Spurgeon’s Sermon and My Suffering
It has been my experience that what Spurgeon says, that “We always learn much more by our griefs and woes than by anything else” is true and will be until the final day of this earth, when all suffering will finally cease.
In this sermon, Spurgeon speaks of and to “burden-bearers” of various sorts, comparing them to the Gershonites spoken of and to in the book of Numbers—a family in the tribe of Levi called to bear holy burdens and responsible for the moving of the priestly ornaments. As I’m presently one of these Gershonites—no longer bed-bound,... Continue Reading
The Lamb of Propitiation and Expiation
As a Christian, you have been delivered from from your slavery to sin and from the enslavement that can come as a result of the sins committed against you.
When the Angel of the Lord saw the blood on the houses of God’s people, he “passed over” those houses and all inside the home were allowed to live. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to serve as a yearly reminder of God’s passing over his people. The blood of the lamb also served as... Continue Reading
His Majesty Lifts the Lowly
The attractive force of God’s mercy.
Behind Psalm 8, the second “song of majesty” is Psalm 145, where we also find “two modes” of divine majesty. The fourth stanza praises God’s regal highness in the more typical terms: glory and power, mighty deeds, situated in “his kingdom,” under his kingly dominion. This is the stuff of natural majesty. Then the fifth... Continue Reading
What Does Psalm 23:1 Mean?
Psalm 23, with its exodus themes of rescue, companionship in the valley, and hosting in the wilderness—all the way to the shepherd’s house—is itself a little Bible within the little Bible of the Psalms.
The beauty of Psalm 23 is that it is so simple and clear that it almost needs no interpretation or exposition. It is short, easily memorized, and it has poetic images and a lyrical tilt which has lodged this song in the collective consciousness of every believer through the ages. But when you unload the... Continue Reading
Jesus Is the Light of the World… and So Are We
Christians are meant to exert their influence so obviously that no matter how far from the light a person might be they can still see it in the distance.
Jesus exposed a lot of things that had been in the dark for a long time. He shined the light on the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of the day. He refused to accept half-hearted devotion to becoming a true follower of God. He called sin “sin” and He extended love and truth with His... Continue Reading
Retrieving Christus Victor
We should preach Christus Victor, since it is both biblical and able to brace believers against the very real evil at work in our world.
It is impossible to ignore the motif of victory in Christ’s work. Therefore Aulén’s contention that Christus Victor has been understated among Protestants is worth consideration. Towards the beginning of his book, Aulén outlines four reasons he believes the classic view has been neglected. One of them is his claim that many moderns find conflict... Continue Reading
The Spirit’s Fruit: Kindness
Kindness is a fruit of the indwelling Spirit because all the redeemed will reciprocate God’s redeeming kindness.
When the children of God show the kindness of the true and living God, the God of all kindness is made known, is glorified, and is enjoyed. What did the world learn from Stephen’s kindness? They learned Stephen was not in the grip of cruelty and animus like they were: “Look how these Christians so... Continue Reading
What Could Be Greater than Signs and Wonders?
He is “the true bread from heaven” that brings life, and He is proclaimed in the Word. No sign or wonder can replace that Word.
The most astounding miracles will not bring life to dead hearts. Even the resurrection, on its own, is not enough to create faith. Great works of God may encourage us and spur us on, but they will not save us. We need the greatest work of all, though it is the least spectacular—that is, the... Continue Reading
You Can Build Better Family Traditions
We are not alone trying to figure out how to serve Jesus all by ourselves. God has given us a family to help us.
I know many people who have become Christians from non-Christian family backgrounds. They want to live a life honouring the true God but need to set up new family traditions and ways of living. What does it look like to be a Christian husband? What does it look like to live a single life that... Continue Reading
Here There Is No Why
Among God’s creatures, He chose human beings to be His image-bearers, uniquely made in God’s likeness with a unique capacity to glorify God.
It has been said that there are three requirements for a fulfilling life. Are you listening? High school graduates? College students? Those starting life? Those in mid-life? Those in golden years? 1. A clear sense of personal identity: Who am I? 2. A strong sense of personal mission: Why am I here? 3. A deep... Continue Reading
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