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An Important Update

June 30, 2018 by Jan Blonk Leave a Comment

Hi,

Thanks for having subscribed to “The Glory of Christ.” His glory is the sole reason for creation, history, and our salvation. While a car needs only an occasional alignment, our thoughts and feelings need to be daily aligned with God’s word and purpose.

While you haven’t received a post from me for quite some time, I’ve not been inactive. I’ve been working on a one-year devotional called It’s All about Jesus: The Bible’s Grand Testimony.

I want to use this book as a fundraiser. As a result, I’ve changed my focus from www.thegloryofchrist.com to www.thecauseofchrist.com.

Also, my blog posts will eventually only be at The Cause of Christ.

If you want to continue receiving Christ-centered posts, please subscribe to this blog. (everything is still in its beginning stages). I have posted one of the devotionals from It’s All about Jesus at the new blog for your encouragement.

Sincerely,

Jan

 

Filed Under: Books

Two FREE Books

November 28, 2016 by Jan Blonk Leave a Comment

Dear Subscriber,

I want to thank you for your interest in The Glory of Christ. This site is a small attempt to highlight Christ’s glory in the Bible. The more we see His glory, the better.

Today is the last day that Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins: Overcoming through God’s Word and Spirit is FREE on Amazon. Just click here for your FREE download. I encourage you to share the link with your friends and on social media.

You can also get a FREE COPY of Joy to the World: Christmas throughout the Year. Please click here. I encourage you to also share this link with your friends and on social media.

We’ll be starting with Joy to the World on December 1st through the 25th, highlighting the true meaning of Christmas and helping us prepare for its celebration. I encourage you to read along during those days.

Sincerely,

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
www.devotionalwriter.com

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Books

Does Christ’s Glory has Our Heart?

February 9, 2016 by Jan Blonk Leave a Comment

What has our heart? That’s an important question to honestly ask ourselves. What make us tick? What has our greatest passion? Unless we look these questions straight in the face, we may as well continue to live in some kind of fantasy land. Is Christ’s glory our greatest treasure? Or is it something else? Where does His glory rank in our priorities and passions? I ask these questions as much to myself as in this blog post.

     Don’t we have to confess that the priority and passion for His glory is not as great as it should be? In his Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ, John Owen wrote the following:

“It is to be feared that there are some who profess religion with an appearance of strictness, who never separate themselves from all other occasions to meditate on Christ and his glory; and yet, with a strange inconsistency of apprehensions, they will profess that they desire nothing more than to behold his glory in heaven for ever. But it is evident, even in the light of reason, that these things are irreconcilable.” (Page 45).

     While his old English may be somewhat difficult to understand at times, the main point is: if we profess to look forward to seeing Christ’s glory in heaven while, right now, we have hardly any thoughts or desires for it is that not greatly inconsistent, to say the least?

     What’s the answer to such a state? I believe it’s seeking Him in His word and by prayer, asking Him to fan the flame for the true reason for our existence–the glory of His name. We can pray with the psalmist: “My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!” (Ps. 119:25).

For more Christ-centered devotionals, click right here

If you’re blessed by this post, why not share it with others!

Jan Blonk
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“

Filed Under: Books, John Owen Tagged With: Books, John Owen

Deeply Meditate on Christ’s Glory

February 8, 2016 by Jan Blonk 1 Comment

If Christ’s glory is the substance of the universe, history, and salvation, should our thoughts and affections not more thoroughly and deeply align themselves with that substance–His glory? In his Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ, John Owen wrote the following in relation to Christ’s glory:

“Want hereof is that fundamental mistake which keeps many among us so low in their grace, so regardless of their privileges. They hear of these things, they assent unto their truth, at least they do not gainsay them; but they never solemnly meditate upon them.” (Page 45)

     God’s true riches for His saints are found in the glory of His Son. We are to continually meditate on His glory, which is entirely related to our greatest well-being. Therefore, we greatly deprive ourselves by not doing so. Could this be the reason our lives are such a faint expression of what the Father intends them to be?

