Communion with God

As the children of Israel's ultimate goal was not the land,  but communion with God in the land, so the Christian's ultimate goal is not heaven, but communion with heaven's God. ---- pgs

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward... I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant...to be God to you, and the God of your seed after you. I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur...to give you this land to possess (Genesis 15:1, 7).

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth...And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God...and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God (Revelation 21:1-3).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Jerusalem the Golden -

--- "O sweet and blessed country, the home of God's elect! O sweet and blessed country that eager hearts expect! Jesus, in mercy bring us to that dear land of rest; who are, with God the Father and Spirit, ever blest (fourth stanza)."

Two Testaments

The two Testaments are the two lips by which God has spoken to us. 

---- Thomas Watson

 

Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them. If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Luke 16:29-31).

 

And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

 

Our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand...as...do...the other Scriptures (II Peter 3:15-16). 

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: O God of Light, Your Word, a Lamp Unfailing. "From days of old, through swiftly rolling ages, You have revealed Your will to mortal men, speaking to saints, to prophets, kings, and sages, who wrote the message with immortal pen (second stanza)."

Mind

Oh, how greatly has the man advanced who has learned not to be his own, not to be governed by his own reason, but to surrender his mind to God! ---- John Calvin

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus...." (Philippians 2:5)

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ... (II Corinthians 10:5).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: May the Mind of Christ My Savior: "May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day, by his love and power controlling all I do and say." 

Creation

The problems of origin and destiny have escaped the philosopher and the scientist, but the humblest follower of Christ knows the answer to both.

---- A. W. Tozer

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible (Hebrews 11:1-2).

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words whose voice is not heard (Psalm 19:1-3).

 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: The Spacious Firmament on High:

The Spacious Firmament on High Trinity College Choir Cambridge

"The spacious firmament on high, with all the blue ethereal sky, and spangled heavens, a shining frame their great Original proclaim. Th'unwearied sun, from day to day, does his Creator's power display, and publishes to every land the work of an almighty hand.  

Providence

Life's trials are not unnatural barriers to our life with God, but are the appointed way forward to spiritual maturity. ---- Alec Motyer

....though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, these have come so that your faith --- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire --- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (I Peter 1:6b-7)

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: A Wonderful Savior is Jesus My Lord -- 

"A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, he taketh my burden away; he holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved, he giveth me strength as my day (second stanza)."

Take Up Your Cross

The world would not hate angels for being angelic, but it does hate men for being Christians. It grudges them their new character; it is tormented by their peace; it is infuriated by their joy. ---- William Temple

Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake(Matthew 10:19).

Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven... (Luke 6:22-23).

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (John 15:18-19). 

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed (John 3:20).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: "Take Up Your Cross," the Savior Said. Take up your cross, then, in His strength, and calmly sin's wild deluge brave; 'twill guide you to a better home, it points to glory o'er the grave.- Charles W. Everest, 1833. 

Christ Above All

He values not Christ at all who does not value Christ above all. Augustine.

 

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).