the word of life.
    ... Evan S. Coslett (1830-1939), Leaves of Gold, Clyde Francis Lytle, ed. [1948], Honesdale, Pa.: Coslett Publishing Company, 1938, p. 150 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 15:10-13; Isa. 60:21; Matt. 13:24-30,36-42; John 15:2,6; 1 Cor. 3:12-15
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, teach me to know the good plants in my heart. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Francis: joy

Sunday, October 4, 2026
    Feast of Francis of Assisi, Friar, Deacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226
Meditation:
    When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
    —Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Study always to have Joy, for it befits not the servant of God to show before his brother or another sadness or a troubled face.
    ... St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), The Mirror of Perfection [c. 1280], tr. Robert Steele, London: J.M. Dent, 1903, p. 141 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 6:16-18; Mark 2:18; Luke 2:10; 10:21; John 15:11
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, help me to maintain a cheerful demeanor. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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