“Devotional Classics” is a collection of writings devoted to equipping the modern day Christian with meat for the everyday battle. These authors are not looking to give vain hope, but to glorify God in everything they say and do. This book is broken down into seven sections that will focus on different aspects of the Christian walk. Every section is filled with input from authors of different cultures, ages, and times. It matters not whether they were born in the 1600′s or the 1800’s; all of these men and women of God believe that Jesus should be the center of our lives.
The first of seven topics is “Preparing for the Spiritual Life.” This section focuses on discipleship vs. no discipleship. C.S. Lewis starts off this section by analyzing the Christian walk. Christ says, (1) “I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it.” Natural self has nothing good to offer God. John of the Cross later goes on to detail more of the spiritual growth process with, (2) “God will draw a person from the beginning stage to a more advanced stage. At this stage the person will begin to engage in religious exercises and grow deeper in the spiritual life.”
The second area is “The Prayer-Filled life” and gives attention to loving God. Thomas Merton says, (3) “the works of the spiritual director consists of not so much in teaching us a secret and infallible method for attaining to esoteric experiences, but in showing us how to recognize God’s grace & His will, how to be humble & patient, how to develop insight into our own difficulties, and how to remove main obstacles keeping us from becoming people of prayer.” John Baillie compliments that thought of becoming a people of prayer by dedicating his first morning thoughts to God by praying (4) “Eternal Father of my soul, let my first thought today be of You, let my first impulse be to worship You, let my first speech be Your name, let my first action be to kneel before You in prayer.”
“The Virtuous Life” comes next and gives great detail to striving to live a holy life. It also gives focus on love being the motivation for holiness. Richard Rolle helps break down this topic by defining the struggle between spirit and flesh. (5) “Before we can experience even a little of God’s love. We must be really turned to Him, and, in mind at least, be wholly turned from every earthly thing.” Thomas Kempis explains as (6) “When a person of good will is troubled or tempted or vexed by evil thoughts, then he better understands his need for God, without whom he can do nothing good at all.”
“The Spirit-Empowered Life” is the fourth section of this book, which focuses on the Holy Spirit’s work in us. It also speaks of surrendering to the Spirit leading, teaching, and guide us in our efforts. Thomas Kelly opens this topic by exploring “the inner sanctuary”, “the secret places, of the heart”, and “mental habits of inward orientation.” Thomas Kelly goes on to say that (7) “The basic response of the soul to the Light is internal adoration and joy, thanksgiving and worship, self-surrender and listening.” After this response has occurred, Catherine of Genoa says that (8) “God and sin cannot live peaceably side by side…When God gives light to the soul, it no longer desires to live with the part of it that continues to block the Light.”
“The Compassionate Life” is a call to stand strong and be transformed. Dietrich Bonhoeffer touches on the Christian community and how Jesus is the center. William Temple attacks this section first by addressing the churches impact upon society and Christian principles, but brings it center court by addressing (9) “All Christian thinking must begin not with man, but with God.” Elizabeth O’Connor even touches on the topic of money from handling to stabilizing our standard of living. Dietrich Bonhoeffer near the end of the section talks on the community in Christ and our life together. Bonhoeffer’s main point throughout his writing is (10) “Christian community means community in and through Jesus Christ.”
“The Word-Centered Life” focuses on scripture being the center of our lives and it stresses the high calling of evangelism. Jones gives great importance on making scripture a lifestyle and encourages getting into habits of reading the Bible. E. Stanley Jones spurs people on to (11) “Cultivate the new life by daily disciplines.” Jones teaches on a broad field from receptivity & response, simple habits, and God interpreting Himself. He also expounds on keeping the fire burning, and habits that cannot be Christianized. One of Jones’s major points that stood out was (12) “pray for those who have wronged you.”
The last section these writers cover is “The Sacramental Life”. This details the materialistic life from the spiritual life, and Anthanasius talks about God taking on a physical form. Annie Dillard sets up the scene on how it is important to see what is happening around us. She later states (13) “seeing is of course very much a matter of verbalization. Unless I call my attention to what passes before my eyes, I simply won’t see it.” Brother Lawrence compliments that thought of seeing, and takes it a little deeper by writing on in the area of “Faith Alone Was Enough”. Bother Lawrence encourages to (14) “Give God thanks with me for his great goodness towards me, which I can never sufficiently admire, and for the many favors He has done for so miserable sinner as I am.”
Devotional Classics covered such a huge field of ideas, that I am quite sure the reader would continue to learn things over and over again. Paul asks for writing of men when he was in prison, so I believe that we can learn things from other Godly men and women of Christ.
[1] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 8.
[2] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 33.
[3] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 67.
[4] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 108.
[5] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 131.
[6] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 154.
[7] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 174.
[8] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 181.
[9] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 225.
[10] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 273.
[11] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 284.
[12] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 284.
[13] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 345.
[14] Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, eds., Devotional Classics (New York: HarperOne; 2005), 371.
Joseph H Toft II
You nailed it!! Great job on the summary. I plan to go through this book again and take in one passage a week as Foster intended it to be done.
Also – congratulations on completing the course work for your Certificate. It has been a blessing to go through the classes with you. I pray that God continues to work through you and your family as you serve Him. Blessings!!