We’re all familiar with the Apostle’s charge in 1Cor 11.1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” It’s a call to follow him in so far as he follows Christ. He actually says the same thing in several places. E.g. “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us,” (Phil 3.17). The Epistle to the Hebrews echoes this sentiment with, “[be] imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises,” (6.12); and with “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith,” (13.7). Today I’d like to introduce you to a Christian brother worthy of imitation… Continue reading “How far have we come?”
Living to die well
Everybody wants to get the most out of life, to make sure that nothing good passes them by. They want to live to the full, to make every day count, to move closer to their dreams every day. But is this why we have the short breath of our lives given to us–to fill it to the brim with stuff and busyness? That would be like reducing a race to the mere steps along the way and caring nothing for the finish line. Who enters a race with no thought of actually finishing, and finishing well? Shouldn’t we stop and think about how we plan to end this thing called life? Shouldn’t we consider what kind of living would ensure that we die well? Continue reading “Living to die well”
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Second Day of Presbytery
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Hosting Presbytery at PCCC!
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Meditations on Jesus Christ
I’ve told you before of my great appreciation for Private Thoughts on Religion by Thomas Adam. Today I would like to share with you some of the entries in his chapter on Jesus Christ. Read these thoughtfully, a few times over, and let the depth of what he’s saying reach your heart. Mull it over in your mind until it impresses you in the way it’s meant to. Meditation–deep, prayerful thinking with an eye to change–is a forgotten and neglected means of grace and Christian growth. We would do well to recover it. Continue reading “Meditations on Jesus Christ”
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Forgiving in light of eternity
I posted yesterday about forgiving those who wrong us. It was a call to forgive as we’ve been forgiven. And while that call applies equally to those outside the church and to those inside the church, there’s a further, very powerful dynamic in play when it comes to forgiving fellow believers. Continue reading “Forgiving in light of eternity”
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Forgiving as we’ve been forgiven
Some people have hurt us so badly that we can hardly think of them without thinking of the wrong they did us–though a long time ago, and feeling like it was just yesterday. We say we’ve forgiven them, but our being unable to think of them without recalling the injury and without having the heat of anger, bitterness, or resentment arise in our hearts all over again, reveals that we’ve not yet forgiven them as we’ve been forgiven, Eph 4.32. We’ve not yet forgiven them as a Christian should and can. Continue reading “Forgiving as we’ve been forgiven”
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Living by God’s promises in affliction, Part 7
God promises to faithfully grow us by our afflictions. One of the most beloved verses in all of Scripture is Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” What this means for us in our afflictions is this: God promises that our afflictions are remedial and sanctifying. They are sent by Him to bring blessing to us, to try and reveal what is in us in order to purge us of sin and to quicken our graces. Continue reading “Living by God’s promises in affliction, Part 7”
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Living by God’s promises in affliction, Part 6
Besides promising to prevent afflictions which would undo us, and to be with us to protect us from ruin in those afflictions which we do face, the Lord also promises to use our afflictions for our eternal good. This is because we undergo trials, not as an enemy of God, but as a child of God by virtue of our saving relationship to Christ. To those without Christ, earth’s trials are foretastes of their coming judgment; but to all who are in Christ, earth’s trials are remedial and mediated by God’s eternal grace and love. Continue reading “Living by God’s promises in affliction, Part 6”
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Living by God’s promises in affliction, Part 5
God promises His protection against our ruin. Beyond His comforting and sustaining presence in trial, God also promises His protection against our ultimate ruin. Of Isaiah 43:2 Edward Leigh said, “Fire and water are two merciless enemies, and yet… They must not pass by these, by the fire and by the water, but through the fire, and through the water.” While God will most certainly keep us from some trials, if it is better for us to face a trial, then as Leigh said, we must not pass by it, but must go through it. And when these trials seem bigger than life, we’re to remember that the Lord promises to preserve us from ruin. Continue reading “Living by God’s promises in affliction, Part 5”
