"Then He said to them, 'Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.'" (Matthew 13:52)
From time to time my favorite "devotional" people, Spurgeon, Chambers, and Bonhoeffer, have something I pass on to you. Today is such a day.
The following thought from Dietrich Bonhoeffer is so timely for especially those who consider themselves "mature Christians." And, it is a word to the charismatic community, who has for decades propagated, whether knowingly or not, the stigma of walk-only-in-the-new-and-exciting revelation. I have noticed now for some years that even great songs which were sung as recently as 10 to 20 years ago are no longer in much of Christendom. Old is not good. Everything must be "up-to-date." The same "spirit" is at work in people who rarely read the Bible. To them, it is repetition after repetition. No, it is not; it is the very Breath of God Himself. I pray if you or anyone you know is in any of the aforementioned categories, you will receive a word, based on our text, from one of the great Churchman in Church History.
"It is not necessary that we should discover new ideas in our meditation. It is sufficient if the word, as we read and understand it, penetrates and dwells within us." (From his work, Life Together)
"Our quiet reflection on a section of Scripture may yield astonishingly fresh insights. It more often yields the familiar. This should not be seen as a problem. Our life needs maintenance as much as it should experience bursts of creativity. Hearing God's message again and again may not arouse our excitement, but it may sustain us in the walk of faith. Moreover, the old needs to be frequently reappropriated, for it is easily forgotten or lost. Thought: That which we repeatedly think about and embrace as truth will become an integral part of our lives." (Bonhoeffer)
Father, in Jesus' Name, keep this thought ever in me. Amen.
From time to time my favorite "devotional" people, Spurgeon, Chambers, and Bonhoeffer, have something I pass on to you. Today is such a day.
The following thought from Dietrich Bonhoeffer is so timely for especially those who consider themselves "mature Christians." And, it is a word to the charismatic community, who has for decades propagated, whether knowingly or not, the stigma of walk-only-in-the-new-and-exciting revelation. I have noticed now for some years that even great songs which were sung as recently as 10 to 20 years ago are no longer in much of Christendom. Old is not good. Everything must be "up-to-date." The same "spirit" is at work in people who rarely read the Bible. To them, it is repetition after repetition. No, it is not; it is the very Breath of God Himself. I pray if you or anyone you know is in any of the aforementioned categories, you will receive a word, based on our text, from one of the great Churchman in Church History.
"It is not necessary that we should discover new ideas in our meditation. It is sufficient if the word, as we read and understand it, penetrates and dwells within us." (From his work, Life Together)
"Our quiet reflection on a section of Scripture may yield astonishingly fresh insights. It more often yields the familiar. This should not be seen as a problem. Our life needs maintenance as much as it should experience bursts of creativity. Hearing God's message again and again may not arouse our excitement, but it may sustain us in the walk of faith. Moreover, the old needs to be frequently reappropriated, for it is easily forgotten or lost. Thought: That which we repeatedly think about and embrace as truth will become an integral part of our lives." (Bonhoeffer)
Father, in Jesus' Name, keep this thought ever in me. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
