Facet of Christ (Day 82)
He has put that nail-scarred arm around us as we stumble toward heaven, and he will never loosen his grip. (Heb. 13.5-6; John 10.28-29) Dane Ortlund 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6) 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than
Facet of Christ (Day 81)
He said, on the cross, with nail-pierced arms outstretched, “It is finished.” We exhausted sinners are free to rest in his exhaustive work. (John 19.30; Heb. 10.12-14) Dane Ortlund 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30) 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being
Facet of Christ (Day 80)
The incarnation of God among us means that ultimate reality is not cold, dark, space, but love. The Son of God came to us as the overflow of intra-trinitarian love. (John 15.9; Rom. 5.5) Dane Ortlund 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (John 15:9) 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)
Facet of Christ (Day 79)
He was born in Bethlehem. Out of the way, backwoods Bethlehem. We are freed to live and serve in obscurity. We don’t need the spotlight. He didn’t. (Phil. 2.3-9) Dane Ortlund 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of
Facet of Christ (Day 78)
His blazing wrath upon the impenitent is matched by his gentle embrace of the penitent. Neither dilutes the other. He is not a one-dimensional Christ. (Rev. 19.15-16; 1 Pet. 5.10-11) Dane Ortlund 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelations 19:15-16) 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all
Facet of Christ (Day 77)
His promised second coming means that I will give an account for every word spoken against others, and others will give an account for every word spoken against me. All will be put right. (Heb. 4.13) Dane Ortlund 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)
Facet of Christ (Day 76)
He is the perfect and final Judge—utterly fair, and all-knowing. Every verdict will be just right. We do not need to take justice into our own hands. (2 Tim. 4.1) Dane Ortlund I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: (2 Timothy 4:1)
Meditation for Preparation – Aug 18th
Church Planting Read: John 12:20-26 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for
Facet of Christ (Day 75)
He is the perfect and final Sage, or wise man, depicting wisdom in both his life and his words. He is the book of Proverbs walking around on two legs. (Prov. 8.22-31) Dane Ortlund 22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 before he had made the earth with its
Facet of Christ (Day 74)
He is the perfect and final Prophet, speaking truth with laser-like accuracy. (John 6.14) Dane Ortlund 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (John 6:14)
