Tag: John Owen

Devotional

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But this is that which giveth life unto the affections of believers; they know that in the enjoyment of God in Christ their eternal blessedness doth consist. How this is their happiness and glory, how it will give them an everlasting, overflowing satisfaction and rest, they understand in the first-fruits of it which they here receive. And this is the ultimate object of their affections in this world, and they go forth unto all other spiritual things in order hereunto. The more, therefore, their affections are fixed on them, the more they are kept up unto that due exercise, the nearer approaches they make unto this blessed state.

When their minds are possessed with this persuasion, when it is confirmed in them by daily experience of that sweetness, rest, and satisfaction, which they find in cleaving unto God with fervent love and delight, in vain shall any other objects rise up in competition to draw them off unto themselves. The more we love God, the more like we are unto him, and the more near the enjoyment of him.

-John Owen, Works, Vol. VII, page 482

The Temporal in Light of the Eternal

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Wherefore, in all these things, be persuaded sometimes to have an eye to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Behold how he is set before us in the gospel, poor, despised, reproached, persecuted, nailed to the cross, and all by this world. Whatever be your designs and aims, let his cross continually interpose between your affections and this world. If you are believers, your hopes are within a few days to be with him forevermore.

Unto him you must give an account of yourselves, and what you have done in this world. Will it be acceptable with him to declare what you have saved of this world, what you have gained, what you have preserved and embraced yourselves in, and what you have left behind you? Was this any part of his employment and business in this world? Hath he left us an example for any such course? Wherefore, no man can set his affections on things here below who hath any regard unto the pattern of Christ, or is in any measure influenced with the power and efficacy of his cross. “My love is crucified,” said a holy martyr of old: he whom his soul loved was so, and in him his love unto all things here below.

Do you, therefore, find your affections ready to be engaged unto, or too much entangled with, the things of this world? Are your desires of increasing them, your hopes of keeping them, your fears of losing them, your love unto them and delight in them, operative in your minds, possessing your thoughts and influencing your conversations?

-turn aside a little, and by faith contemplate the life and death of the Son of God; a blessed glass will it be, where you may see what contemptible things they are which you perplex yourselves about. Oh, that any of us should love or esteem the things of this world, the power, riches, goods, or reputation of it, who have had a spiritual view of them in the cross of Christ!


-John Owen, Vol 7, page 399

Hope

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Where Christ evidenceth his presence with us, he gives us an infallible hope of glory; he gives us an assured pledge of it, and worketh our souls into an expectation of it. Hope in general is but an uncertain expectation of a future good which we desire; but as it is a gospel grace, all uncertainty is removed from it, which would hinder us of the advantage intended in it. It is an earnest expectation, proceeding from faith, trust, and confidence, accompanied with longing desires of enjoyment.
-John Owen, Vol. 7, page 321

Heart of Chambers

James HoganLeave a comment

I am at peace.

A most beautiful afternoon comes to an end(indeed, a beautiful day!!). I write this from my apartment in Houston, just having woken up from a lovely ten minute nap so pardon me if my words are slightly sleepy sounding. But I simply must chronicle today so that I always remember the goodness of my God to me. This morning, worshiped God at church with my fellow brothers and sisters, reveling in the revelation of our Lord we have been granted! “Holy holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty”…our voices rose up to heaven in praise, accompanied by the skillfully played organ. Let us never forget the majesty and undeniable beauty and mercy and might that belong to the God of the universe, this God we serve. Singing these words of praise..oh how I long for the days to come when we in heaven will join the chorus of every created thing! O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!!

And how do I follow that up? Well, I cannot, surely. Yet I enjoyed a delightful afternoon with Julie at the sports bar watching the Euro final, Portugal v France. Sadly, despite our great hope(and Julie’s cheering in French!!), Portugal grabbed the 1-0 victory and title of 2016 Euro Champions. Despite my disappointment, it was fun to see them all happy and dancing as they celebrated!! And of course, during the ever-more-nervous-making game watching, Julie and I had some lovely talking time – as always!!

