“I am not worthy, Master and Lord, that you should come beneath the roof
of my soul: yet, since you in your love toward all wish to dwell in me, in
boldness I come. You command, ‘Open the gates’ – which you alone have forged;
and you will come in with love toward all as is your nature; you will come in
and enlighten my darkened reason. I believe that you will do this: for you did
not send away the harlot that came to you with tears; nor cast out the
repentant publican; nor reject the thief who acknowledged your kingdom; nor
forsake the repentant persecutor, a yet greater act; but all of those who came
to you in repentance, were counted in the band of your friends, who alone abide
blessed forever, now and unto endless ages.”
– John Chrysostom (c.
347-407)
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
For the Lord's Day
“Our need to be in charge of
ourselves, others and situations often makes our relationship with Christ
life’s biggest power struggle. We are reluctant to relinquish our control and
allow him to run our lives. We may believe in him and be active in the church
and Christian causes, but trusting him as Lord of everything in life can be
scary. Even though we pray about our challenges and problems, all too often
what we really want is strength to accomplish what we’ve already decided is
best for ourselves and others. Meanwhile, we press on with our own priorities
and plans. We remain the scriptwriter, casting director, choreographer, and
producer of the drama of our own lives, in which we are the star performer.” - -Twelve
Steps to Living Without Fear, Lloyd John Ogilvie
Sunday, February 3, 2013
For the Lord's Day
God
Substituting Himself for Man
The concept of substitution may be said to lie at the
heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting
himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting Himself for
man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves
to be; God sacrifices Himself for man and puts Himself where only man deserves
to be. Man claims prerogatives which belong to God alone; God accepts penalties
which belong to man alone. John
Stott in The Cross of Christ
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