Almost 150 years ago, J. C. Ryle wrote what I need to hear today (and every day): Is it not true that we need a higher standard of personal holiness in this day? Where is out patience? Where is our zeal? Where is our love? Where are our works? Where is the power of religion […]
Read More Needed: a higher standard of holinessOne of the joys of reading Scripture is stumbling across the unexpected in the midst of the familiar. For instance, while we are well acquainted with the resurrection account, there are some unexpected treasures in the midst of the miraculous. Consider this statement by Jesus to Mary in the garden: “Stop clinging to Me, for […]
Read More “My Father and Your Father…”“Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30–31, NASB) The love of […]
Read More The magnitude of Christ’s worksThis month’s free audiobook at Christianaudio is Ken Sande’s book, Resolving Everyday Conflict. Sande has written numerous books and pamphlets on conflict resolution; this is an excellent introduction to the larger Peacemaker, as it provides the essential principles without overwhelming the reader/listener with too much data. It’s a very accessible and helpful book.
Read More Free audiobook: Resolving Everyday ConflictA couple of months ago, I printed and inserted a copy of John Piper’s brief I.O.U.S. prayer and inserted it into the Bible that I use for my morning Bible reading. It is a daily reminder that I need the Lord to move my heart towards Him and I need the Lord to give me […]
Read More Open my eyesFrom Lou Priolo, “The Spirit and the Word:” “I’ve met an astounding number of Christians who believe they can grow in grace apart from regular and continuous time in the Word (i.e., Bible reading, study, memorization, meditation, and active listening to Bible preaching and teaching). At the risk of overstating my argument, let me say […]
Read More I need time in God’s WordKnowing the cure tells you a lot about the gravity of the disease. In the cross we see what was needed to cure the wound of sin, and we see what lengths God was willing to go to cure it. Thus we see its true character as something so reprehensible to God, as something so […]
Read More The cure for your diseaseThe accounts of the resurrection are very familiar to us. And because of that, it’s easy to miss the reason for the account — like every other Gospel passage, the resurrection is given to provide us information about the Savior so that we will worship Him. The advantage of the shortest of the resurrection accounts […]
Read More The resurrected SaviorOne of the qualifications of an elder is that he is not to be “addicted to wine.” The intent of that phrase is that an elder should be fully in control of his alcoholic consumption and that he should not be controlled by alcohol (Eph. 5:18). But does that the elder, or any other believer, […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers — the Bible and wineIt was in the 1960’s, during the time when the Green Bay Packers were the National Football League’s perennial champions that on one particular week they suffered a humiliating loss. It was the contention of Vince Lombardi, the coach, that the Packers never lost a game, but some weeks the clock just ran out on […]
Read More The great commissionThe story of Brian Hesse is one of my all-time favorites. One account of it is as follows: Brian Hesse had more than his share of luck in July (1981), and most of it was bad. When his apartment in Provo, Utah became flooded from a broken pipe in the upstairs apartment, the manager told […]
Read More Cast your burden on the LordSome helpful articles from around the internet: Tim Challies offers “Seven Ways to Pray for Your Prayer Life.” This is helpful. A new book coming June 1 (ebook) and June 15 (paperback) from my dad: Everything Happens for a Reason?: God’s Purposes in a World Gone Bad. Paul Tautges offers “36 Purposes of God in […]
Read More Grab bagTim Challies writes this morning about pride: “…the key to pride is the desire to elevate myself so I can have God’s position and status for myself. It effectively lowers God as it elevates self. Humility, on the other hand, is simply a right assessment of myself that takes into account the infinitely vast gulf […]
Read More Pride and e-BoastingJesus was not only resolute in His intention to go to the cross, but God intentionally planned the death of Christ. Consider, for example, the number of Old Testament prophecies that John alone says were fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ (other Gospel writers offer even more prophetic fulfillments in their crucifixion accounts): Jesus’ tunic […]
Read More Prophecy and the crucifixionAt the trials and crucifixion of Christ, there were many accusations made against Him. Yet these accusations and declarations were far closer to the truth about Christ than those who uttered them realized. A few examples: Caiaphas — “Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to […]
Read More They didn’t know what they were saying
