Our “gardening” labors being necessary to the germination and growth of “plants” in the gardens of God do not detract from God’s sovereign jurisdiction over all things. This is how he has sovereignly ordered our roles in the gardens he gives us to tend.   We have a small garden at our home. Usually we... Continue Reading

“So before you go to sleep, or as your rise to greet the dawn, be full of glory hopes as you breathe this prayer for light – framed according to these texts – crave such surpassing understanding and illumination of heart, with the goodness and grace of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.”  ... Continue Reading

“Do not use the spiritual disciplines so you can tell other people about how godly you are, or even so you can show off to yourself. Don’t read the Bible so you can Instagram your devotions or humblebrag about it on Twitter. Examine your heart to ensure you are using the spiritual disciplines for the... Continue Reading

This somewhat passive approach to the sins you and I commit is, I believe, a by-product of our collectively treating so casually the fact that we are sinners–violators of God’s law– as opposed to mere “mistake-makers” (Rom. 3:23). That being said, this commentary isn’t about sin, necessarily. Well, it is but, then, again, it isn’t. It’s actually... Continue Reading

There is a certain attractiveness to this position, particularly when its adherents passionately proclaim the all-sufficient work of Christ. The same of course may be said about certain liberal preachers who exalt Jesus and love. The Christian naturally leaps at the name of Jesus, his finished work, and love. Problems arise when we redefine terms... Continue Reading

I remember some years ago when my sixteen year-old neighbor spent a summer trying to learn how to ride a skateboard. He persisted through embarrassing falls and hostile temperature. And why? I fancy it was because it seem a cool thing to do (and perhaps the girls would love him for it). By the same... Continue Reading

As a Calvinist, Davies could have falsely reasoned that the number of the elect is determined by God in eternity and, therefore, entreaties to the lost make no difference either way. That is an unscriptural position because God himself makes such general entreaties to the lost in the Scripture. There is always a danger in... Continue Reading

Beauty reveals itself somewhere between the opposing forces of darkness and light, major and minor, protagonist and antagonist. Beauty can be appreciated often when seen in contrast with its counterpart — depravity. The honest painter, musician, or writer, gripped by the contrast between good and evil, is unafraid to portray both. In fact, the struggle... Continue Reading

Shame identifies that we are unacceptable. Dirty and disgraced. Sent away. Distanced from people and God’s promises. We notice that life can feel more like death. We become unacceptable because of our own sin; we also become unacceptable because of our association with things connected with death such as weakness, disease, and the sins of... Continue Reading

Peter called the crowd to repentance, promising “that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all things about which God spoke by the mouth... Continue Reading