It can be difficult to make sense of our trials as we endure them. But the Bible always assures us that our difficulties are never purposeless but always in some way purposeful. God is always using them to accomplish something good. This is the theme of this short devotional reflection from my friend Paul Tautges (and drawn from his new book Remade).

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The simple gold ring on my left hand is priceless to me. It is my most valuable piece of jewelry because it symbolizes God’s gracious gift of a faithful wife. Originally, it belonged to another man, my wife’s great-grandfather, but was given to my wife by her grandmother when we got engaged. Karen took it to a local jeweler to get it resized so she could place it on my finger on our wedding day. Yet, as valuable as the gold used to make this ring may be, there is something else that is more precious and valued: faith that is tested by fire and proven to be genuine.
Commentator Kenneth Wuest explains the apostle’s illustration of an ancient goldsmith, who
refines the crude gold ore in his crucible. The pure metal is mixed with much foreign material from which it must be separated. The only way to bring about this separation is to reduce the ore to liquid form. The impurities rise to the surface and are then skimmed off. But intense heat is needed to liquefy this ore. So the goldsmith puts his crucible in the fire, reduces the ore to a liquid state and skims off the impurities. When he can see the reflection of his face clearly mirrored in the surface of the liquid, he knows that the contents are pure gold. The smelting process has done its work.
In the same way, the divine Goldsmith turns up the thermostat of our lives to sanctify us. He heats up the smelting furnace of affliction to reveal imperfections in our hearts so they can be skimmed off by our confession and repentance. Today’s Scripture reading makes it clear that God does does this not to defeat us but to prove the “genuineness” of our faith.
This was the case with Job, an Old Testament hero of the faith. God brought Job to the devil’s attention: “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Job 1:8). Satan is not coequal with God. He is a finite creature who is accountable to the Creator. Even though the devil meant his attacks for evil, God meant them for good.
Job understood the process Peter describes. The furnace was turned up to very hot when God permitted Satan to attack Job’s family, health, financial security, and reputation. When Satan’s tsunami came ashore, Job fell in broken, submissive worship (1:20). When blistering heat revealed Job’s pride, Job confessed and repented (see Job 38-39). On the other side of his tragedy and trauma, Job spoke well of God: “When he has tried me, I shall come out [of the smelting pot] as gold” (23:10). Through it all, Job’s faith was tested and proven genuine; his suffering accomplished its intended purposes.
Be encouraged! God is up to something good amid your pain. As the refiner’s fire removes impurities to bring out the beauty of gold, so God uses trials to refine and bring out the beauty of your faith. The Father looks to the heart that clings to him while faith is being refined and sees the image of his Son being revealed. In this, he is pleased and glorified.
(For similar devotional reflections, consider Paul’s book Remade).

My gratitude goes to BJU for sponsoring the blog this week to tell you about their upcoming CoRE Conference which will appeal especially to those involved in counseling.

Yesterday I shared a long list of Black Friday deals. I updated the list a number of times throughout the day and most of the deals remain active through the weekend. There are a few Kindle deals as well.
Find Your Fathers in Christ: Advice for Younger Men
“Over the last twenty years, I’ve had several great fathers in the faith. These men of God reached down to invest in me, and were far enough ahead of me that they could guide, challenge, and spur me on.” Marshall tells what he learned from them and encourages young men to find similar mentors.
How to Prevent a Spiritually Dry December
Ryan Higginbottom: “While there’s nothing wrong with any of these seasonal extras, here’s the truth I tend to miss. My experience of Christmas will be far deeper and more joyful if I’m connecting my activities to the Biblical truths of Christmas.”
Do You Know What Your Child Is Being Taught about Sex?
Jonathan Noyes says that “many public schools have settled for teaching your students what to think, not how to think. In the process, the pursuit of truth is abandoned for an ideology, and any speech against that ideology is stifled.” This being the case, it’s especially important for parents to be aware and be involved.
Bible people don’t want to say more or less than the Bible does
Stephen Kneale, who recently explained why he doesn’t believe the Bible mandates physical discipline (but rather permits it) goes on to describe a broader principle. “I think many of us are very quick to baptise and sanctify our applications, assuming the form of what we do is necessarily what scripture prescribes, when the most we can really say is this is a legitimate, permissible application rather than the specific requirement on all believers.”
Saved to Do Good and Love Others: Why I Do Homeless Ministry
“I didn’t get to share the gospel even once. I didn’t get to tell people that God loved them. That Jesus died for them. Friendly conversations would more often than not become one-sided where I couldn’t get a word in.” Despite this, Adam explains why ministry is valuable, even when it doesn’t lead to direct opportunities to share the gospel.
Biblical Manhood Versus Traditional African Manhood
“In the African traditional culture, there are a lot of things that define manhood.” This article at TGC Africa explains biblical manhood over against traditional African notions of it.
Flashback: How To Get Things Done: Deal With Interruptions
Dealing with interruptions requires an awareness that God is sovereign and you are not. When you trust a sovereign God you know that no interruption has caught God by surprise. This frees you from outbursts of anger or depths of despair.

