Forgive us, Father, for our indifference to the coming of your Son. We have not kept our lamps of expectation burning or bought the oil of eagerness in hope for the Bridegroom to return. We have bought a field and gone to look at it. We have bought oxen and spent time ooing and aahing over their height and weight. We have married a wife and desired her more than the coming of your Son. O Lord, forgive us. We are sorry for the dishonour that our wandering affections show to you and your servant, Jesus.

But Lord, we are eager to change. And we come to you for help. Incline our hearts to Christ. Open our eyes to the glory of Christ. Make the appearing of our great God and Saviour a ‘blessed hope’ in our hearts – a happy hope, a satisfying hope. Break our addiction to this world. Cause us to set our minds on things that are above where Christ is seated at your right hand. Work in us the command of Peter to ‘hope fully in the grace of God that is coming at the revelation of Jesus Christ’. Free us from the anxieties that come from too much dependence on earthly circumstances. Form us into a radical band of risk-takers in the cause of love because we know that this mortal flesh will put on immortality and this body of lowliness will be transformed into a body like Christ’s glorious body.

We love you, Father. We love your Son’s appearing. Grant us to live out this hope in the freedom of self-sacrifice to the glory of your great grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Piper’s prayers are soul-nourishing.

“If you were searching for a single sentence in Scripture to best capture the story line and theme of the entire Bible, what would you choose? Where would you look?

Many of us would no doubt go right to the beloved and familiar words of John 3:16, with good reason. But let me suggest we search no further than… the opening pages of Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Fix your thoughts on this sentence:

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

J.I. Packer says it isn’t too much to describe these verses as “the key, not merely to the New Testament, but to the whole Bible, for they crystalize into a phrase the sum and substance of its message.”

In this one sentence, Paul succinctly captures the main theme and essence of the entirety of holy Scripture – as well as answering the desperate cry we heard from Job for someone to arbitrate between God and man. Yes, Paul declares, there is a mediator! There’s someone to arbitrate between us, to lay His hand on us both and remove the rod of God’s wrath so His terror frightens us no more. There’s a unique intermediary between God and man: the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all. The Bible’s complete message hinges on this one point.”

C.J. then gives two more quotes from some of my spiritual heroes:

R.C. Sproul: ”The glory of the gospel is this: The One from whom we need to be saved is the One who has saved us.”

John Stott: ”Divine love triumphed over divine wrath by divine self-sacrifice.”

And a suitable conclusion:

“If there’s anything in life we should be passionate about, it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others; I mean passionate in thinking about the gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to colour the way we look at the world and all of life.” (p.15)

Amen!

Here’s a profound quote from her to enjoy and ponder -

It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.

Fanny J Crosby

Spurgeon (1834-1892) is known as the Prince of Preachers because in his lifetime he published over 1900 sermons. He started preaching at age 16 – the year he was converted – and went on to become a hugely popular preacher-evangelist, often preaching to hundreds and thousands at one time (with no amplification!).

Here’s what he had to say about youth and maturity and the Christian life.

If you wish to be “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” begin soon. [...] Youthful piety has the most profitable opportunity of becoming eminent piety.  If you begin soon to walk with Christ, you will improve your pace, and the habit will grow upon you.  He who is only made a Christian in the last few years of his life will scarcely reach to the first and highest degree, for lack of time, and from the hampering influence of old habits; but you who begin soon are planted in good soil, with a sunny aspect, and should come to maturity.

from ‘The disciple whom Jesus loved’, Jan 4, At the Master’s Feet, selections from the best of Charles Spurgeon, compiled by Audie G Lewis

What a colourful and appealing way to make a wonderful point!

The Bible in general, and the book of Proverbs in particular, reveals an unbreakable connection between our character, our conduct, and the consequences of our actions. These three are inseparable and woven by God into His created order.

But if you think CJ’s post is all about how bad Tiger Wood’s sin is, it’s not. The quote above is an incisive pastoral summary just introducing some of the issues raised by Tiger Wood’s ‘indiscretions’.

Please do click on the link above to read the entire post – it is gracious and points both us and Tiger Woods towards grace – because all of us need this great gift found in Jesus.

“The Bible’s purpose is not so much to show you how to live a good life. The Bible’s purpose is to show you how God’s grace breaks into your life against your will and saves you from the sin and brokenness otherwise you would never be able to overcome.

Religion is ‘if you obey, then you will be accepted’. But the Gospel is, ‘if you are absolutely accepted, and sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey’. Those are two utterly different things. Every page of the Bible shows the difference.”

Tim Keller

Our Ephesians 1 sermon this last Sunday finished with a C.S. Lewis quote. At least one person other than me said that it was helpful for them, so I thought I’d post it for your continual edification.

“The moment you wake up each morning,  all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals.  And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.”

“The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to died for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.”

Timothy Keller, The Reason For God (New York, NY: Dutton, 2008), 181.