Mere Christianity Quotes (p. 63)

Here is another excerpt from the classic book by C. S. Lewis--Mere Christianity:

That is why the Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to be good. They hope, by being good, to please God if there is one; or--if they think there is not--at least they hope to deserve approval from good men. But the Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a greenhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it.

Jesus Receives Sinners

"This man receiveth sinners." Luke 15:2

Here is another thoughtful devotional by Charles Spurgeon:

Observe the condescension of this fact. This Man, who towers above all other men, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners--this Man receiveth sinners. This Man, who is no other than the eternal God, before whom angels veil their faces--this Man receiveth sinners. It needs an angel's tongue to describe such a mighty stoop of love. That any of us should be willing to seek after the lost is nothing wonderful--they are of our own race; but that he, the offended God, against who the transgression has been committed, should take upon himself the form of a servant, and bear the sin of many, and should then be willing to receive the vilest of the vile, this is marvellous.

"This Man receiveth sinners"; not, however, that they may remain sinners, but he receives them that he may pardon their sins, justify their persons, cleanse their hearts by his purifying word, preserve their souls by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, and enable them to serve him, to show forth his praise, and to have communion with him. Into his heart's love he receives sinners, takes them from the dunghill, and wears them as jewels in his crown; plucks them as brands from the burning, and preserves them as costly monuments of his mercy. None are so precious in Jesus' sight as the sinners for whom he died. When Jesus receives sinners, he has not some out-of-doors reception place, no casual ward where he charitably entertains them as men do passing beggars, but he opens the golden gates of his royal heart, and receives the sinner right into himself--yea, he admits the humble penitent into personal union and makes him a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. There was never such a reception as this! This fact is still most sure this evening, he is still receiving sinners: would to God sinners would receive him.

Mere Christianity Quotes (p. 62)

Here is another excerpt from the classic book about what Christians believe, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. This passage is about believing things on authority:

Do not be scared by the word authority. Believing things on authority only means believing them because you have been told them by someone you think trustworthy. Ninety-nine percent of the things you believe are believed on authority. I believe there is such a place as New York. I have not seen it myself. I could not prove by abstract reasoning that there must be such a place. I believe it because reliable people have told me so. The ordinary man believes in the Solar System, atoms, evolution, and the circulation of the blood on authority--because the scientists say so. Every historical statement in the world is believed on authority. None of us has seen the Norman Conquest or the defeat of the Armada. None of us could prove them by pure logic as you prove a thing mathematics. We believe them simply because people who did see them have left writings that tell us about them: in fact, on authority. A man who jibbed at authority in other things as some people do in religion would have to be content to know nothing all his life.

What is Worship?

Here is an excerpt from Called to Worship: The Biblical Foundations of Our Response to God's Call by Vernon M. Whaley.

But, wait. What is worship? What do we mean when we use the word? Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.) defines worship as "reverence offered a divine being" as well as the "act of expressing such reverence." So, we are to show God reverence. But how? What acts demonstrate reverence for God? Does the Bible offer guidance?

In Scripture, the Hebrew word for worship is shachah, meaning "to kneel, stoop, prostrate oneself, or throw oneself down, in reverence." Closely related are the Hebrew words shabach, "to shout to the Lord"; yadah, "to worship with uplifted hands"; halal, "to celebrate God foolishly and boast about His attributes (love, mercy, goodness, etc.)"; and tehillah, "to sing spontaneous songs of praise."

In the Greek, the word for worship, proskuneo, means to express deep respect or adoration--by kissing, with words, or by bowing down. Associated words include epaineo, "to commend or applaud"; aineo, "to praise God"; and sebomai, "to revere."

That's a lot of words, with diverse definitions. And these aren't the only biblical terms that relate to worship. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance offers a wealth of information regarding the various words for worship and its synonyms. But how can we make all of this information relevant? When we tie all of these words and their meaning together, what does it all boil down to?

Love. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (NKJV). Jesus repeated this command three times in the New Testament (Matt. 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27). Why? Because it's what we were made for---to love God. And if we are in love with Him, we will naturally want to worship Him (shachah). He's done so much for you and me that it only seems right to fall down before Him (cagad), to throw up our hands in surrender (yadah), to sing His praises (zamar)--to worship Him.

Do you love Jesus? Why?

"Thou whom my soul loveth." (Song of Solomon 1:7)

Do you love Jesus? Why do love Jesus? This devotional by Charles Spurgeon touches on these questions.

