The Whole of the Christian Life

Christians are baptized into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And that's it, that's the whole of the Christian life. The whole of the Christian life is coming to understand how I got to be baptized into that name, to a fellowship with God the Trinity; and who I am now that I have communion with God the Trinity, and how I am going to live as someone who has the name of the blessed God written over my life because I have been brought into his family (S. Ferguson).

A Counter-Cultural Thought on Marriage

Married couples don't fall out of love, they fall out of repentance (Burk Parsons).

Let's Redeem the Time

Time is undoubtedly short. But it is the only season in which Christians can do any active work of mercy. In the world to come there will be no ignorant to instruct, no mourners to comfort, no spiritual darkness to enlighten, no distress to relieve, no sorrow to make less. Whatever work we do of this kind must be done on this side of the grave. Let us awake to a sense of our individual responsibility. Souls are perishing, and time is flying! Let us resolve, by God's grace, to do something for God's glory before we die. Once more let us remember our Lord's example, and, like Him, be diligent and "redeem the time” (J.C. Ryle).

Believer, You Are Gifted!

Everyone has some gifts, therefore all should be encouraged. Nobody has all the gifts, therefore all should be humble. All gifts are from the Lord, therefore all should be contented (A.T. Pierson).

The Things that Make You Angry Reveals Your Idols

Anger is the result of love. It is energy for defense of something you love when it is threatened. If you don’t love something at all, you are not angry when it is threatened. If you love something a little, you get a little angry when it is threatened. If something you love is an ‘ultimate concern,’ if it is something that gives you meaning in life, then when it is threatened you will get uncontrollably angry. When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, is is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When such a thing is threatened, your anger is absolute. Your anger is actually the way the idol keeps you in its service, in its chains. Therefore if you find that, despite all the efforts to forgive, your anger and bitterness cannot subside, you may need to look deeper and ask, ‘What am I defending? What is so important that I cannot live without?’ It may be that, until some inordinate desire is identified and confronted, you will not be able to master your anger.--Tim Keller

Human Approval

The fear of man and the inordinate desire for human approval is a besetting sin for many of us. I found these thoughts from Ray Ortlund to be very helpful on the issue:

1. Human approval is divided. Some like you, others dislike you. A split vote. Who can you believe?

2. Human approval is shallow. None of them know your deepest heart. What if they did?

3. Human approval is distorted. Your friends overlook many failings. Your enemies can’t see anything right with you. How do you sort it all out?

4. Human approval is unsatisfying. The need of your heart for belovedness goes far beyond anything another sinner can say or do.

5. Human approval is a blessing. The loving favor of true friends is a gift from God. Receive it cheerfully, with thanks to him. And be sure to give it out to others in generous measure every day. They need it too.