The question at issue, then, is not whether we will have a theology but whether it will be a good or bad one, whether we will become conscious of our thinking process or not, and, more particularly, whether we will learn to bring all of our thoughts into obedience to Christ or not.
– David Wells in No Place For Truth
Praise God for his great love and grace
His salvation let all embrace
Judah refused and suffered loss
Come humbly kneel before the cross
Come let us live for our great God
As we have breath to walk this sod
Stay close to Him through every day
With humble awe, trust and obey
– From a sermon on Isaiah 5
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
Genuine Repentance – Jared Wilson
We name our sin as sin and do not spin it or excuse it, and further, we demonstrate “godly sorrow,” which is to say, a grief chiefly about the sin itself, not just a grief about being caught or having to deal with the consequences of sin.
What Should Our Perspective Be on Growing Older? – Randy Alcorn
I won’t pretend that growing old is easy. It isn’t. But there is still something beautiful about it for the Christian. There are always people to share your life with—people to help and people to help you. And with you is your God, who knew you before birth and will take you through death to the glory of His presence.
You’re Going to Die (and So Might Your Dreams) – Jared Wilson
Are we pursuing our own greatness or the expansion of worship of Jesus Christ? They aren’t necessarily incompatible, but God is more interested in the latter than the former. And ultimately, if we prioritize Christ’s glory, we won’t really care in the long run how noticed, renowned, recognized, or “successful” we are personally. We’ll realize that our lives aren’t really about us anyway.
Idolatry in Corporate Worship – Bob Kauflin (DG)
Every time we gather is an opportunity to glory in God’s grace revealed to us in the crucified and risen Savior. Let’s not let idols keep us from reveling in the inexpressible joy that our sins are forgiven and we have been reconciled to God.
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping our great God!
Praise to the Branch, the coming King
His sin-cleansed people all will sing
Safe in his presence we will dwell
And of his glory, beauty tell
– From a sermon on Isaiah 4:2-6
We are in the hands of a Father, who is at this moment doing for us precisely the thing which we ourselves should ask at his hands,
if we knew, as he does, what is best for us.
– Charles Simeon as quoted in Charles Simeon by Derek Prime
This song is also a great prayer:
Our great comfort is, that God reigneth,
and that he will ultimately be glorified in men,
whether they will or not.
He can not only work without them, but against them,
or even by them against their own designs.
– Charles Simeon as quoted in Charles Simeon by Derek Prime
For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob,
because they are full of things from the east
and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines,
and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.
Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures;
their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots.
Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their own fingers have made. (Isaiah 2:6-8, ESV)
In this passage, we see the proud ways of man. These verses could be summed up with the words sung by Frank Sinatra, “I did it my way.” While the nations will one day gather to hear the Word of God (v2-4), Jacob proudly goes to the nations for their worldly wisdom (v6). While the nations will one day pursue and trust in God’s Word (v2-4), Jacob proudly pursues and trusts in material wealth and military power (v7). While the nations will one day own God as the one true God (v2-4), Jacob proudly worships idols, no-gods – the work of their own hands.
Jacob proudly refused to walk in the light of the Lord (v5), instead choosing to walk in the way of the nations. They proudly disobeyed God’s law which specifically forbid them to do the very things they were doing (see Deuteronomy 17:14-17, 18:9-14, etc.). They proudly chose to do it their own way.
Jacob’s proud ways were a proud declaration: “I am god. I am going to do whatever I want to do. I won’t bend the knee to God. I’m going to do it my way.” And so they sought to exalt themselves above God, above their Creator, above their King. They committed treason, rebellion against God.
Are there areas in our lives where we are proudly choosing to do it our own way? Are we doing life our way or God’s way? May God help us to forsake the proud ways of man, and boldly choose to do life God’s way.
The celebrations in eternity that are recorded in Scripture are not about human position, power, or achievement. They are about God’s position, God’s power, God’s faithfulness, and God’s grace. They celebrate God’s victory over evil and the eternal life God gives us. These celebrations remind us of what is essential and truly important, and they welcome us to live in light of these values today…
In a world that idolizes power, position, fame, and material wealth, we constantly need our sense of what is important clarified and reoriented. The celebrations of eternity provide for us a check of our internal importance meter and call us to live and work in light of what is truly eternally important. They remind us not to let things that are meant to point to Jesus become the things that replace Jesus in the here and now.
– Paul David Tripp in Forever