     The glory of Christ is to be our daily nourishment. If we don’t deeply meditate on His glory, we starve our soul from its true delight and rest. That’s a high price to pay.

For more Christ-centered devotionals, click right here

If you’re blessed by this post, why not share it with others!

Jan Blonk
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“

Filed Under: Books, John Owen Tagged With: Books, John Owen

Finding great Spoil

February 4, 2016 by Jan Blonk 1 Comment

The psalmist stated: “I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil” (Ps. 119:162). How much do we miss out on when we’re not gold-diggers in the bottomless mines of the Scriptures? Spurgeon once said that, physically, we normally live way above our means, while spiritually we always live way below them.

     In his Meditation and Discourses on the Glory of Christ, John Owen emphasizes that we need to be diligent in our search for great pearls, especially the greatest one of all–the glory of Christ. Is there a greater pearl than that? What’s His value?

“We should herein be as the merchant-man that seeks for pearls; he seeks for all sorts of them, but when he has found one of “great price,” he parts with all to make it his own, Matt. xiii. 45, 46. The Scripture is the field, the place, the mine where we search and dig for pearls. See Prov. ii. 1–5. Every sacred truth that is made effectual unto the good of our souls, is a pearl whereby we are enriched; but when we meet with, when we fall upon this pearl of great price, the glory of Christ, — this is that which the soul of a believer cleaves unto with joy.” (Page 44).

     How about us? Are we truly enriching ourselves with a constant digging for “great spoil” in the Bible? Or are we starving ourselves because we have other, more important things to do? Let’s ask the Lord to captivate our hearts with a revelation of the glory of Christ.

For more Christ-centered devotionals, click right here

If you’re blessed by this post, why not share it with others?

Jan Blonk
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“

Filed Under: Books, John Owen Tagged With: Books, John Owen, the glory of christ

Man’s Incredible Folly

January 20, 2016 by Jan Blonk 1 Comment

Isaiah wrote: “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (Isa. 55:2). Jeremiah said something similar: “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). Man’s default is to ignore God and pursue “greener” pastures on the other side–to pursue vanity and emptiness.

     In his Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ, John Owen addressed man’s inherent folly in the following words:

“The Scripture reproacheth the vanity and folly of the minds of men, in that “they spend their money for that which is not bread, and their labour for that which profiteth not.” They engage the vigour of their spirits about perishing things, when they have durable substance and riches proposed unto them.” (Page 41)

     What about us? Do we pursue those things that do not satisfy? Do we sometimes (or many times?) forsake “the fountain of living waters” for “cisterns that can hold no water”? How many times do we ignore God when seeking answers to the issues of our life? Once again we want to quote the psalmist: “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways” (Ps. 119:37). Later on the psalmist wrote: “In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth” (Ps. 119:88). We need God to give us life in order to walk in His ways and keep His word. In the New Testament we learn that Jesus is that “life,” freely given to us.

Jan Blonk
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“

Filed Under: Books, John Owen Tagged With: John Owen, songs

A Much Needed Comparison

January 14, 2016 by Jan Blonk 1 Comment

God wants the best for us. Do we really believe that? Jeremiah stated that as follows: “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). In the scale of reality, we have the incomparable worth of Christ and the absolute vanity and emptiness of everything else. John Owen stated that as follows:

“What is the world, and what are the things thereof, which most men spend their thoughts about, and fix their affections on? The Psalmist gives his judgment about them, in comparison of a view of this glory of Christ, Ps. iv. 6, ‘Many say, Who will show us any good?’— Who will give and help us to attain so much in and of this world as will give rest and satisfaction unto our minds? That is the good inquired after. But, saith he, ‘Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.’ The light of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus is that satisfactory good alone which I desire and seek after.” (Page 41)

     Do we really believe that God’s glory is infinitely more valuable than anything else? As we quoted the psalmist yesterday, we want to quote him again because only God can do this: “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways” (Ps. 119:37).

