Life in the Son

Solomon says that life on this earth — life under the sun — is vanity. But the New Testament says even more clearly what Solomon can only hint at:  that life in the Son is satisfying, fulfilling, and the only ultimately worthwhile venture.

Read More Life in the Son

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from around the internet: Jon Bloom offers “Seven Ways to Pray for Your Heart.” David Murray reminds us, “All things for good.” Sin too?  All sin is evil. No sin is worth it. It’s always better that we not sin. However, sin is also part of the “all things” that God works together […]

Read More Grab bag

Living like Jesus lived

Many years ago, many Christians began sporting rubberized wrist bands with the initials WWJD — What Would Jesus Do? In one sense it’s an irrelevant question — Jesus is the Son of God, the third person of the Trinity, perfect in all His attributes and actions, completely sinless.  I can’t do what He would do. […]

Read More Living like Jesus lived

Spiritual food

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is…” (Prov. 23:7a; NASB) A quick trip to the local bookstore and even a superficial perusal of the food section will yield a plethora of books on dieting and eating designed to help the reader change his habits of consumption.  The tenor of the books?  “You are […]

Read More Spiritual food

Integrity

“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.” (Prov. 19:1; NASB) A number of years ago, Ted Engstrom told this story in his book Integrity: For Coach Cleveland Stroud and the Bulldogs of Rockdale County High School [Conyers, Georgia], it was their […]

Read More Integrity

A short concordance for Proverbs

One of the best tools for studying Scripture is a good concordance.  Seeing how an author discusses a topic throughout a book or in his other books, or discovering how other authors discuss the same topic will help one develop a full theology on a given topic. One book where it is particularly useful to […]

Read More A short concordance for Proverbs

What the Lord hates

Is it possible for God to hate?  Does God hate? Yes, it is possible for God to hate and yes, He does hate.  He hates anything that is contrary to righteousness.  His hatred is a means of defending His truth, integrity and good.  He is against anything that violates His standard of what is right. […]

Read More What the Lord hates

Questions to Unbelief

If to Jesus for relief My soul has fled by prayer; Why should I give way to grief, Or heart-consuming care? Are not all things in his hand? Has he not his promise past? Will he then regardless stand And let me sink at last? While I know his providence Disposes each event; Shall I […]

Read More Questions to Unbelief

When suffering

While most know the story of John Newton as the author of the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” most are unaware of all the variety of struggles he endured in his life. For instance, after believing God had called him to vocational ministry as a pastor, it was seven years before he was able to be ordained.  […]

Read More When suffering

What is wisdom?

Huston Smith, senior professor of religion at Syracuse University, recounted his interaction with a famous author and professor: While I was teaching at MIT, Aldous Huxley joined us for a semester as distinguished visiting professor in the humanities. Needless to say, he was in demand all over New England, and my regard for him was […]

Read More What is wisdom?

Christ, our Advocate

A couple of years ago I sat in a courtroom as a member of a jury serving a criminal case.  On that day there were two lawyers in that courtroom serving as advocates — one as a defender of the man accused of a crime, and the other serving as both defender of the victim […]

Read More Christ, our Advocate

How’s your heart?

John R. W. Stott recounts the letter written by Robert Murray M’Cheyne to the Rev. Dan Edwards on October 2, 1840 after Edwards’ ordination as a missionary: I trust you will have a pleasant and profitable time in Germany.  I know you will apply hard to German; but do not forget the culture of the […]

Read More How’s your heart?

Christ, our joy

A. W. Tozer: If men do not have joy in their hearts they will seek it somewhere else.  If Christians are forbidden to enjoy the wine of the Spirit they will turn to the wine of the flesh for enjoyment.  The human heart with its divine capacity for holy pleasure must no longer be allowed […]

Read More Christ, our joy