In Deuteronomy 31:19 Moses is instructed by God to write a song and teach it to His people. Verse 21 explains why they needed to learn the words. Did you read the song in chapter 32? It is not your typical praise song characterized by few words repeated over and over and over! I appreciate Matt's attempts to keep theologically significant songs before us. I was amazed by how many words there are and the amount of information about God's character and our character. The song balances God's justice and His grace. We need to sing songs like this so that we remember who God is and who we are--sinners saved by grace. I don't think this song was an immediate favorite; I think it had to grow on those who are maturing in their relationship with God. Deuteronomy 31:16--32:47 show how important singing is for our spiritual lives.
HT: Do You Understand What You Are Reading?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Longs To Be Delivered From Sin
"A person who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. He no longer sins with his heart and will and whole inclination. There was probably a time when he did not think about whether his actions were sinful or not, and he did not always feel grieved after doing evil. There was no quarrel between him and sin; they were friends. But the true Christian hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it. Sin no longer pleases him, nor is it even a matter of indifference to him; it has become a horrible thing which he hates."
J.C. Ryle
J.C. Ryle
Monday, February 13, 2012
Orphan And Widow
Megan Hill:
"In a global society, my neighbor is everywhere within reach, and this is a labyrinthine responsibility for Christ’s followers. Is the orphan in Ethiopia my neighbor? Yes. But should I champion that child’s needs while neglecting the divorced dads and teen moms in my own community? I think not.
Widows, of all kinds, are complicated. Which is exactly why we should not overlook them. In fact, the first-century widows were so much work that the early church had to ordain a separate office of leaders just to care for them. They were extremely needy, and, what’s more, they fought with each other.
Modern widows come with grief, loss, and sin, too. They aren’t quite as adorable as orphans, and helping them is never as clear-cut. But they are the “b” to James 1:27a, and visiting them is part of pure religion."
You can read the entire article here.
"In a global society, my neighbor is everywhere within reach, and this is a labyrinthine responsibility for Christ’s followers. Is the orphan in Ethiopia my neighbor? Yes. But should I champion that child’s needs while neglecting the divorced dads and teen moms in my own community? I think not.
Widows, of all kinds, are complicated. Which is exactly why we should not overlook them. In fact, the first-century widows were so much work that the early church had to ordain a separate office of leaders just to care for them. They were extremely needy, and, what’s more, they fought with each other.
Modern widows come with grief, loss, and sin, too. They aren’t quite as adorable as orphans, and helping them is never as clear-cut. But they are the “b” to James 1:27a, and visiting them is part of pure religion."
You can read the entire article here.
Repentance
"What is repentance? It is turning from the sins you love to the holy God you’re called to love. It is admitting that you’re not God. It is beginning to value Jesus more than your immediate pleasure. It is giving up those things the Bible calls sin and leaving them to follow Jesus."
Mark Dever - The Gospel and Personal Evangelism, p. 57.
Mark Dever - The Gospel and Personal Evangelism, p. 57.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Monday, February 06, 2012
“My times are in thy hand.” — Psalm 31:15 - Spurgeon Sermon Excerpt
A full belief in the statement of our text is A CURE FOR PRESENT WORRY. O Lord, if my times are in thy hand, I have cast my care on thee, and I trust and am not afraid! Why is it, my sister — for this habit of worrying abounds among the gracious sisterhood — why do you vex yourself about a matter which is in the hand of God? If he has undertaken for you, what cause have you for anxiety? And you, my brother — for there are plenty of men who are nervous and fretful — why do you want to interfere with the Lord’s business? If the case is in his hand, what need can there be for you to be prying and crying? You were worrying this morning, and fretting last night, and you are distressed now, and will be worse to-morrow morning. May I ask you a question? Did you ever get any good by fretting? When there was not rain enough for your farm, did you ever fret a shower down? When there was too much wet, or you thought so, did you ever worry the clouds away? Tell me, did you ever make a sixpence by worrying? It is a very unprofitable business. Do you answer, “What, then, are we to do in troublous times”? Why, go to him into whose hand you have committed yourself and your times. Consult with infinite wisdom by prayer; console yourself with infinite love by fellowship with God. Tell the Lord what you feel, and what you fear. Ten minutes’ praying is better than a year’s murmuring. He that waits upon God, and casts his burden upon him, may lead a royal life: indeed, he will be far happier than a king.
To leave our times with God is to live as free from care as the birds upon the bough. If we fret, we shall not glorify God; and we shall not constrain others to see what true religion can do for us in the hour of tribulation. Fret and worry put it out of our power to act wisely; but if we can leave everything with God because everything is really in his hand, we shall be peaceful, and our action will be deliberate; and for that very reason it will be more likely to be wise. He that rolls his burden upon the Lord will be strong to do or to suffer; and his days shall be as the days of heaven upon the earth. I admire the serenity of Abraham. He never seems to be in a fluster; but he moves grandly, like a prince among men. He is much more than the equal of the greatest man he meets: we can hardly see Lot with a microscope when we have once seen Abraham. Why was that? Because he believed in God, and staggered not.
To leave our times with God is to live as free from care as the birds upon the bough. If we fret, we shall not glorify God; and we shall not constrain others to see what true religion can do for us in the hour of tribulation. Fret and worry put it out of our power to act wisely; but if we can leave everything with God because everything is really in his hand, we shall be peaceful, and our action will be deliberate; and for that very reason it will be more likely to be wise. He that rolls his burden upon the Lord will be strong to do or to suffer; and his days shall be as the days of heaven upon the earth. I admire the serenity of Abraham. He never seems to be in a fluster; but he moves grandly, like a prince among men. He is much more than the equal of the greatest man he meets: we can hardly see Lot with a microscope when we have once seen Abraham. Why was that? Because he believed in God, and staggered not.
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Narrow And Uncharitable
"Inability to distinguish doctrine is spreading far and wide, and so long as the preacher is “clever” and “earnest,” hundreds seem to think it must be all right, and call you dreadfully “narrow and uncharitable” if you hint that he is unsound!"
J.C. Ryle
J.C. Ryle
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