Then, made my way to the store and then home…And I brewed some coffee, put some classic Beach House on the record player, and then enjoyed some luscious minutes reading Owen on the satisfactory death of Christ, and what it means for us. Christ died to save sinners. I read those five words and I am blown away. What stunning mercy. What beautiful love. And so now I sit, at peace and and at rest. Peace, my friends. I love you all ever so much.

Now, I will make my turkey burgers for dinner, and also am planning to read some more Owen. I will finish his Volume II tonight, I think. Only eight pages to go. It’s only taken me a year!!! But first. Dinnertime.

Peace and love.

Despite All the Tears

James HoganLeave a comment

Good morning, friends!! I have but a few minutes before work begins this fine Wednesday morning, but thought I’d write here nonetheless. This has been a pretty quiet week so far and I have no big plans(Chase might be coming over tonight, and I get to see Earnie tomorrow night!) and I must say, I’ve much enjoyed the last few weeks of relative quietude and rest – God has been so good to me in giving me some restful, relaxing times with Him! I read a few more words in Owen’s Communion with God this morning on the deity of the Holy Spirit – I’m currently on the section on the vindication of the Trinity. Truly wondrous reading. Every time I read a few more pages, I’m stunned anew by the glory and beauty of God. So wonderful and marvelous and high above all else is our God! I’m only forty pages from the end of this volume, at which point I think it’s time I switch it up a bit and begin Iain Murray’s biography on Martyn-Lloyd Jones. Much excited for that!! Ok, enough about my reading, as I probably enjoy writing about it much more than you care to listen. Have a most lovely day, my friends. Peace!

Postscript

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All the consolations of the Holy Ghost consist in his acquainting us with, and communicating unto us, the love of the Father and the grace of the Son; nor is there any thing in the one or the other but he makes it a matter of consolation to us: so that, indeed, we have our communion with the Father in his love, and the Son in his grace, by the operation of the Holy Ghost.
John Owen, Communion With God

Surfside

James HoganLeave a comment

Afternoon, friends!! I am writing a quick entry from here inside Starbucks…sadly, I came here to use some internet so I could write some work emails. Very very sad on a Sunday, I know. Oh well! Still, got some work done, and now almost time to go to the store and get some food(salad supplies and steak and potatoes!)…and then I’m thinking a beautiful idea would be to go out to my pool and soak in some sun!! I’m very much in a sun-enjoying mood, having spent most of yesterday having sweet beach time! It’s Ernie’s birthday today, so Mandy organised a little beach adventure…where me, Ernie, Mandy, Katie, Dakota and some others all had a smashing Saturday at the beach! After getting fueled up on coffee and donuts, we drove the hour down to the beach. The sun shone all day long and the water was positively bath-quality-warm and the sea breeze was perfectly fresh. Lunch time eventually came and due to Ernie’s grill skills, we had plenty of hamburgers(slightly charred) and hotdogs(a bit more charred) to feast on. As the afternoon wore on and we all started to tire a bit(how does one get tired just swimming around in the Gulf? Don’t ask me), we sat on the shore and just enjoyed being together. Gorgeous sun and sea, beautiful sand and surf…and dear friends and good chat. A good day was given me by my God and I thank Him!!

Now…it really is about time to go, but wanted to write a quote from a book I’ve been enjoying greatly lately. I really would have posted this sooner, but not having Internet at home is making my postings oh so much more sporadic. My apologies. Still. This quote. Just simply, wonderfully beautiful:

“So, then, this also is hid in Christ,-the great and unspeakable riches of the wisdom of God, in pardoning sin, saving sinners, satisfying justice, fulfilling the law, repairing his own honour, and providing for us a more exceeding weight of glory; and all this out of such a condition as wherein it was impossible that it should enter into the hearts of angels or men how ever the glory of God should be repaired, and one sinning creature delivered from everlasting ruin. Hence it is said, that at the last day God ‘shall be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe,’ 2 Thess 1:10. It shall be an admirable thing, and God shall be for ever glorious in it, even in the bringing of believers to himself. To save sinners through believing, shall be found to be a far more admirable work than to create the world of nothing.
-John Owen, Communion with God