How Is the Trinity Involved in Our Prayers?
Each member of the Trinity gives himself to us in the work of prayer. Indeed, prayer wouldn’t even be possible if not for the Trinity.
In prayer the Spirit perfects our requests, petitions, and praises and brings them to the Son, who in his authority as the righteous Son of God has access to the throne of the Father, where he makes our prayers his own. This is why we pray “in the name of Jesus”—his name is what grants... Continue Reading
How God Shows Himself to the World in General and Special Revelation
King David answers this question brilliantly in Psalm 19.
Creation, however, does not tell us all that we need to know. It doesn’t explain why things aren’t right in the world. It doesn’t tell us about our sin, our need of forgiveness. It doesn’t tell us about the mercy of God, and the gift of his Son to die for us. It can’t show... Continue Reading
The Changing Seasons and the Unchangeable God
When things are uncertain, He can be trusted.
Our response to distressing times should be found in the fact that God does not change. His promises are true. As the culture around us continues to change and head in a direction opposed to the heart of God and the clear teachings of Scripture, we can look to God for our hope. Though everything... Continue Reading
Extending the Borders and Enlarging the Territory
As the Israelites had to labor to claim what was theirs, so too do we.
Bit by bit we conquer the old and come alive to the new. Day by day we take more and more of the vast possession that is ours in Christ. And always and ever we look with expectation to the day the battles will finally be over, the land will finally be fully conquered, and... Continue Reading
Bashing Babies on Boulders? Making Sense of Psalm 137
Psalm 137 leads us to Christ and, in so doing, provides us with the means by which we can engage with evil and suffering in our world today.
We can follow the example of those who have gone before us. This is how we can pray Psalm 137 today. We call on and plead with God to be faithful to his promises. And we know that all of God’s promises find their Yes and Amen in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). The exiles by... Continue Reading
Suffering And The Sovereignty Of God – Part 5
Don’t be surprised when trials come.
But unless you see your sin, unless you see your wickedness as a greater evil than all your trials, unless you see the wrath of God and His eternal punishment, more severe and more frightening than any trial, you are not going to find joy in the salvation that Jesus Christ provides. God is very... Continue Reading
The King and the Beast: Understanding Daniel 4
This is neither a fairy tale nor a description of psychosis but a theological account of how God teaches the proud to praise him.
Nebuchadnezzar’s humility is the prelude to praising the King of heaven: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble (Dan. 4:37).” This kind of praise is the proper human response... Continue Reading
Keep it to Yourself?
God's truth, simply put, is the ultimate, exquisite, delight to rejoice the heart.
The Library of the LORD, of course, aims to humble us in the dust; but the Torah’s grand design, once we have recognized our fault, is to elevate the heart, and then recreate and convert, through faith, with a justifying, sin-forsaking, sight of mercy in Christ. Revelation both General, Special and Final? In light of... Continue Reading
You Just Need to Obey
For all true followers of Christ, obedience is never peripheral.
Every step of heart-prompted obedience leads to experiencing abundant life in Christ. Conversely, every step of disobedience takes us away from the joy of divine goodness. Far from being optional, grace-fueled obedience is absolutely necessary for Christlikeness. Is there any need to pray about whether or not to obey God’s Word? You just need to obey.... Continue Reading
The Christian Life is a Team Effort
A life of intentional isolation throws a bucket of water on the flame of faith.
Jesus makes fellowship with God a reality for believers. The worst of sinners lives in fellowship with the Holy God because of Jesus (John 14:18–20). This is the root of fellowship with one another. Our fellowship with each other is as unchangeable as our fellowship with God is unbreakable. Your local church family is a... Continue Reading
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