God Has Thrown Some Husks
Does a story have to be true to serve as an illustration? I don’t think so! And neither did Spurgeon, apparently. I found this illustration in a volume of his sermon notes and rather enjoyed it. (A note in the text says that he drew the illustration from John Spencer.)
The Jewish rabbis report (how truly is uncertain) that when Joseph, in the times of plenty, had gathered much corn in Egypt, he threw the chaff into the river Nile, that so, flowing to the neighboring cities and nations more remote, they might know what abundance was laid up, not for themselves alone, but for others also.
So God, in his abundant goodness, to make us know what glory there is in Heaven, has thrown some husks to us here in this world, that so, tasting the sweetness thereof, we might aspire to his bounty that is above, and draw out this happy conclusion to the great comfort of our precious souls—that if a little earthly glory do so much amaze us, what will the heavenly do? If there be such glory in God’s footstool, what is there in his throne? If he give us so much in the land of our pilgrimage, what will he not give us in our own country? If he bestows so much on his enemies, what will he not give to his friends?
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A La Carte (November 19)
May the Lord be with you and bless you today.
Today’s Kindle deals include a collection by Daniel Doriani. I’d definitely recommend his books Work and The New Man. David Murray’s The Happy Christian is also a great pick.
(Yesterday on the blog: What Grieves the Heart of God?)
This is a moving piece from Conrad Mbewe: “Thursday, November 16, 2023 — one year ago today — will be etched in my memory as the night that started the journey of my worst fears: losing a family member to the cold hand of death.”
This article is also very moving as Lara describes her longing for justice following sexual assault. “As I walked out of the video recording room in the police station, so many thoughts assailed my weary mind that it felt like radio static. My oppressor could get jail time t-boned thoughts like They probably think you’re a stupid, weak, silly woman while What have I done? collided front-on with both and There’s no going back rear-ended them.”
“People tend to perceive Bible college students as especially holy. But, unfortunately, anyone who has been to Bible college can attest to the fact that we’re fallible, foolish sinners. This article covers 10 mistakes theological students make, most of which I myself am guilty of to greater and lesser degrees. Perhaps you’re considering theological studies. If you do, you will have a far richer experience if you learn, as I did, to avoid these common mistakes.”
God is good to give us grandmothers in the faith. “How can it be that God is so gracious to give us grandmothers like these who adopt us into their hearts? Grandmothers who soothe us with their precious words, who will pour out their blessings on children who technically belong to someone else? Only he could design something so beautiful as the church, a place where family ties are wrapped up in who he is, not who was born to whom.”
Casey McCall writes about love’s surprising journey. “When we hear that God is love, we just slide God into our preconceived category. If God is love, we wrongly assume, then he must conform to my understanding of love. This kind of reasoning is how we get statements like, ‘If God was loving, he would never do that,’ or, ‘As long as two people love one another, we should let them do whatever they want.’”
Peter Witkowski: “Romantic love can prove deadly. Though western society views our internal longing for sexual fulfillment as the ultimate expression of meaning, the Bible portrays humanity’s unredeemed passion for sex outside of marriage as disordered and broken.”
“When I am weary, you are rest, a shadow from the heat and a shelter from the storm. When I am weak, you are the Lord Jehovah in whom is everlasting strength.”
What I have found of God in Jesus Christ is so wonderful, I am eager for others to know it too—and to know him.
—C.H. Spurgeon -
A La Carte (February 18)
The Lord be with you and bless you today.
Westminster Books has a deal on the new book by Mark Jones, Knowing Sin.
(Yesterday on the blog: A Family Update and a Some Thoughts on Those Canadian Truckers)
The Necessity and Danger of Mercy Ministry
Mez McConnell: “While a church may do a lot of different things in the service of [its] mission, everything that it does should be aimed at those final goals: proclaiming the gospel and helping people to grow in their obedience to God. Starbucks sells coffee, Listerine makes mouthwash, and the church holds out the gospel and trains people to obey by doing the work of ministry. If we don’t do it, no one will. If we do anything else, we are getting off track.”
The Remedy for the Church’s Post-COVID Malaise
Trevin Wax offers some thoughts about remedying the church’s post-COVID malaise. “It’s been almost two years since COVID altered our lives. I hear pastors and church leaders talk about surviving the pandemic spiritually and emotionally, and then enduring the fallout in their congregations. Many harbor grave concerns about ministry right now and about the long-term sustainability of those who have been tasked with leading the church.”
Why We Need the Local Church
Speaking of the local church, “the culture continues to be hostile to the Christian worldview. Social media outlets are becoming more aggressive towards us, and cancelations by the culture of confusion continue to increase. Where do we turn? The answer isn’t clever or new. We turn to the local church. Here’s why.”
The Necessity of Sound Doctrine
“Sound doctrine is fundamental ‘so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes’ (Eph. 4:14). Paul isn’t mincing words here but distinctly points out that without sound doctrine, the church is susceptible to being carried away by cultural ideologies, false teaching, and deceptive methodologies.”
The Nearness of God is Not Always Good News
“A good portion of modern Christian praise songs emphasize nearness to God.” Well and good, but God’s nearness isn’t always good news…
Should I or Shouldn’t I?
Here’s a bit of a guide to determining whether or not to engage in a conversation.He never began to love us for anything in ourselves, nor will he cease to love us because of what he discovers us to be. The love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord, is unassailable by change or shock. —F.B. Meyer
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My Epic Documentary Series Is Now Free to Watch
In 2020 I teamed up with Zondervan to release Epic: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History. This is a two-part product that takes the form of an illustrated book and a ten-part documentary video series. While the book and documentary can each be enjoyed on their own, they also complement one another well. Epic is ideal for group studies, homeschool curriculum, and enjoying either alone or with the whole family.
I am pleased to let you know that the ten-part documentary video series is now available for free on YouTube.
Of course, Epic is best when the documentary is paired with the book, so I recommend you also buy the softcover book which you can find discounted at both Amazon and Westminster Books. The two products are ideal companions for one another and together will help you both see and understand the history of the Christian faith.
To watch the videos, you can visit YouTube or challies.com/epic/.
Beginning with Jesus and the early church, I look at:The importance of graffiti on an ancient jail cell
The creedal significance of a carving on a museum statue
The enduring importance of ancient manuscripts and books
And much more!Along the way, you’ll discover the story you’re already a part of.
Epic features:An epic journey: 24 countries, 6 continents, 75 flights, 80 museums
Beautiful full-color book design featuring the objects and Tim’s journey
The complete experience: a 10-episode documentary is now available for free, taking you on location and providing an immersive experience for understanding the history of ChristianityAs I said, it is now entirely free on YouTube or at challies.com/epic/.
