It happened at Wheaton College about 50 years ago. Wheaton's president, V. Raymond Edman, a godly man, was speaking in chapel one Friday morning. He had just finished telling about the time he had carefully rehearsed for an audience with the then-emperor of Ethiopia. His application for the students, whom he felt had slipped into … Continue reading Are you prepared to respectfully conduct yourself in the presence of the King?
Devotional Thoughts
Church Leaders and Dispositional Sins
This morning our men's discipleship group was examining the theme of "Finding Forgiveness: The Moralist Meets Jesus Christ." We started by discussing David Mains and his article "My Greatest Ministry Mistakes." Two fatal omissions of his ministry at the Circle Church in Chicago were: He never once preached about human depravity and, secondly, the church … Continue reading Church Leaders and Dispositional Sins
With what would you be satisfied?
Here’s a question I have asked myself on occasion while raising my children in terms of my desires, hopes and dreams for them. It comes from Susan Hunt in her book Your Home: A Place of Grace: “Would you be satisfied with children who are well behaved, who avoid drugs, who graduate from college, marry … Continue reading With what would you be satisfied?
LORD vs. Lord
I recent received an email asking the following: I have a translation/word use question I was hoping you could explain to me. In Leviticus 19:18, my ESV says "You shall not take vengence or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your … Continue reading LORD vs. Lord
A Comforting Word for Calvinists and Arminians
When we see the mournful divisions which rend the church of Jesus Christ, let us rest our souls on this comfortable thought. Let us remember that a large portion of them arise from ignorance. We know in part and therefore misunderstand one another. A day comes when Lutherans shall no longer wrangle with Zwinglians, nor … Continue reading A Comforting Word for Calvinists and Arminians
A Challenging Word from Chuck Colson
Chuck Colson, though he is dead, still speaks. Chuck was the commencement speaker at Covenant College on May 7, 1988. Here's a challenging excerpt from his talk that has spurred me to do some reflection recently.Ask not what your age wants, but without which it cannot be saved. Without a restoration of character, this age cannot … Continue reading A Challenging Word from Chuck Colson
Loving as Jesus Loved
Jesus calls all of His disciples to love one another just as He loved them. Thus, a very pertinent question is how did our Savior love His disciples while on earth? The adapted quote below from Matthew Henry takes this command of Jesus out of the realm of mere sentimentality and speaks of this command … Continue reading Loving as Jesus Loved
Practical Suggestions for Growing in Our Love for One Another
It is important to notice that there is an “if” involved in John 13:35. Believers can disobey Jesus' new commandment to love one another. Failure to love does not mean I am not a Christian, but it means the world has the right to make the judgment that I am not a Christian. Therefore, if we expect … Continue reading Practical Suggestions for Growing in Our Love for One Another
Pontius Pilate, Ecce Homo and God’s Missionary Enterprise
What an unforgettable encounter Pontius Pilate had with Jesus. Do you remember Pilate's poignant words “Behold the Man” (in Latin, they are translated Ecce Homo). Those words still ring out today. This villainous moment in redemptive history has inspired numerous painters to graphically portray this scene from John 19:5. Furthermore, God has used Pilate's words … Continue reading Pontius Pilate, Ecce Homo and God’s Missionary Enterprise
The Grace Adventure – Rose Marie Miller
This week I have been listening to an old cassette tape of Rose Marie Miller's testimony of how she came to experience the liberating power of gospel grace in mid-life as a PCA pastor's wife. She urges her listeners to take what she calls the grace adventure. The purpose of this adventure is to show … Continue reading The Grace Adventure – Rose Marie Miller
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