We’re not adrift in chaos. We’re held in the everlasting arms. And this makes a difference. We can be at peace and we can accept. —Elisabeth Elliot

This week Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by BJU Seminary. They are giving away a bundle of newly published books by their faculty. BJU Seminary equips Christian leaders through an educational and ministry experience that is biblically shaped, theologically rich, historically significant, and evangelistically robust.

Wayward Children: Finding Peace, Keeping Hope by Stuart Scott
To parent a wayward or unbelieving child is one of the most difficult trials a Christian can face. Yet even if this is your experience, there is hope and comfort to be found in God’s Word and God’s character. This 31-day devotional provides daily readings to offer you encouragement, biblical direction, and practical action steps. You yourself are the perfect Father’s child—let this devotional draw you to him, his wisdom, and his guidance every day.

What Does the Bible Say About Salvation? by Layton Talbert
Written as a discipleship tool, this book presents a comprehensive yet concise summary of the doctrine of salvation. While it does not avoid hard topics, it avoids bogging down in them as well. A distinctive feature of this study is that it sets the systematic theological doctrines of salvation within the larger biblical theological context of the Bible’s redemptive storyline. Saturated with Scripture, this soteriological guide aims at helping you think God’s thoughts about why and how He saves any of us, and what that means for how you live life.

Changed into His Image: God’s Plan for Transforming Your Life by Jim Berg
In this time-tested resource for spiritual growth and disciple making, biblical counselor Jim Berg guides readers to understand their sinful nature, renew their minds, and live in a way that pleases God and allows them to better serve him. With a compassionate voice and keen understanding of the human heart’s condition, Berg charts a clear roadmap to genuine, biblical heart change in each chapter.
Both new and mature believers will find Changed into His Image full of rich encouragement and practical exercises to help them to grow in love for their Savior and service to him.
This is a revised and updated edition of Jim Berg’s 1999 classic work by the same title.

Enter Here

While there are many places you can go today to find deals on electronics and other big-ticket items, I like to provide a place for Christian retailers to make their deals known to Christians who are trying to kick-start their Christmas shopping (or to just buy great resources at significant discounts). I will update this list regularly throughout the weekend, so you may want to return to a few times. Be sure to check back on Monday for Cyber Monday deals.

Amazon
Amazon has discounts on thousands of items. Of interest to me is their Kindle e-readers (and other devices) which are on sale today.

Kindle Oasis (my preferred device), Kindle Paperwhite, or Kindle (basic)
C.S. Lewis Signature Classics at 63% off
A large selection of board games are 50% off or more (including family favorites like Ticket to Ride, Catan, Pandemic, and literally hundreds more)
A lot of building toys like Knex, Lego, etc, as well as learning and tech toys
Home brands like KitchenAid, Ninja, Nespresso, Bissell, Vitamix, De’Longhi, Keurig, Yeti, and Amazon
Significant savings on 2023’s most popular general market books in their print versions (which includes Jinger Duggar Vuolo’s Becoming Free Indeed)
There is also a long list of “religion and spirituality” books discounted in their print versions. Among them you’ll find some good picks such as;

And then, of course, much, much more.
Westminster Books
Westminster Books has 200 of their best and bestselling books on sale with discounts in the range of 50% – 70% off. Here are some representative deals:

They also have all ESVs at 50% off:

You might also like to look at their Christmas Gift Guide for gift ideas.
Logos
Logos has a host of products discounted (with many more coming on Cyber Monday). Here’s what they are offering for Black Friday:

If I had to pick, I’d focus on getting the Reformed Expository bundles (which are ideal for pastors or general readers) and select volumes in the NICOT and NICNT series. You also can’t go wrong with any of the Preaching the Word commentaries. The Christ Centered Exposition series is a reader-friendly option as well.
10ofThose
10ofThose, which is both a bookstore and a publisher, has a wide selection of books discounted up to 77%. They include:

10ofThose also provides the storefront for The Gospel Coalition and is offering many TGC products with similar discounts.
Accordance
Accordance is keeping it simple by offering a blanket 25% off anything with the coupon code 25-ALL.
Banner of Truth
Banner of Truth is having their annual Christmas sale with deals of up to 50% off. This PDF has the details. It looks like some of their sets of books have the best discounts.
Christian Book Distributors
Christian Book Distributors has lots of deals on books and Bibles.

