Reformed Reflections

A Christianity tolerant of other religions is just no Christianity at all. —J. Gresham Machen

Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

If you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was coming back tomorrow, what would you do? If you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was coming back in a thousand years, what would you do? If your answers are different, you're doing it wrong.

As a moral and social institution, a weekly rest is invaluable. It is a quiet domestic reunion for the bustling sons of toil. It ensures the necessary vacation in those earthly and turbulent anxieties and affections, which would otherwise become inordinate and morbid. It brings around a season of periodical neatness and decency, when the soil of weekly labour is laid aside, and men meet each other amidst the decencies of the sanctuary, and renew their social affections. But above all, a Sabbath (one day of rest in seven) is necessary for man's moral and religious interests. —R.L. Dabney

Ephesians 1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination. —Augustine

Isaiah 43:1-3 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

There is quiet rest and full refreshment in Christ for sinners that are weary and heavy laden with sin. —Jonathan Edwards

The stability of our souls in the hour of temptation depends upon the care we exercise in keeping our hearts. —John Flavel

The sacred truths that gospel ministers deliver are not dry insipid lectures on moral philosophy, intended only to amuse us for a while, but the great mysteries of godliness, which therefore we are bound studiously to listen to. —George Whitefield

But if (as we are in duty bound) we dare to stand as witnesses for God in the midst of a crooked & perverse nation, we find the spirit of Cain instantly takes fire, & announces war against all who should presume to say that we ought to obey & fear God rather than men. —John Newton

Christian, meditate much on heaven, it will help you to press on, and to forget the toil of the way. —Charles Spurgeon