Reformed Reflections

The heart that is fullest of good works has in it the least room for Satan’s temptations. —John Bunyan

2 Corinthians 5:16-19 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Take heed of cowardliness. He must needs be evil who is afraid to be good. —Thomas Watson

Let not men and women pore too much on their afflictions—that is, busy their thoughts too much to look down into their afflictions. You shall have many people that all their thoughts are taken up about what their crosses and afflictions are; they are altogether thinking and speaking of them. It is just with them as with a child that hath a sore about him; his finger is always upon the sore. And so men and women, their thoughts are always on their afflictions. When they awake in the night, their thoughts are on their afflictions, and when they converse with others—nay, it may be when they are praying to God—they are thinking of their afflictions. Oh! No marvel though you live a discontented life if your thoughts be always poring upon such things. You should rather labor to have your thoughts on those things that may comfort you. —Jeremiah Burroughs

A humble soul knows that to bless God in prosperity is the way to increase it, and to bless God in adversity is the way to remove it. —Thomas Brooks

Greater things are expected from [believers] than from other men. See that you turn not all this grace into wantonness. Think not because Christ hath done so much for you, you may sit still, much less indulge yourselves in sin, because Christ offered up such an excellent sacrifice for the expiation of it. No, though Christ came to be a curse, He did not come to be a cloak for your sins. —John Flavel

Psalm 107:1-8 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, From the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Proverbs 15:19: The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: But the way of the righteous is made plain. If you’re wondering why the Lord has made your path so difficult, perhaps it’s because you’re being lazy. Entropy multiplies in the slothful man. Do something.

If Christ spent His blood for souls, we may well spend our sweat. —Thomas Watson

Me, literally every time my wife asks me a theological question

Mark 16:2-6 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

We know that Sunday is coming, but don’t brush past this time—take the opportunity to dwell in the waiting, the sadness, the pain of Friday and Saturday. Use this day to meditate on His death, on our sin, and on the wrath of God poured out upon Christ as the propitiation for us. He took the gruesome death that we rightly deserved for our wickedness. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

I don't always feel His presence. But God's promises do not depend upon my feelings; they rest upon His integrity. —R.C. Sproul

My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave. —Stonewall Jackson

Worship must not be designed to please the unbeliever or the believer. Worship should be designed to please God. —R.C. Sproul

So do I.