Crossway
Crossway+ members can browse the Christmas Gift Guide and order anything at 50% off. Crossway+ membership is free.
The Good Book Company
The Good Book Company is offering 30% off everything on their site plus free shipping. Bundles and sets are discounted up to 40%.
Ligonier Ministries
Ligonier Ministries is having a $5 sale Friday (and more) sale that includes discounts on many books, Bibles, teaching series, and so on.
Matthias Media
Matthias Media has a good selection of their books on sale. Many are as low as $3 or $5.
Missional Wear
Missional Wear has select products at up to 50% off, plus you can save 15% site-wide using discount code CHALLIES15.
P&R Publishing
P&R is offering 35% off all titles with coupon code NOV23. Select titles are discounted 40% off.
Reformation Heritage Books
Reformation Heritage Books has a wide variety of their books and series on sale.
Visual Theology
Visual Theology is offering 50% off memberships with code BLACK2023. Digital Bible Cards and the 2023 Gospel Advent Calendar are also half off with BLACK2023. Then be sure to take a look at their new Advent Coloring Book.
Wretched
Wretched, aka Todd Friel, has up to 50% off on books, booklets, DVDs, merch, and so on.

It is Black Friday, as you know. While so many of you were enjoying family and Thanksgiving feasts (something Canadians already did well over a month ago) I was putting together my annual list of Black Friday deals that will appeal especially to Christians. You’ll find all sorts of deep discounts on books, gifts, and other good stuff. Give it a look here.

Godly Leaders Go First
This one takes a valuable principle and applies it to dads. “Godly leadership often involves being last. For years on end, I watched my dad be the last one at church as he chose to be the one to lock up the building and turn off the lights so others in the congregation could go directly home for lunch or beat the Methodists and Presbyterians to the buffet. I watched my parents provide what we needed as their children before even thinking about their own needs.”
Victim Blaming and the Rich Young Ruler
Dave writes about a victim of rape in his village in Cameroon. He reflects on the common tendency to blame the victim rather than the perpetrator.
Avoiding the comparison trap as we serve our Master
“On the Last Day, God is not going to mark on the normal distribution curve, comparing you to all other believers. No, God wants to know what you, with your unique set of circumstances, have done with what you have been given.”
Everyone Places Limits on Sex, Not Only Christians. Why?
Ryan van der Avoort points out that it’s not only Christians who place limits on sex, then explains why Christians insist on the limits they do.
Reflections On Later Life
Eunice Cawston writes poignantly about being a little bit later on in life.
4 Feasts We Eat Every Week at Church
“I walked through the doors of our church with my kids running ahead of me, excited to find their daddy (who is the pastor). It might have been hard to get there that morning, but it was worth it. Simply the presence of other believers encouraged my weary heart. They believed church matters, which helped me believe it too.”
Flashback: Unjust, Unkind, Unfair, Un-humble?
Is it unjust, unkind, unfair, un-humble to insist upon the exclusivity of Jesus Christ? No, it is unjust, unkind, unfair, un-humble not to, for in doing so we are simply describing reality. In doing so we are offering hope.

Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace within difficulties. —C.S. Lewis

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends and family. May it be a day of many blessings. You enjoy your holiday and I’ll get to work on putting together a great big list of Black Friday deals for tomorrow.

(Yesterday on the blog: Before You Go On the Attack)
I Love My Transgender Child. I Love Jesus More.
“My son professed faith in Jesus at a young age. He consistently engaged in spiritual conversations with me, our family, and our church family. We taught the Scriptures in our home through words and actions. So it came as a shock to us when, last year, he stated he had gender dysphoria and wondered if he was transgender. Within a few months, our 18-year-old firmly believed he was transgender and that an LGBT+ identity was compatible with Scripture’s teaching.”
Does the Bible demand the disciplinary smacking of children?
Stephen takes a look at various Bible passages to ask whether the Scripture really demands that we smack/spank young children as a form of discipline.
When You’re Envious of Others
Christa very transparently shares her battle with envy—how it affected her and how she found success in the battle against it.
Bible Scholar Thinks THIS is a Bible Contradiction (Video)
Tim addresses a Bible scholar who says he has spotted a contradiction in the Bible.
I’ve Been a Prosperity Gospel Parent
Hopefully you have a free article with CT so you can read this one. “With a confidence on the scale of first-year seminary students, we proof-texted all the verses in the Bible about parenting, order, and discipline, and we plugged it into an equation for perfect parenting. Our kids were going to be awesome because we were going to be awesome parents. We were parenting by the Book.”
Don’t Always Avoid Pain
Kuza explains why we shouldn’t always avoid pain.
Flashback: A Simple But Life-Changing Realization
To the Christian, God’s commands are promises. They are promises that you really can be this, you really can have this, you really can do this if you take hold of what he offers. God does not merely give the command and then leave you to your own devices.

