We shall not benefit from reading the Old Testament unless we look for and meditate on the glory of Christ in its pages.
From 2 Corinthians 3:9: “For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory!”
John Owen (1616-1683) was an English Puritan church leader and theologian.
If you love Christ, never be ashamed to let others see it and know it. Speak for Him. Witness for Him. Live for Him.
From Isaiah 43:10: “You are My witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me.”
John Charles (J. C.) Ryle (1816-1900) was an Anglican bishop in the United Kingdom.
From Ephesians 4:15-16: “But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.”
Falling into enemy’s net
Daily prisoner of sin
Redeemed by blessed Savior
Faith in His mercy’s check-in
Walking with other believers
Unity in Christ bears trust
Filled with patient gentleness
Forgiven of sinful lust
Setting faith upon single goal
Truthful light worth every breath
Kindled through deepened prayer
Risen Lord overcomes death
Realizing faith must be all in
Today, tomorrow . . . with Christ
Paid debts fully through love’s grace
His blood fully sacrificed
Clutching hope within every step
Christ’s grace raises faith’s story
Measured with moving forward
Salvation’s finished glory
Published in 1896, “My Goal is God Himself” was written by Frances Brook. She was the daughter of a pastor, but poor health prevented her from becoming a Christian missionary.
Jesus must become the heart of my heart, the fire of my life, the love of my soul, the bridegroom of my spirit.
From Ephesians 3:16-17: “I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.”
Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) was a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian.
From Luke 17:5-6: “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.'”
Remaining at life’s station
Waiting, always watching
Living with righteousness
Faith’s vision of salvation
Trusting in hope’s fortitude
Adopting God’s patience
Committing to His ways
Faith in Him shall be renewed
Believing in Savior’s grace
Facing life’s rising tides
Revealing light to come
Faith rekindled to embrace
Repenting of sinful ways
Floundering no longer
Accepting forgiveness
Faith powering up each day
Pulsating heart filled with joy
Hearing God’s truthful voice
Witnessing through Christ’s love
Faith gathers peace to deploy
English hymnwriter and theologian, Frederick William Faber (1814-1863), wrote the hymn “Faith of Our Fathers” in 1847. The lyrics reflect upon an inspiring vision of faith at work.
The burden God places on each of us is to become who we are meant to be. We are most fully ourselves when Christ most fully lives in us and through us.
From 1 John 2:5-6: “Whoever obeys His word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we know that we are in Him: whoever says, ‘I abide in Him,’ ought to walk in the same way as He walked.”
Andrew Peterson (born 1974) is an American Christian singer-songwriter and author.
Messiah
Speaking truth
Heavenly praises above
Leading believers to Eternity
Joy
Savior
Sharing grace
Light brightens tomorrow
Filling with love’s forgiveness
Hope
Jesus
Offering rest
Mercy shares peace
Bearing heaviest of burdens
Faith
For we love not God first, to compel Him to love again; but He loved us first, and gave His Son for us, that we might see love and love again.
From 1 John 4:9-10: “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
William Tyndale (c. 1494 – c.1536) was an English Biblical scholar and linguist. He became a leading figure in the Protestant Reformation, and his writings were influenced by the thoughts shared from fellow reformer Martin Luther.
Ask God. Trust God. We are completely dependent on Him for eternal life, for forgiveness, for character, for security.
From Hebrews 6:19-20: “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.
Each sister, each brother
Walking with Christ, our Lord
Supporting one another
With grace, arriving on board
Faith immersed in Christ’s Word
Trusting always His light
Revealing peace to be heard
Enemy’s darkness takes flight
Christ, faith’s firm foundation
Transforming every stone
Building path to salvation
Filled with hope, never alone
Believers marching on
Following in Christ’s steps
Witnessing Heaven’s fate drawn
Mercy knocks at each doorstep
Each sister, each brother
Sharing Christ’s Living Bread
Accepting one another
Called to serve with truth now fed
Big Sky Buckeye 