Up to this point, the Lord’s Prayer has revealed a great deal about the character of God. We have seen that for those who are in Christ, God is a caring Father. Jesus emphasized God’s transcendence and omnipotence by observing that he is “in heaven.” He established the worth of God and the value of... Continue Reading

The Father beholds the Son and he loves the Son because he wants the Son’s glory in all things. His love for the Son is premised on the Son’s perfection, beauty, and righteousness. He says, “This is my beloved Son.”   God’s Love Is Different As fallen human beings, we tend to think that God’s... Continue Reading

In the first volume of this work, Van Mastricht discussed whether theology was theoretical or practical.  He said it is not just theoretical, a matter of the intellect, but also practical, a matter of living.   A Christian theologian should not just be noted for his learning and academic skills, but also for his piety... Continue Reading

You ask why there were so many Reformed people active in the resistance movement? This came about because of the outstanding education they had received in catechism classes and youth societies. Church, also as a body working in society, ranked first. The school was an extension of the family. You could rely on that community.... Continue Reading

Truly loving another person means forgetting yourself long enough to pay attention to his or her section of the universe. Look at that planet! Look at that solar system! There’s always self-sacrifice at the beginning of love: you have to stop thinking about your own planetary system long enough to take notice of the other... Continue Reading

My greatest comfort must be found in Christ. Christ, who came to earth, away from the Father, to do the work set before Him. Christ, who reigns in heaven now, while His Bride, the Church, is here on earth. Christ is acutely familiar with the loneliness of separation. And He is greater than my loneliness and sufficient... Continue Reading

While motherhood shines a spotlight on our sin, it is not outside God’s perfect plan for us. In fact, these sins we notice, we notice them because the Spirit is at work revealing those sins to us. While God uses all areas of our life in our sanctification—work, relationships, suffering, and more—motherhood is another area... Continue Reading

In Strasbourg, Wibrandis became an active participant of the community of pastors and their wives, which worked together to promote the Reformation in the city. As it was typical at that time, Capito and Wibrandis opened their home to a constant stream of visitors and refugees.   Wibrandis Rosenblatt (1504-1564) is often nicknamed “the Bride... Continue Reading

Too many Christians face cultural intimidation and ask “What’s going on? Why is this happening?” Well, do you want to be a Christian? We must understand that Christianity is a spiritual contact sport. Expect to get hit.   For followers of Christ in America, things are changing rapidly. If thirty years ago, you would have... Continue Reading

Digital natives have a hard time believing that people survived without smartphones and laptops, but as Jesus says, it’s better to lose something temporary than something eternal. The key is to take whatever measures are necessary to fight against besetting sins. That’s the only way to win a fight to the death.   I was... Continue Reading