Paul prays, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” Who comforts us? Jesus Christ. By what means? The eternal comfort and good hope of grace. If... Continue Reading

“God loves a cheerful giver.” But we deceive ourselves if we assume that He loves us because we are such cheerful givers by nature. Rather, God loves ungrateful, ungodly sinners like you and me enough to make us cheerful givers. He does so by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.   “Mine! I had... Continue Reading

The problem with the people in the days of Isaiah was a failure to live up to the covenant standards of behavior and thus fulfill their putative mission vocation. Of course, in the plan of God, this was all destined from the start. The Exile to Babel was vital to disavow them of their righteousness,... Continue Reading

According to this evangelist the two natures, human and divine (to use later terminology), are in perfect harmony. This is a fact which, in studying certain passages, one can hardly fail to detect (4:38, 39; 6:34, 41-43; 8:1-10; 14:32-41; etc.). Mark’s aim is that men everywhere may accept this Jesus Christ, ‘Son of man’ and ‘Son... Continue Reading

Without God’s word to remind me of truth, I would have felt hopeless. But since I knew that in faithfulness God had afflicted me (Psalm 119:75), I believed that he would bring good out of my pain. Each day, God led me to exactly what I needed.   I discovered the power of God’s word... Continue Reading

Our recreation should not displace our families or our work, and certainly not our worship. We can, however, pursue our recreation with joy, understanding that God has given it to us for our health and wellbeing. And, whether it is fishing, exercising, or some other sport or craft, how we engage it reflects on our... Continue Reading

Today, only one of Theodulf’s poems is still well-known, even though the author is seldom remembered. Translated into English by the 19th-century Anglican clergyman John Mason Neale, “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” has become a favorite hymn for Palm Sunday. The circumstances that led to the writing of this hymn are not clear. Many believe... Continue Reading

Let’s be honest, we don’t need PhDs to love Jesus, grow in holiness and serve him faithfully. But we so often favour those with deep knowledge of the scriptures and of Christian stuff in general (which is all good) whilst overlooking more pertinent matters of the heart. Often in reformed circles, knowledge is godliness. That,... Continue Reading

Joy and sorrow are so closely related that they both produce tears. And in God’s great story, the deepest losses produce for us the prospect of the deepest joy and contentment. This makes no sense in the world’s eyes, but this is the nature of the gospel.   To be grateful is to be appreciative... Continue Reading

The evidence that something has usurped the place Jesus ought to have is not how upset I am when I don’t have them. I’d be (rightly) very upset should I no longer have my children, for example. The sign they might have become an idol to me is less my upset if I don’t have... Continue Reading