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?”
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
If there’s anything in life which everyone would like to avoid, it’s suffering. Suffering is inevitably painful, disappointing, uncomfortable, humbling, and frustrating. But if there is anything which everyone knows about suffering, it is that ‘it’s not going anywhere.’ Continue reading “Living by God’s promises in affliction”
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Sin is still here
Nothing grieves me more than to discover every day that sin is still here. I don’t mean still here in this world; for I expect it to be here until Christ comes to eradicate it. This is, after all, a fallen world, a world under the curse of Adam’s rebellion against God. The Lord said “In the day you eat of it you shall surely die,” and the world of men has been under the curse of that death ever since. Nor do I mean still here in my family and friends; for I know full well that my wife and children, my dearest friends and loved ones, and every member of my church is a sinner living every day as pensioners of God’s grace and mercy. So what, then, do I mean? Continue reading “Sin is still here”
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Thoughts of hell
Having shared some thoughts of heaven and of earth over the last two days, it might be expected that today I would share thoughts of hell. And what heavy and sad thoughts they are… Hell is not a pleasant thing to think about; but we can’t escape the fact that our Saviour and His Holy Scripture put it before our minds repeatedly and honestly in an effort to strike the conscience with the truth and fearfulness of it. We must, therefore, think of hell. But alas! there’s nothing good that can be said about it. Continue reading “Thoughts of hell”
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Are you forgiven?
I’ve long enjoyed the Private Thoughts on Religion by Thomas Adam. It is arguably the most heart-piercing and soul-humbling book in print. His words reach the depths of the soul in a way that other writers do not. In fact, I don’t know of any other book that puts words in my soul’s mouth like his. Consisting of private reflections from his notes and diaries (published after his death), it’s a window into my soul’s wrestlings to confront my own sin, to live honestly before God, to live by faith in a sense-driven body and world, and to walk holily before God in all I do. I’d like to share with you what I read today. Continue reading “Are you forgiven?”
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Soul-sickness
We’ve got pills for everything! There’s a pill for every sickness, a dose of something or another for every discomfort. Given what stocks the shelves in your local pharmacy, there’s practically no reason to be sick today, no reason to be uncomfortable. Just to go the pharmacy, get what you need, and in no time you’ll be right as rain. And that’s just what we do. The minute we feel a sickness coming on, we’re off to the pharmacy for Vitamin C, Zinc, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, &c. No time to waste; no time to be sick; we can’t afford to be down. I’ve often wondered why we don’t treat soul-sickness the same way. Continue reading “Soul-sickness”
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How to live in light of the truth of God
Over the last two posts I’ve explained that the Christian is a man with the saving knowledge of God and, further, that he applies that knowledge. Are you such a man as that? Here are some helps to being such a man, helps to living in the light of the knowledge of God. Continue reading “How to live in light of the truth of God”
