Coram Deo: Because God glorifies all those whom He justifies (Rom. 8:28–30), we know that no person with true faith can be cut off finally from salvation. However, even the elect may fall into gross sin, even denying Jesus as Peter did. Although such people will repent before they die, it is far better if we never fall away even temporarily. Let us turn to Christ for strength to persevere in faith and obedience.
Even the youngest believers can attain and model emotional and spiritual maturity, for maturity is not a matter of age. Some of the youngest among us are the most mature and some of the oldest are the least mature. Young and old alike, God calls all His people to grow into “mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). —Burk Parsons in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Matthew Henry comments: “The consideration of the weakness and infirmity of our flesh should engage and quicken us to prayer and watchfulness.” Even when we find ourselves the most willing to do what is good, we must pray that our flesh would not stand in the way. Let us seek God’s face and not trust in our own strength that we might follow through on all our desires to serve the Lord.
The more we give ourselves over to those things that are good and right and true and beautiful and lovely, the more they take root in us and shape us. In a strange way, we become them by doing them. —Brian Tallman in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Isaiah 53:12 prophesies that the Messiah would be “numbered with the transgressors,” treated as if He were a sinner even though He would have no sin of His own. This numbering began when Jesus was arrested as if He were a common criminal, and it culminated on the cross when Jesus underwent the punishment our sins deserve. Have you praised God this day for our Savior’s great sacrifice on our behalf?
The worst sin against stewardship is to waste your life. —R.C. Sproul
Christian, are you being driven to humility while suffering for righteousness’ sake? Know that David’s example, Peter’s exhortation, and ultimately your Savior’s suffering on your behalf all are ample proof that God has not left you. Trust Him in your suffering. —Joe Holland in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Human nature being fallen, it is easy for us to overestimate our own goodness and faithfulness. We assume that we will be ready to stand for Christ in the day of trial, believing that even if everyone else were to fall away, we would remain committed disciples. The temptation to flee our Christian profession is strong when there is a real cost to our obedience, and if we trust in ourselves, we will fail. Let us ask the Lord for the strength and grace to persevere under trial.
No matter how badly God’s covenant people fail, our Lord is quick to rescue His church when she repents. His people forsake Him, but He never forsakes them. Judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17), but it is a judgment that is disciplinary, not destructive. It’s designed to move us to repentance and faithfulness. —R.C. Sproul in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Whether any of the authorities who put Jesus on trial ever came to saving faith in Him is uncertain. We do know this: Jesus’ sacrifice is enough to cover even the worst of sins. To receive the benefits of His sacrifice, all that we need to do is turn to Him in faith and repentance. If you are burdened by sin this day, know that the grace of Christ is sufficient to cleanse you no matter what you have done. All you need to do is turn to Him in faith.
The word of God can be in the mind without being in the heart, but it cannot be in the heart without first being in the mind. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: Our estimation of Jesus should be no less than Jesus’ own estimation of Himself. Jesus presented Himself not merely as a great teacher or worker of miracles, though He was each of those. Instead, He revealed Himself to be God, the Creator of all things. As we tell others about Jesus, let us make sure that we affirm His deity.
As He carries us, He washes us. He scrapes away the barnacles of our cynicism, scrubs away the stains of our self-sufficiency. And like the strange case of Benjamin Button, with each day we grow older we grow younger, cleaner, purer. This is the path He has laid before us. We traverse it less like heroic explorers and more like a child frolicking in the Hundred Acre Wood. —R.C. Sproul Jr. in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: God is sovereign over all creation, but He is not aloof, far removed from those whom He has created. The incarnation proves this, showing us that we serve a Lord who is not a part of His creation but is nonetheless willing to enter into it for the sake of our salvation. As Paul tells us in Philippians 2, the Son of God took on the form of a servant. He loved us enough to come where we are and save us. Let us praise Him this day for His love and mercy.
Coram Deo: Spurgeon writes, “The remembrance of sin committed is the Holy Spirit’s frequent, if not constant method of bringing men to weep over their wrong-doing and to turn from it.” It is good for us to think on our sin, for that gives us the opportunity to repent and to feel the Holy Spirit’s prodding of our consciences. Are you taking time to reflect on your sin and to repent of your transgressions?
We might love the American past, but now is a time to see that our beloved country is, was, and will be fallen. It is not the New Israel. It is a unique place, a grand experiment, but like all the countries and cultures of the world, it needs the gospel desperately. —Owen Strachan in Tabletalk Magazine
We are often afraid to open our mouths to proclaim the good news. We are afraid of repercussions, of being denied, and of saying the wrong thing. But, if we’re honest, I wonder if we are also apathetic and too comfortable with this world. —Trillia Newbell in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Jesus endured a trial before men and a sentence of death so that His people would be acquitted in the heavenly court. Having been put on trial and suffering for our guilt, Jesus gives us His righteousness so that we can stand before our Creator unafraid. No sacrifice could be greater, and there is no end to the thanksgiving we should offer for our Savior’s atonement. Let us thank and praise Him this day.
