Quotes

For the past three years, I have been collecting quotes that I read or hear, and putting them all into one document.  Every day, there is a quote included in the Daily Verse; this one document is where I get those quotes from.  I realized recently, skimming through it, how much of a treasure of wisdom and godliness it has become.  Some of the quotes are recent, and some of the people who said them have been with Christ for centuries.  But oh how precious is the gift that they have given to us-- to go with them deep into the heart of God!  On occasion, I use my own quotes database devotionally, just reading through it as I am brought by these saints to the throne of grace.

Because I have been so blessed by all these quotes, I have decided to share them in a broader way than just by Daily Verse email.  I've posted the whole document, as it is now, on the Daily Verse Online website.  You can download it at www.dailyverseonline.org/quotes.doc.  It is currently 41 pages long, with 529 quotes in it.  They're not in any particular order, so just start reading, or try searching the document for something specific.  Feel free to download it and spread it around.  I hope that you will be blessed by it, as I am daily.

Then you shall know that I am the LORD

In the book of Ezekiel, the phrase "you shall know that I am the LORD," or "they shall know" appears a whopping 66 times.  This has to be significant.  You can't read through Ezekiel and not notice how the phrase keeps appearing over and over and over again.  The ESV study Bible says that this "recognition formula... is an indication of the book's central purpose," and I think that they are exactly right.

The phrase doesn't just appear in a redemptive sense, though.  In many cases, it is in reference to judgment, like Ezekiel 6:7- "And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD."

I think that in chapter 20, we see most clearly what this is all about.  "And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.  And you shall know that I am the LORD... And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evils ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds." (20:42,44)  God is passionate about "manifesting His holiness" and revealing Himself and His glory, both in redemption and judgment.  He does everything "for His name's sake," so that all will know that He is Yahweh.  As the ESV Study Bible says again, "Ezekiel spoke oracles that vindicate the reputation of this holy God.  This radically God-centered point of view finds it sharpest expression in 36:22-23... Thus the primary purpose of Ezekiel's message was to restore God's glory before the people who had spurned it in view of the watching nations."

See all the "you shall know that I am the LORD" passages in Ezekiel here.

11 Reasons to Love the Bible in 2009

There is perhaps nothing as valuable in the life of a believer as a steady diet of God's Word.  Throughout Scripture, God holds out indescribably wonderful promises to woo us to His Word-- promises of life and power and salvation and holiness and joy.  Below are 11 reasons to love the Bible in 2009.  I pray that they will inspire you to say with the Psalmist, "I love Your commandments above gold, above fine gold."

Holiness: Psalm 119:11- "I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You."

Enabling Ministry: 2 Timothy 3:16-17- "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

Guidance: Psalm 119:105- "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Understanding and Wisdom: Psalm 119:130- "The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple."

Spiritual Nourishment: Deuteronomy 8:3- "He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Comfort: Psalm 119:50- "This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life."

Joy: John 15:11- "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

Faith: Romans 10:17- "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

Salvation: James 1:21- "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."

Knowing God: 1 Samuel 3:21- "The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His word."

Seeing Jesus: Luke 24:27- "And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."

With those promises in mind, I am eagerly looking forward to mining the riches of the word of God this coming year.

Through the Bible

I am so excited to be starting Discipleship Journal's Through the Bible in a Year program.  I started following it in September, which plopped me in the middle of Isaiah, Proverbs, John, and Hebrews, but now I'm starting off afresh in Genesis, Psalms, Matthew, and Acts.

I've added the Through the Bible reading plan as a part of the Daily Verse Online's daily devotional tools that get sent out by email each day, and the response so far has been very encouraging.  I've gotten several emails from people who are eager to "let the word of Christ dwell in them richly" in 2009, who will be joining me and many others in this reading plan.  Hearing from people who are hungry for the meat of God's Word is so encouraging.  Praise God for the work He is doing in His people!