The Westminster Shorter Catechism Daily Devotional: Theology Applied Daily by P Joseph

THE Westminster Shorter Catechism was drawn up by the Westminster Assembly (of Divines as they are called), which met from 1643-48 and approved in 1648 by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to be a “Directory for catechising such as are of weaker capacity”. The catechism has 107 questions and answers on the Christian faith. The catechism was intended for the weaker Christian, today we could say that it is intended for all Christians, for we come far short on what we should know concerning the testimony of the Scriptures. Therefore, in this devotional it is not intended as a theological treatise but for the Christian to be brought back to confirming what they believe, and to be brought into a position on what they confess. The Daily Devotions based on the Westminster Shorter Catechism, are designed not only for the beginner but all the way through to the scholar. In this day when many people do not know what their Church confesses or to what they should adhere to in the form of a confession: this devotional is to assist, reaffirm, establish and ground the believer in the truth. What is truth? The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments which are the Word of God. This is the testimony that we adhere to as Christians and should believe and we are commit our lives to this truth, we should seek to be grounded in this truth; also we should seek to formulate our thinking on what we believe. This can be done based on reading, memorizing, and studying the Westminster Shorter Catechism. This book is designed as a devotional in a manner that individuals or all the family can read to gain the spiritual edification that is needed for the believer to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Another purpose is to send the reader to study more in the Shorter Catechism for further grounding in the testimony of this Reformed Confession. But this is not where the final destination lies for the reader, for in confessing what you believe and this in a systematic way through the Catechism, this is to bring you back to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, so that the reader, searches, “the scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). It was for the sure grounding of the saints of God that the Westminster divines, by God’s grace gave to us a Confession of such lasting value. This Shorter Catechism should be taught to our children and their children for the building up of the believer, the spiritual growth of the church, and most of all for the glory of God, whom our praise is to be forever through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour. Read more