By the middle of the twentieth century, moral relativism was a major influence in the cultural revolutions that reshaped entire societies. Artists, filmmakers, authors, and playwrights were joined by an army of psychotherapists, academics, liberal theologians, and academic revolutionaries—all seeking to reject absolute moral norms and absolute truth and to establish relativism as the new worldview. They were stunningly successful. —Albert Mohler in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Lest we be too hard on the crowd who demanded the death of Jesus, we should recall the temptations we face to make the kingdom of this world more important than the kingdom of God. Every time we trust in political power and material comfort, we are demanding something other than Jesus. Let us search our hearts to determine where we are not trusting in the Lord and repent if we are trusting in earthly princes this day.
We all have a tendency to soft-pedal the biblical portrait of God. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: As we will see, the greatest suffering Christ endured was not the physical and emotional pain heaped on Him by other men; rather, the most intense pain Jesus experienced was the pain of God’s wrath as He hung on the cross. But all of our Lord’s suffering demonstrates His great love for us. Let us marvel at the greatness of the God whom we serve, the God who in Christ gives perfectly of Himself for the sake of our salvation.
Paul indicates that the key for full understanding of the mystery of Christ and for maturing spiritually is that the believing community be “knit together in love.” As F.F. Bruce puts it, “The revelation of God cannot be properly known apart from the cultivation of brotherly love within the Christian community.” —Kent Hughes in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Our Savior, God incarnate, suffered the loss of His garments at Golgotha so that we could be clothed with the royal robe of His righteousness. Covered by His perfect obedience, we are not only righteous in God’s sight but have been granted the right to rule alongside Jesus over the world (2 Tim. 2:1–13). Though we may suffer for Christ now, one day we will reign with Him. May that truth encourage us to persevere in faith.
Guilt is one of the most powerfully paralyzing forces to the human spirit. —R.C. Sproul
Maybe the greatest force we can muster against coveting is rejoicing in thankfulness. Thankfulness steers the Christian life away from the dangerous shoals of discontentment. It is difficult to be content in all circumstances if thankfulness does not dwell in our hearts. —Jason Helopolous in Tabletalk Magazine
Jesus called on His followers to give their highest priority to seeking the honor of God and the spread of His kingdom throughout the world. We are to pray for the glory of God to be acknowledged more and more. We are to petition for the spread of the gospel throughout the world. We are to cry out for Jesus to return and to bring the glorious kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven. —Richard Pratt Jr. in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Other religions besides biblical Christianity tend to prescribe methods for individuals to atone for their sins. Biblical Christianity stands apart in saying that we cannot atone for our sins. But it also says that Christ has offered the perfect atonement for our transgressions. As we repent, let us remember that Christ has offered full atonement for our sin and that all glory goes to Him for paying the price we owe for our wickedness.
I am sometimes discouraged when I go to the websites of churches that I know have strong, sound preaching in the pulpit, yet I find that the women’s ministry is offering studies that seem more oriented toward social causes, personal improvement, or felt needs than about the greatest need of every woman, which is to see and savor Jesus Christ. —Nancy Guthrie in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Knowing that Christ holds an eternal priesthood, we are confident that we are secure in Him forever. Our salvation is grounded not in our ability to persevere but in the power of the eternal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, Christ Jesus our Lord, to preserve us. In times of doubt and discouragement, let us turn to Him, for He will sustain us to the end.
Coram Deo: Christ our mediator is the perfect bridge between God and human beings because He is both truly God and truly man. Thus, He cannot fail to reconcile to His Father all who trust in Him alone for salvation. If you are in Christ, you are truly at peace with the Lord. So rejoice in His peace this day and remember that it is all yours because of Christ alone.
Coram Deo: Christ our mediator is the perfect bridge between God and human beings because He is both truly God and truly man. Thus, He cannot fail to reconcile to His Father all who trust in Him alone for salvation. If you are in Christ, you are truly at peace with the Lord. So rejoice in His peace this day and remember that it is all yours because of Christ alone.
Let’s thank the Lord for the mentors we have had and pray that God would give us more opportunities to mentor others. We not only have the Holy Spirit living within us, and we not only have God’s Word to direct us—we also have undershepherds and others around us who have experienced life in ways that we have not. —Jerry O'Neill in November's Tabletalk Magazine
One reason we worship false gods is because idolatry is easier than faith. When we deify creation, we are worshiping that which we can see, taste, touch, measure, and in most cases have some sort of control over. But God cannot be seen or measured. He cannot be touched and He certainly cannot be controlled. Our longing for immediate gratification and the investment we have in this present life makes idolatry not just tempting but easy. —Joe Thorn in November's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: It is right to defend ourselves when others malign our character unjustly. But there sometimes comes a point when our defense becomes pointless, when nothing we say or do can convince our detractors of our good motives. In such cases, we must trust in the Lord’s vindication. He may give it on this side of glory or He may wait until heaven to prove our innocence, but God will vindicate His people perfectly.
Coram Deo: There is no safer place to be than under the care of the Good Shepherd. We are weak and vulnerable, but He has promised to guard and tend us. Let us be thankful for Christ’s shepherding of us this day, and may we follow wherever He leads us.
Coram Deo: Our Lord knows all of creation inside and out. For those who have not been reconciled to Him, that is a frightening thing, for it means that their sins are known and being counted for the day of judgment. For those who do know Christ, however, our Lord’s intimate knowledge of us is the most comforting truth imaginable. Because He knows us perfectly, He can help and sustain us perfectly.
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