Followed relentlessly by police officer Javert, Jean Valjean finds himself with a unique opportunity: another man has been accused of his crimes and is about to be convicted. And if the innocent man is convicted, Valjean will be free. The dilemma is, can he allow another man to be unjustly accused and imprisoned for the […]
Read More Humbled by graceHave you ever had a dream? I have… When I was five, I dreamed of being a garbage man. When I was ten, I dreamed of being fifteen. When I was fifteen, I dreamed of being a baseball player. When I was twenty, I day-dreamed. When I was twenty-five, I dreamed of finishing school. When […]
Read More Dreaming of faithfulnessYou have been a Christian for years. Ministry seemed intimidating at first, but you’ve been involved in your church for a number of years, you’ve volunteered in some civic organizations, and you have a fairly clear perspective on your spiritual giftedness and effectiveness. Ministry is much more natural now. Yet, while the patterns of life […]
Read More Something for every personThis morning I began reading the two books of the Chronicles again. When reading these books, it’s easy to have your eyes become glassy and your mind distracted as you read name after name of unknown people. How can I read these verses in fresh ways so that the Lord uses this morning in redemptive […]
Read More Two thoughts while reading ChroniclesPastor Kent Hughes recounts the fable of two men who lived in an ancient city — one was envious while the other was covetous. The ruler of this city sent for the two men and offered to grant each of them one wish. A small difference arose, however: he would grant the first man exactly […]
Read More Do not let your heart envy sinnersA few of years ago, popular author John Gray (Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus) released a new book: How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have. His thesis? “When you do your best, God does the rest.” In one place he reportedly writes, “Regardless of your particular orientation [of […]
Read More God: worthy (alone) of gloryWe are people of the cross. The cross is the source of our spiritual life. It is the reason for our hope. It is the foundation of our victorious living. Paul says it this way: “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which […]
Read More Boasting in the cross“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,…” (Heb. 11:32-33; NASB) One man had a weak faith. One was a weak […]
Read More Faithful men and a faithful GodNormally my office door stays wide open because I enjoy having people stop in and visit for a while. However, on occasion a project demands my full attention, so I close my door. For a number of years, that closed door would periodically burst open, and people would come running into my office, yelling loudly […]
Read More The door is open“But Daaa-dddddy” ranks as one of the all-time great whines. “But God” ranks as the all-time great hope. Think about it. Can you conceive any dilemma for which there is no possibility of intervention from God? Can you conjure up the image of any burden that God is inadequate to carry for you? Can you […]
Read More But God…Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice? (Prov. 8:1) Scripture (particularly in Proverbs) says that the fool is the one who chases the adulterous. The fool is the sluggard who is too lazy even to feed himself. The fool is the one who rejects correction and instruction. The fool believes himself always […]
Read More Wisdom is callingScripture not only testifies to its own authenticity and reliability, but it also tells us how to read and understand and delight in it. For example, Proverbs 3 offers four directives for the kinds of attitudes we are to cultivate as we read Scripture: Cultivate a desire to remember and know Scripture (vv. 1-4). Read […]
Read More How to read ScriptureA few things spotted recently around the web: John Piper’s 8-month leave of absence ended at the end of December. Last Sunday he resumed preaching with the sermon, “Our Deepest Prayer: Hallowed Be Your Name.” He also wrote an article entitled, “Why I Am Full of Hope About Bethlehem’s Future,” and while it is written […]
Read More Grab bagThis morning I read again the story of Jacob (meaning, “supplanter,” Gen. 27:36). He came out of the womb grasping his brother’s heel, and he spent his life grasping for things that were not his or manipulating circumstances so that they would be to his favor and liking. If you want your brother’s birthright, it […]
Read More Jacob, deceit, and graceSeveral years ago I read through the Bible using Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Bible reading plan — a plan that leads the reader through the OT once and the NT and Psalms twice in one year. Somewhere during that time, I was made aware of D. A. Carson’s two-volume set For the Love of God, in […]
Read More For the Love of God – a free book
Words of Grace 