Facet of Christ (Day 41)
His grace is both outside me and inside me. Freely accounted righteousness- grace, through the Son, is credited to me from the outside; freely given godliness-grace, through the Spirit, is worked in me on the inside (Eph. 2.8-9) Dane Ortlund 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)
Meditation for Preparation – July 14th
On Messy Rooms, Elbow Grease, and Grace Read: Luke 11:14-26 14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if
Facet of Christ (Day 40)
His grace is both outside me and inside me. Freely accounted righteousness- grace, through the Son, is credited to me from the outside; freely given godliness-grace, through the Spirit, is worked in me on the inside (Eph. 2.8-9) Dane Ortlund 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)
Facet of Christ (Day 39)
He not only provides for my justification and my reconciliation but also my adoption. Legal acquittal; restored friendship; familial love and inheritance. (Eph. 1.3-5) Dane Ortlund 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[a] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Eph. 1:3-5)
Facet of Christ (Day 38)
He not only justifies me, he reconciles me to God. A state of friendliness, of restored relationship, is given to me, purely of his gracious will. (Col. 1.21-22) Dane Ortlund 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (Col. 1:21-22)
Facet of Christ (Day 37)
His death and resurrection means that if I trust him, I am justified. By faith alone, I am clothed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus himself. He takes all my sin, and he gives me all his righteousness, never to be taken away. (2 Cor. 5.21) Dane Ortlund 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21)
Facet of Christ (Day 36)
His brilliant resplendence will, one day soon, make every impenitent Hollywood star and ESPN-headlining athlete, every president and prime minister, look small and silly—as the glory of overlooked, ordinary Christians erupts in beauty for all the universe to see. (Rev. 5.11-12) Dane Ortlund 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:11-12)
Facet of Christ (Day 35)
He withdrew to pray and be alone at times. Communion with the Father is more important than sleep. And through his own work on the cross Jesus has opened wide the door for this communion. (Luke 5.16) Dane Ortlund 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. (Luke 5:16)
Facet of Christ (Day 34)
And yet as Revelation 5 shows us, he is not only a lion (Rev. 5:5) but also a lamb (Rev 5:6). Magnificent ferocity; supreme, approachable tenderness, even to the point of fatal sacrifice—just like a lamb. Dane Ortlund 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven
The Good Samaritan
Below is the article on Luke’s references to Samaritans that I quoted extensively in my sermon Sunday (6/30/24). I found it very insightful about loving enemies - especially tribal/racial ones. I hope it’s an encouragement to you as you think about the shape this most important of commandments should take in your life! https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-good-american
