Day 176, Evening
Today’s evening meditation is available below in audio and script formats. The audio version is also available for free download on the player.
Reading
“As iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh clearly red-hot, so one who wholly turneth unto God puts off all slothfulness, and is transformed.”
—Thomas à Kempis
Commentary
We are made in the image of God. The image is there, but we need to put in the work to reveal it. Whenever I hear someone say, “This is just the way I am; I’ve got to learn to live with it,” I want to plead, “Don’t ever say that!” The miracle of human existence is that we can change. Simply by virtue of being human, we have the capacity to change ourselves completely.
All of us carry a cleansing fire hidden inside. It may be banked with ashes, cold to the touch, but a spark of the divine is there nonetheless, ready to leap into life. It is nothing less than love of God. Latent in every one of us, it wants only encouragement before it flares to vibrant life, burning up everything selfish and impure. Once ignited and coaxed with the fuel of love for others, it sheds light and warmth all around. (WLB)
Stillness
As your day draws to a close, spend a few moments in silence and stillness, focussing on the fire of God within you, alive and at work.
Prayer
God of good news, I know I fall short in so many ways, and then there’s a nagging, accusing voice in my head letting me know how incapable I am to set things right. But today I plant my trust in the gospel. Amen. (HC)
Abbreviations
BC The Belgic Confession
CAC The Center For Action & Contemplation
CD The Canons of Dort
CIB Church In Bethesda Prayers
HC The Heidelberg Catechism
NT The New Testament
OT The Old Testament
RP - Ryan Phipps
WC The Westminster Confession
WLB Words To Live By
WLC The Westminster Larger Catechism
WSC The Westminster Shorter Catechism