Beginning a New Year

The beginning of a new year is a great time to refocus your energies in reading and feeding on God’s Word!  To that end, Ligonier Ministries has put together a helpful list of a variety of Bible reading plans available online.  If you don’t already have a focused approach to the regular reading of Scripture, I encourage you to look over these plans and implement one that works for you.  And you could even pursue this with another relative or friend!

You might also find encouragement from this brief article.

Beloved, the Spirit of God uses the word of God to grow us in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:11-12; 2 Tim. 2:15-16; 1 Pet. 2:1-3).  As we gather weekly to share together in the reading, preaching, and teaching of God’s word, so may we individually be immersing ourselves in His word day-by-day!

Richest blessings, and Happy New Year!

Greg

God with Us

Beloved, as we consider afresh the wonder of God’s work in the giving of His Son Jesus, may these thoughts from C.H. Spurgeon encourage you (and feel free to pass this on to family and friends this week!):

 

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
“Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in him, and can sing, ‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.’ Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire. Let us notice at the very first glance his miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, ‘The seed of the woman,’ not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Saviour, although truly man, was as to his human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that he may be formed in us, the hope of glory. Fail not to note his humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as ‘a virgin,; not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King!

“Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendour.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, Dec. 25 – Morning)

 

 

Merry Christmas, and grace upon grace to you!

Greg

The Majesty is in the Magnitude

The majesty of God’s glory is seen in the magnitude of God’s grace!  So it is that all of God’s eternal, sovereign, adopting, redeeming work in Jesus Christ is “…to the praise of His glorious grace…” (Eph. 1:6)!  And so it is that the multitude of heavenly host burst forth with praise at the birth of Jesus:

 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)

 

Beloved, the depth and darkness of our sin is far more heinous than we can fathom.  But the wealth and wonder of God’s grace in Christ is far more abundant than we can imagine!  Dr. Homer Kent said it well:

 

“The higher one’s conception of God’s holiness and the deeper his sense of human sin, the greater is his discernment of the riches of grace that were necessary to provide such a redemption.”  (Homer Kent, Ephesians Commentary, pg. 22-23)

 

What can we say, but amen, and amen!  And what can we do but sing on, knowing that a “worthy walk” (Eph. 4:1) is first and foremost a walk of worship!!

 

Beholding, singing, walking, and growing with you,

Greg

Divine Discipline for Fleeting Foreigners

What faith-strengthening truths flow from Psalm 39, as we heard this past Lord’s Day through Tim Ingrum’s faithful preaching!  Tim helped us see that “fleeting foreigners need divine discipline to travel light”, and thus we should respond with faith and submission to God’s loving discipline.  I don’t know about you, but I continually need to be reminded of these truths!

 

Following this same theme, and reflecting on Rom. 8:28, the Puritan pastor Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) made these observations:

 

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose!”

Whatever is truly good for God’s children–they shall have it, for all is theirs to further them to Heaven. Therefore . . .
if poverty is good for them–they shall have it;
if disgrace is good for them–they shall have it;
if crosses are good for them–they shall have them;
if misery is good for them–they shall have it;
for God makes all things work together for the good of His redeemed people.

God takes a safe course with His children–that they may not be condemned with the world.

God’s providence is often mysterious–yet He is just and righteous in all that He does. Therefore when any difficult thing befalls us for which we can see no reason, yet we must reverence the Lord and adore His counsels and submit to Him who is infinitely more good and wise than we.

Praying for you, and with you, as we learn to walk in our Father’s holy love through Jesus Christ,

Greg

Into His Heavenly Family

How can we ever fathom the wonder and wealth of all God’s spiritual blessings to us in Jesus Christ??  What assurance, confidence, and security are within these glorious truths:

 

…in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…(Eph. 1:4-5)

 

There never has been, and never will be, a perfect earthly family.  But as believers we have been adopted by God our Father into His heavenly family!  And through His revealed word, God wants us to know the full comfort and significance of our calling as His children, all “…to the praise of His glorious grace” (Eph. 1:6)!  May your hope be strengthened as you trust the riches of His grace, walking worthy as His beloved child!

 

When a child of God is crushed with guilt over sin,

Or pressed hard by deep trials without and within,

Burdened and troubled, and filled up with fear,

What words from the Lord might this child hear?

 

Is there harsh condemnation from the King on His throne?

Angry words of rejection and banishment known?

“I despise you, how dare you think not to obey”,

Is this what a Christian might hear the Lord say?

 

Surely Satan would tempt us to think it is so,

Fiery darts of deception does he constantly throw.

But the Lord, He has spoken – all His words firm and true,

Great, precious promises which ignite hope anew!

 

O My child, my child behold who I AM,

Your Father, who chose you, from before time began!

Drink now all My blessings, given through My Son’s blood,

And walk by faith in the fullness of My holy love!

 

Grace upon grace,

Greg