Thanksgiving, William Bradford, 1590-1657
An excerpt from William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation, which is his account of the settlement of Plymouth Colony from 1620 to 1647.
They set apart a solemn day of humiliation, to seek the Lord by humble and fervent prayer, in this great distress. And he was pleased to give them a gracious and speedy answer, both to their own, and the Indians admiration, that lived amongst them. For all the morning, and greatest part of the day,... Continue Reading
Is It I, Lord?
We must not lose touch with this truth: we have all betrayed Jesus and are in desperate need of His grace and provision.
All of us can stand before the throne of grace with confidence solely because of what Jesus has accomplished (Heb. 4:16). Only Jesus accurately understands the depths of our sin and wickedness, and, incredibly, He still loves us. Not only that, but wonder of wonders, knowing the brokenness and frailty of our nature, He still... Continue Reading
Should Christians Reject Slavery and Affirm Same-Sex Marriage?
What movement if any do we see between the Old and New Testaments when it comes to sex and slavery?
In Jesus the Bridegroom, we unlock the meaning of male-female marriage. In Jesus the eternal King, who came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45), we find the wrecking ball for slavery and the best foundation for human equality. Scripture’s trajectory isn’t toward... Continue Reading
The Hidden Life
In this hidden life, we do not doubt and we are bold in our humility.
Who doubts Him? Those who are not Spirit-filled doubt. Jesus tells us to not let our hearts be troubled. That is a command. How can we do it? Our Lord gives His peace and joy. With those within us we will have an irrepressible confidence because our life is hid with Christ in God. ... Continue Reading
Praise: The Doxology’s Descant
Let’s join the centuries of Christians in praising God for Who He is with our doxologies of praise!
From time to time we enjoy either singing or hearing a hymn with a descant. The descant is a melody or counterpoint sung above the simple melody, usually by sopranos. As the descant rises distinctively above the simple melody, so praise rises above simple thanksgiving. The Scriptures abound with plaudits of praise to God.... Continue Reading
The Importance of Remembering
Are you remembering what God has done for you?
Are you taking advantage of Lord’s Day worship, the stories of faith, and your regular prayer times to remember all the Lord has done for you? It is important to remember all that the Lord has done so as to strengthen and encourage your faith. Remember the Lord and His goodness! Praise Him for what... Continue Reading
Before You Cancel Those Holiday Plans
Consider the importance of family over political allegiances.
If you react in the short term by canceling your holiday plans because of who your relatives voted for, that reaction probably won’t send the message that you hope it will. The message will most likely come across as arrogant, dismissive, closed-minded, disrespectful, or all of the above. Increasingly, you might find yourself in... Continue Reading
What Does Herman Bavinck Mean by Common Grace?
How Common Grace Opens Up a Rich World of Arts, Science, and Philosophy
How does faith and philosophy relate to one another? How does theology and science correlate? How do all these supposed binaries fit into the Christian life? For Bavinck, there is an organic unity because grace in Christ unites both common and special grace. Herman Bavinck argued for a doctrine called common grace to explain why... Continue Reading
A Preview of Heaven
When you sing in unity with God’s people, praising the Lord, do you long for Heaven?
There’s going to be much more to Heaven, but not less than praising the Lord for all eternity. It’s pretty clear in the Bible that we’ll have physical bodies in the New Earth, and eternity will look similar to life now, yet unaffected by sin, decay, and death. But we will be worshiping God with... Continue Reading
Is God Disappointed with Me?
Book Review: "Peace over Perfection," by Faith Chang
For those who have dealt with manifestations of Christian perfectionism, Chang has done a beautiful thing. In reading her personal experiences, her reflections on the writing of others, and her rich meditations on God’s character from his word, you will be deeply encouraged by how you are both loved and delighted in by your God. ... Continue Reading