He carries His lambs

         “He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.”
         — Isaiah 40:11

"But how may we understand the expression, “He will carry them”? Sometimes he carries them by not permitting them to endure much trial. Providence deals tenderly with them. Often they are “carried” by being filled with an unusual degree of love, so that they bear up and stand fast. Though their knowledge may not be deep, they have great sweetness in what they do know. Frequently he “carries” them by giving them a very simple faith, which takes the promise just as it stands, and believingly runs with every trouble straight to Jesus. The simplicity of their faith gives them an unusual degree of confidence, which carries them above the world."

Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

Spurgeon on enduring trials

"The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner."

Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

A description of the early Church.

This describes the early Church, but would it describe us?

"For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of humanity by country, language, or custom. For nowhere do they live in cities of their own, nor do they speak some unusual dialect, nor do they practice an eccentric way of life…For while they live in both Greek and barbarian cities, as each one’s lot was cast, and follow the local customs in dress and food and other aspects of life, at the same time they demonstrate the remarkable and admittedly unusual character of their own citizenship. The live in their own countries but only as nonresidents, they participate in everything as citizens, and endure everything as foreigners. Every foreign country is their fatherland, and every fatherland is foreign. They marry like everyone else, and have children, but they do not expose their offspring. They share their food but not their wives. They are in the flesh, but they do not live according to the flesh. They live on earth but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws; indeed in their private lives they transcend the laws. They love everyone, and by everyone they are persecuted."

The Treatise to Diognetus

A student of doctrine is a student of Scripture

"Now in order that true religion may shine upon us, we ought to hold that it must take its beginning from heavenly doctrine and that no one can even get the slightest taste of right and sound doctrine unless he be a pupil of Scripture."

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1.6.2.

Beg of God these two things...

"Beg of God that he would do these two things for thee: First, enlighten thine understanding: and secondly, inflame thy will."
John Bunyan,  The Heavenly Footman

Silence in the face of evil...

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil; God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

 Dietrich Bonheoffer

Bonhoeffer on "cheap" grace

Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves.  Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

From: Dietrich Bonhoeffer "the Cost of Discipleship"

(Printed today in my church bulletin)

Be Humble in your theology

From Monergism.com: 

Be Humble in Your Theology by Joe Thorn

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 PETER 5:5

Dear Self,

A good theologian is humble. You may be known as a theologian, or at least want to be known as one, but are you also known as being humble?
These two things should be inseparable.
The more robust, the more detailed your theology, the more humble you should become. Why? Because you did not figure God out; he revealed himself to you. Don't you remember the words of Jesus to Peter when the disciple correctly acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah? "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 16:17) The theologian owes his knowledge to God himself, who has not only made himself known in creation and Scripture but has also opened our eyes to understand and embrace the truth.
The proud theologian has somehow convinced himself, or at least acts as if, he discovered God. But you understand that you did not uncover the truth of God like some kind of rock star archeologist. He sought you, caught you, and gave you sight, knowledge, and life. Humility should be borne out of your theology because you are so entirely dependent on God for it.
You must also remember that your theology is not your own. Rather you are following in the steps of generations before you who have worked hard at knowing and making known the one true God. If you are a good theologian, part of that is because good theologians have gone before you and made a path for you to walk.
It's possible to be technically accurate in your theology and yet miss the mark of humility. Be passionate for God, fight for truth, contend for the faith, but be humble. Your knowledge is a cause to be humble, not a reason to boast in your insight or tradition.

Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself Thorn, Joe (Re:Lit) (pp. 54-55). Good News Publishers/Crossway Books.

Read this today on the Old guys website, what a great quote and a great comfort, Christ is our redeemer!

There is no one of the titles of Christ which is more precious to Christian hearts than “Redeemer.” There are others, it is true, which are more often on the lips of Christians. The acknowledgment of our submission to Christ as our Lord, the recognition of what we owe to Him as our Saviour, – these things, naturally, are most frequently expressed in the names we call Him by. “Redeemer,” however, is a title of more intimate revelation than either “Lord” or “Saviour.” It gives expression not merely to our sense that we have received salvation from Him, but also to our appreciation of what it cost Him to procure this salvation for us. It is the name specifically of the Christ of the cross. Whenever we pronounce it, the cross is placarded before our eyes and our hearts are filled with loving remembrance not only that Christ has given us salvation, but that He paid a mighty price for it.

~B.B. Warfield~

Two things to humble the souls of men

There are two things that are suited to humble the souls of men, and they are, first, a due consideration of God, and then of themselves - of God, in His greatness, glory, holiness, power, majesty, and authority; of ourselves, in our mean, abject, and sinful condition.

John Owen

Quotes

I read this quote today at Defending. Contending . The pharisee has a list of do's and dont's but the child of God sees his own wickedness, feels his need for a Saviour, and flees to the cross. We don't need 40 days of purpose, life application topical preaching, or anything else that doesn't address our real problem. We need Christ and Him crucified for our sins.

“Desperately Wicked”

“The heart is desperately wicked” — past cure by human medicine. Learn that you need conversion, or a new heart. When we speak of the necessity of a change to some people, they begin to be affected by it, and so they put away some evil habits, as drinking or swearing or lying, they put these away, and promise never to go back to them. Now they think the work is done, and they are in a fair way for heaven. Alas foolish man! It is not your drinking, or your swearing, or your lying that is desperately wicked — but your heart. You have only been cutting off the streams; the source remains polluted. The heart is as wicked as ever. It is the heart that is incurable. It is a new heart that you need. Nothing less will answer your need. Learn that you must go to Christ for this!

Robert Murray McCheyne
1813-1843