In the very midst of life, snares of death surround us. Who shall help us in this strife, lest the foe confound us? Thou only, Lord, Thou only.
In the midst of death’s dark veil, powers of hell overtake us. Who will help when they assail? Who secure will make us? Thou only, Lord, Thou only.
In the midst of utter woe, when our sins oppress us, where shall we for refuge go? Where for grace to bless us? To Thee, Lord Jesus, only.
Thy precious blood was shed to win, full atonement for our sin.
—Martin Luther
Category: Books and Reading
What Should Shock Us
John Piper on the cross of Christ:
Even though all scorn the glory of God, and even though God’s righteousness is his unwavering commitment to uphold [His] glory– nevertheless, God designed a way to vindicate the worth of his glory and at the same time give hope to sinners who have scorned that glory– and what he designed was the death of his Son. It took the infinitely costly death of the Son of God to repair the dishonor that my pride has brought upon the glory of God.
The Supremacy of God in Preaching
John Piper on preaching:
The cross is also the ground of the humility of preaching because the cross is the power of God to crucify the pride of both preacher and congregation. In the New Testament the cross is not only a past place of objective substitution; it is also a present place of subjective execution– the execution of my self-reliance and my love affair with the praise of man. “Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14).
Sensuous Christians
R. C. Sproul in Knowing Scripture:
Sensuous Christians cannot be moved to service, prayer or study unless they “feel like it.” Their Christian life is only as effective as the intensity of present feelings. When they experience spiritual euphoria, they are a whirlwind of godly activity; when they are depressed, they are a spiritual incompetent. They constantly seek new and fresh spiritual experiences, and use them to determine the Word of God. Their “inner feelings” become the ultimate test for truth.
Sensuous Christians don’t need to study the Word of God because they already know the will of God by their feelings. They don’t want to know God; they want to experience him…
Ravi Zacharias on Prayer
From Ravi Zacharias’ The Lotus and the Cross:
Prayer is a constant reminder that the human being is not autonomous. Prayer, in its most basic form, is the surging of the human spirit in its weakness, grasping at the Spirit of God in His strength. Sometimes mere words cannot give shape to the longing of the heart. You see, God answers every prayer by either giving what is asked for or reminding the petitioner that God’s provision is built on His wisdom and executed in His time. But the answer is always for the instruction and nurture of the soul.
Reading List for May 2013
Reading List for May 2013:
Triumph Over Temptation by Puritan John Owen
Man: The Dwelling Place of God by A.W. Tozer
Journey to Joy by Josh Moody
The Good News We Almost Forgot by Kevin DeYoung
Jojo Agot 