Jan Blonk
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“

Filed Under: Books, John Owen Tagged With: Books, John Owen

How Much is Jesus Worth to Us?

January 13, 2016 by Jan Blonk Leave a Comment

It’s so easy to go through life, attend church, do one’s Christian duties, while missing out on Jesus. John Owen, in his Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ, does not mince words:

“What are all other things in comparison of the ‘knowledge of Christ?’ In the judgment of the great apostle, they are but ‘loss and dung,’ Phil. iii. 8–10. So they were to him; and if they are not so to us we are carnal.” (Page 41).

     He referenced Paul’s statement: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ . . .” (Phil. 3:8). Does that not strike at the core of our carnality? Do we count “all things . . . as rubbish” in comparison to Jesus. If we honestly look into our heart we have to admit that this is not the case. How many times do we esteem other people’s opinion very highly to the neglect of Him? How many times do we seek after the things of this world, expressing greater delight in and passion for them than Jesus?

     These statements are not meant to necessarily beat us down, but to be honest and real: “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being . . .” (Ps. 51:6). David said: “Who can discern his errors?” (Ps. 19:12). Ultimately we can only pray: “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways” (Ps. 119:37).

Jan Blonk
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“

Filed Under: Books, John Owen Tagged With: Books, John Owen

John Owen’s “Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ”

January 12, 2016 by Jan Blonk Leave a Comment

This site was “born” from a quote of John Owen’s Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ. As a result, we are slowly walking through his book, seeking to (re-) align ourselves with Christ’s glory. We have now come to the third chapter. The first chapter expounded on the verse upon which the book is based: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). The essence of heaven, the new earth, and our eternal blessedness is “to see my glory.”

     The second chapter consisted of the great reality that Jesus is the sole, true representative of God, being God Himself: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Heb. 1:3). God has purposed from all eternity to reveal and manifest His glory “in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).

     We have now come to Owen’s third chapter, which is the mystery and glory of Christ’s hypostatic union–being fully divine and fully human in one existence:

“The second thing wherein we may behold the glory of Christ, given him of his Father, is in the mysterious constitution of his Person, as he is God and man in one and the same person. There are in him, in his one single individual person, two distinct natures; the one, eternal, infinite, immense, almighty, — the form and essence of God; the other, having a beginning in time, finite, limited, confined unto a certain place, — which is our nature, which he took on him when he was ‘made flesh, and dwelt among us.’” (Page 39)

     Not only does Jesus perfectly represent God to us, He also perfectly represents us to God, which is our eternal salvation. He is our great Representative, being our very righteousness. He is all that we should and need to be! Not only does Jesus perfectly represent God to us, He also perfectly represents us to God! Click To Tweet

Jan Blonk
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“

Filed Under: Books, John Owen Tagged With: Books, John Owen

Pray, Pray, and Pray some More

January 11, 2016 by Jan Blonk 3 Comments

Prayer is the primary means of obtaining grace as Christians: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). In his Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ, John Owen also stretched the importance of prayer, asking God to show us the glory of Christ. We cannot just attain such a view and understanding by ourselves. We need God to do so:

“Men are not so vain as to hope for skill and understanding in the mystery of a secular art or trade, without the diligent use of those means whereby it may be attained; and shall we suppose that we may be furnished with spiritual skill and wisdom in this sacred mystery, without diligence in the use of the means appointed of God for the attaining of it? The principal of them is fervent prayer. Pray, then, with Moses, that God would show you this his glory; pray with the apostle, that ‘the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened to behold it;’ pray that the ‘God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.’” (Page 35)

     In order to see the glory of Christ, we need to fervently and consistently pray for God to show it to us. He alone can do so. Many times we lack such fervent and consistent prayer, being occupied with other, far less meaningful things. Let us start praying for it, though. Let this be our 2016 prayer: show us the beauty, excellence, and glory of Jesus Christ and let us be ravished by Him.

Jan Blonk
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“

Filed Under: Books, John Owen Tagged With: Books, John Owen

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