It is well to be able, without any "if" or "but", to say of the Lord Jesus---"Thou whom my soul loveth." Many can only say of Jesus that they hope they love him; they trust they love him; but only a poor and shallow experience will be content to stay here. No one ought to give any rest to his spirit till he feels quite sure about a matter of such vital importance. We ought not to be satisfied with a superficial hope that Jesus loves us, and with a bare trust that we love him. The old saints did not generally speak with "buts," and "ifs," and "hopes," and "trusts," but they spoke positively and plainly. "I know whom I have believed," saith Paul. "I know that my Redeemer liveth," saith Job. Get positive knowledge of your love of Jesus, and be not satisfied till you can speak of your interest in him as a reality, which you have made sure by having received the witness of the Holy Spirit, and his seal upon your soul by faith.

True love to Christ is in every case the Holy Spirit's work, and must be wrought in the heart by him. He is the efficient cause of it; but the logical reason why we love Jesus lies in himself. Why do we love Jesus? Because he first loved us. Why do we love Jesus? Because he "gave himself for us." We have life through his death; we have peace through his blood. Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.

Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of his person. We are filled with a sense of his beauty! an admiration of his charms! a consciousness of his infinite perfection! His greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul till it is so ravished that it exclaims, "Yea, he is altogether lovely." Blessed love this---a love which binds the heart with chains more soft than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!

Paul

We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father, who us over us all and in us all and living through us all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 NLT)

The following worship profile is taken from the Praise and Worship Study Bible from Tyndale House Publishers. I highly recommend this study Bible for all who want to learn more about biblical praise and worship. Let's take a look at some of the things we can learn about worship from the life of the apostle Paul:

Imagine that you are a believer in the first-century church. You have come to hear the apostle Paul as he describes his life's work. With deep reverence he describes what happened to him on the Damascus road. He speaks poignantly and powerfully about mercy and grace and forgiveness. As you listen to Paul pour out his heart, you suddenly grasp what he meant by phrases like "to live is Christ," "I want to know Christ," and "we make it our goal to please him." This is a man who has understood what it means to worship with all one's heart.

Paul the Worshiper

Other than Christ, perhaps no other person has shaped the form of Christian worship more than the apostle Paul. His passionate concern for both content and order is seen in the structure of countless Christian worship traditions. Our sharing of the Lord's Table, for instance, is based on Paul's words to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 11).

Paul infused life into corporate worship by giving meaning to Old Testament practices. Steeped as he was in Jewish worship and theology, Paul transformed the rich liturgical content of Judaism by placing it in the context of Christ's redemptive work.

Learning from Paul

Paul taught by example. The worshipers who gathered in the various congregations he founded not only heard powerful words but saw a man who lived out his faith. His own devotion to Christ inspired others to follow God wholeheartedly.

Prayer permeates the letters of Paul. He urged others to pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and offered intercessory prayer for all his churches. He also articulated prayers of worship that proclaim the magnificent work of Christ (see Ephesians 3:20).

Paul did everything in his power to help the church work in unity. He encouraged Christians to develop spiritual gifts that would benefit the whole body. He confronted sin that would disrupt harmony. He encouraged the faithful and admonished the indifferent. He stressed the need for self-discipline in the cause of serving Christ. He undertook everything with the intent of bringing God the glory.

In worship, Paul emphasized the elements of prayer, praise, the reading and teaching of Scripture, and regular partaking at the Lord's Table. When we gather for worship, these elements should all be incorporated frequently.

Following the Example

Survey one of Paul's letters and make a list of the elements that speak of either individual or corporate worship. Note the truths about God's character, the reasons for intercession, the occasions for praise, and the practical advice about gathering together. Then assess your strengths and weaknesses. How well do you build up others? How faithfully do you praise God for his mighty work in the church? Let God speak to you through his Word and Spirit as you seek to honor him through your ministry to others.

Mere Christianity Quotes (p. 52)

Here is one of my favorite passages from the classic book by C. S. Lewis--Mere Christianity:

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg-- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

Worship: The Antidote to Anxiety

Here is another worship devotional from Captivated by the Heart of God by David Good. This one gives us some good advice about how to deal with anxiety:

All of us deal with anxiety to some extent. Some more than others. It is difficult not to be anxious, especially in today's fast-paced culture that expects more of us than ever before. To think that we can create a worry-free life is naive, but God has given us a powerful tool to help us deal with anxiety and find true joy even in the midst of adversity and trials. Philippians 4:4-9 gives us six steps to overcome anxiety.

Step #1--Rejoice in the Lord always.

To rejoice means to be exceedingly glad. The emphasis is not on finding joy in what is happening or has happened, but in what God is doing and will do. To rejoice in the Lord always does not mean to be happy, but to find joy in God's future provision.

Step #2--Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The encouragement is to strive to respond in gentleness in the midst of difficult circumstances. It is hard to be gentle when you are stressed. What helps is to focus on what God is doing, not on what is happening. Don't forget that Paul tells us the Lord is near, ever-present. You don't have to worry.

