“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”
― William Wilberforce (1759-1833)
Thou Shalt Not Play
Setting aside the scandal caused by His Messianic claims and his reputation as a political firebrand, only two accusations of personal depravity seem to have been brought against Jesus of Nazareth. First, that he was a Sabbath-breaker. Secondly, that he was a “gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners” -or (to draw aside the veil of Elizabethan English that makes it sound so much more respectable) that he ate too heartily, drank too freely, and kept very disreputable company, including grafters of the lowest type and ladies who were no better than they should be.
For nineteen and a half centuries, the Christian Churches have laboured,
not without success, to remove this unfortunate impression made by their Lord and Master. They have hustled the Magdalens from the Communion-table,
founded Total Abstinence Societies in the name of him who made the water wine,
and added improvements of their own, such as various bans and anathemas upon dancing and theatre-going.
And, feeling that the original Sabbath commandment “Thou shalt not work” was rather half-hearted, have added to it the new commandment, “Thou shalt not play.”
-Dorothy L. Sayers, (1893-1957) from Unpopular Opinions (1946)
From The Shadows
In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: ” Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do? ” The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them. Psalm 11: 1-4
All men may acknowledge that the world is governed by the providence of God, but when there comes some sad confusion of things, which disturbs their ease, and involves them in difficulty, there are few who retain in their minds the firm persuasion of this truth.
But from the example of David, we ought to make such account of the providence of God as to hope for a remedy from his judgment, even when matters are in the most desperate condition. When in the world all justice lies trodden under foot, and faithfulness has perished,
David reflects that God sits in heaven perfect and unchanged, from whom it became him to look for the restoration of order from this state of miserable confusion.
He does not simply say that God dwells in heaven; but that he reigns there, as it were, in a royal place, and has his throne of judgment there. Nor do we indeed render to him the honour which is his due, unless we are fully persuaded that his judgment- seat is a sacred sanctuary for all who are in affliction and unrighteously oppressed.
When, therefore, deceit, craft, treachery, cruelty, violence, and extortion reign in the world; in short, when all things are thrown into disorder and darkness by injustice and wickedness,
let faith serve as a lamp
to enable us to behold God’s heavenly throne,
and let that sight suffice to make us wait in patience for the restoration of things to a better state.
John Calvin (1509-1564)
Conservatives and Progressives
\The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected.
Illustrated London News 1924
G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
You Feed Them
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
But he answered, ” you give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five-and two fish.”
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
Mark 6:35-44
Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.Darkness Grim
And though this world, with devils filled, should
threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph thru us.
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
A Verse from the Hymn: “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” by Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Perfect Solitude
He went up into the mountain apart to pray:
and when evening was come,
he was alone.
Matthew 14:23
The man Christ Jesus felt the need of perfect solitude – Himself alone, entirely by Himself, alone with Himself. We know how much intercourse with men draws us away from ourselves and exhausts our powers. The man Christ Jesus knew this, too, and felt the need of being by Himself again, of gathering all His powers, of realizing fully His high destiny, His human weakness, His entire dependence on the Father.
How much more does the child of God need this – himself alone with spiritual realities, himself alone with God the Father. If ever there were one who could dispense with special seasons for solitude and fellowship, it was our Lord. But He could not do His work or maintain His fellowship in full power, without His quiet time…
-Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
from Streams In The Desert Volume One by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
