Musings and Contemplations

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise. I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.[1]

His commandments are not burdensome

1 John 5:1-5 NRSV
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God

David R. Sincerbox
In what ways, then, should maturity make us more childlike? A mature understanding of God’s creation should result in an ever more childlike sense of wonder. A mature understanding of the work of Jesus on our behalf should result in a more childlike sense of thankfulness. A mature understanding of who the Triune God is should result in a more childlike sense of the awesome sheltering Fatherhood of our God. A mature understanding of God’s provision and his Providence should result in a more childlike dependency upon his blessings. A mature understanding of his Personhood should result in a childlike desire to talk and walk with him. A mature understanding of his love for us should result in a childlike desire to bask in his Presence and to a childlike desire to be constantly under his shadow. A mature understanding of the assembly of believers should result in a childlike desire to be with others. A mature understanding of his sacraments should result in a childlike joy of being raised in newness of life and being fed to the spiritual full at his Table. A mature understanding of hope even as we often experience dimness and darkness in this life should result in a childlike anticipation of the soon-to-be gift of eternal life when all darkness will be no more.[2]

Deuteronomy 4:9-14 NRSV
But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children—how you once stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, “Assemble the people for me, and I will let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me as long as they live on the earth, and may teach their children so”; you approached and stood at the foot of the mountain while the mountain was blazing up to the very heavens, shrouded in dark clouds. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. He declared to you his covenant, which he charged you to observe, that is, the ten commandments; and he wrote them on two stone tablets. And the Lord charged me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy.

Revelation at Mt. Horeb
The experience at Horeb (v. 10) was the historical climax of the first stage of Israel’s salvation. In that historical event there was a great theological lesson: the Lord God is spiritual and unique in his essence. The people heard his voice, but he was invisible. This revelation served as the basis for the second commandment. This was no abstract doctrine, but a revelation of God who established a personal relationship with his people. This relationship is a covenant (v. 13), which God graciously wrote not only on stones but intended to be inscribed on the believer’s heart.^[3]

A Kingdom Catechism Question #3
How are redeemed people able to make progress in holiness through Christ’s Law?
God makes His redeemed people holy as His Spirit, dwelling in their hearts, teaches, convicts, and makes them willing and able to obey the Law of God.[4]

I have no robe to bring to cover my sins, no loom with which to weave my own righteousness. I am always standing clothed in filthy garments and by grace am always receiving change of raiment, for you always justify the ungodly; I am always going into the far country, and always returning home as a prodigal, always saying, Father, forgive me, and you are always bringing forth the best robe. Every morning let me wear it, every evening return in it, go out to the day’s work in it, be married in it, be wound in death in it, stand before the great white throne in it, enter heaven in it, shining as the sun.[5]

Before the Throne of God Above

[1] Patrick of Ireland, from Patrick’s Breastplate, The Sing! Hymnal #866.
[2] Fellowship of Ailbe brother David R. Sincerbox from his Advent and Christmas letter, 2025.
^[3] Paul R. Gilchrist, “Deuteronomy,” in Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, vol. 3, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995), 114.
[4] T. M. Moore, A Kingdom Catechism, p. 16.
[5] “A Robe to Cover My Sins,” The Sing! Hymnal #119.