Step #3--Do not be anxious about anything.

This does mean not to worry, but it means so much more. It actually means not to fall into the trap of looking out for or promoting your own interests; don't try to make things work out for your best; avoid self-reliance. Let God be your sole source of provision. Make your requests known to Him and He will take care of it for you.

Step #4--Accept God's gift of peace.

The word peace means rest and safety. It literally means exemption from the rage and havoc of war. This step is the result of following the first three--rejoicing in the Lord, being gentle and not being anxious. Steps one, two and three are steps we take toward God. Steps four and five are steps God takes towards us in response.

Step #5--Accept God's gift of safety.

This is the second step that God takes towards us. Paul says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The word guard literally means to protect by military guard; to prevent hostile invasion. He will keep the enemy from penetrating your heart and your mind. This will bring a peace that doesn't make sense. You can hear the bombs going off around you, but for some strange reason, you aren't worried and you will sleep like a baby.

Step #6--Meditate on God's Word.

It is imperative that you train your mind to keep going back to the truth; what is right and lovely, not ugly; what is good, not what is bad. To think on means to decide; agree with; to focus on facts, not suppositions. Do this and the God of Peace will be with you. He won't just send us peace. He himself, the God who is Peace, will come along side us! What a wonderful promise. I want more than just peace. I want the Peace-maker.

When you are feeling a little anxious, follow these simple steps that will lead you to peace and safety. Remember that you have a choice. You can either be a victim of your circumstances, or you can take action through Christ and be a victor in the midst of your circumstances.

Riches of Christ

"The unsearchable riches of Christ." Ephesians 3:8

Another great devotional by Charles Spurgeon:

My Master has riches beyond the count of arithmetic, the measurement of reason, the dream of imagination, or the eloquence of words. They are unsearchable! You may look, and study, and weigh, but Jesus is a greater Savior than you think him to be when your thoughts are at the greatest. My Lord is more ready to pardon than you to sin, more able to forgive than you to transgress. My Master is more willing to supply your wants than you are to confess them. Never tolerate low thoughts of my Lord Jesus. When you put the crown on his head, you will only crown him with silver when he deserves gold.

My Master has riches of happiness to bestow upon you now. He can make you to lie down in green pastures, and lead you beside still waters. There is no music like the music of his pipe, when he is the Shepherd and you are the sheep, and you lie down at his feet. There is no love like his, neither earth nor heaven can match it. To know Christ and to be found in him--oh! this is the life, this is joy, this is marrow and fatness, wine on the lees well refined.

My Master does not treat his servants churlishly; he gives to them as a king giveth to a king; he gives them two heavens--a heaven below in serving him here, and a heaven above in delighting in him for ever. His unsearchable riches will be best known in eternity. He will give you on the way to heaven all you need; your place of defense shall be your munitions of rocks, your bread shall be given you, and your waters shall be sure; but it is there, there, where you shall hear the song of them that triumph, the shout of them that feast, and shall have a face-to-face view of the glorious and beloved One.

The unsearchable riches of Christ! This is the tune for the minstrels of earth, and the song for the harpers of heaven. Lord, teach us more and more of Jesus, and we will tell out the good news to others.

Consolation

"Everlasting consolation."  2 Thessalonians 2:16

Here is another devotional from Charles Spurgeon:

"Consolation." There is music in the word: like David's harp, it charms away the evil spirit of melancholy. It was a distinguished honor to Barnabas to be called "the son of consolation"; nay, it is one of the illustrious names of a greater than Barnabas, for the Lord Jesus is "the consolation of Israel." "Everlasting consolation"--here is the cream of all, for the eternity of comfort is the crown and glory of it. What is this "everlasting consolation"? It includes a sense of pardoned sin. A Christian man has received in his heart the witness of the Spirit that his iniquities are put away like a cloud, and his transgressions like a thick cloud. If sin be pardoned, is not that an everlasting consolation?

Next, the Lord gives his people an abiding sense of acceptance in Christ. The Christian knows that God looks upon him as standing in union with Jesus. Union to the risen Lord is a consolation of the most abiding order; it is, in fact, everlasting. Let sickness prostrate us, have we not seen hundreds of believers as happy in the weakness of disease as they would have been in the strength of hale and blooming health? Let death's arrows pierce us to the heart, our comfort dies not, for have not our ears full often heard the songs of saints as they have rejoiced because the living love of God was shed abroad in their hearts in dying moments? Yes, a sense of acceptance in the Beloved is an everlasting consolation.

Moreover, the Christian has a conviction of his security. God has promised to save those who trust in Christ: the Christian does trust in Christ, and he believes that God will be as good as his word, and will save him. He feels that he is safe by virtue of his being bound up with the person and work of Jesus.