When I understand that everything happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it resolves a great deal of anxiety. —A.W. Tozer

A classic strategy in times of warfare is to dehumanize the enemy. No sooner has a conflict broken out than the two sides begin to refer to one another as animals rather than men, as mere creatures rather than human beings. It is difficult to harm another person and abnormal to kill one. Our humanity naturally rebels against it. But the challenge becomes easier when the enemy soldier is an animal instead of a man. After all, it is human beings rather than animals who have particular rights and dignities.

Similarly, a classic strategy in times of church conflict or theological debate is to demean the person who believes what you do not. Even if you do not quite regard the other person as an animal, you can regard him as a heretic or an enemy of the faith, as something other than a Christian. If the strategy of military leaders is to make their soldiers regard the enemy as less than human, the strategy of many believers is to regard their theological enemies as less than Christian. After all, the Bible provides clear instructions about the love, respect, and honor we owe to our fellow Christians. We permit ourselves to circumvent such instructions when the other person is an apostate or unbeliever.
In times of conflict or debate among those who profess the Christian faith, it is crucial to relate to others rightly. It is crucial to bear in mind who this person is and how God calls us to relate to him.
We need to bear in mind that this person is a human being. He has been created by God in the image of God and deserves all the dignity that comes with this highest of honors. God made man a little lower than the angels but much higher than any other created being. Of man alone he said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” To man alone he gave the creation mandate and dominion over this earth. God regarded man as a special creature and one of special worth. Surely we ought to do the same.
And then we must also consider that this person is God’s child. Not only has he been created by God in the image of God, but he has been saved by Jesus Christ and is being re-created in his image. He was loved by God before the ages began, saved by God when Christ died for his sins, and indwelled by God when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He has been adopted into God’s family and rightly considers God his Father. He is no longer under the dominion of Satan but is within the family of God—he is a precious child of our Heavenly Father.
That being the case, we need to also consider that this person is a brother. He is not a brother in a casual sense as if we are members of the same fan club or enthusiasts of the same hobby. He is a brother in a sense that is even more profound and longer-lasting than biology. We have the same Father and are therefore members of the same family—a family that has been called out of all humanity to be loved by God and to display the glory of God. The love, loyalty, and honor we owe to him is that of a brother to a brother.
And then we also need to consider that we will be in relationship with one another for all of eternity. The relationship we have now will continue past death and into endless life beyond. Of course it will be perfected and all will be reconciled and forgiven when we pass from earth to heaven. But there is a long and glorious future between us, a future in which we will live together forever, brothers who have been justified and glorified. God’s calling on all of us is to enact that relationship now, to begin to live on earth as if we were in heaven, to demonstrate heavenly virtues during our earthly lives.
And so in times of disagreement and times of debate, we must be careful to relate to one another in the ways God commands. We owe it to them and we owe it to Him to afford one another all the patience a human being deserves, all the dignity a child of God deserves, all the respect a brother deserves, and all the love deserved by a friend with whom we will spend all of eternity.

Good morning. May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

There is another little batch of new Kindle deals for those who may be interested.
Is Work Good?
“Here’s a quick word association test: What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word work? Go ahead and think about it. Regardless of your answer, I’m guessing that few of us would respond with the word good. We don’t tend to think of work as good, but rather as difficult, frustrating, and exhausting.”
Loaves and Casserole Dishes: Will Church Cookbooks Survive?
Do you remember the church cookbook? I enjoyed reading this article from CT where they ask whether it’s likely to survive.
Introducing Eikon 5.2 (Fall 2023)
CBMW has released a new edition of their journal Eikon. This edition focuses on masculinity and features articles from James M. Hamilton Jr., Richard D. Phillips, Kevin DeYoung, Alexander Strauch, and Kyle Claunch. It also offers quite a number of book reviews.
What Happened at ETS 2023?
I don’t go to ETS so always enjoy Denny Burk’s annual roundups of some of what happened there. What happens in the academy eventually finds its way to the pew.
The Goal of Our Instruction
Betty-Anne Van Rees: “When a hurting or struggling soul reaches out for care, they generally have one thing in mind—relief. We empathize. Haven’t we all felt the angst of longing for life to be somehow less difficult than it is? Less conflict, less cruelty, less inner turmoil, less pain, just less suffering. As helpers, it’s easy to get caught up in working toward that relief. What circumstances can we change that will alleviate the struggle? A different job? A new neighborhood or church? Cut ties with that difficult friend? Won’t this help?”
This & Tat in a Christian Bookshop
Paul Levy reflects on an alarming visit to a Christian bookshop. “The issue I think with my visit to the bookshop is the issue of God’s weightiness. The Christian gospel is gloriously simple and joyful and yet it is not light and weightless. God is our Father, yes, but he is also in Heaven. His glory should weigh heavily upon us. The bible is wonderfully clear but there is also a glorious depth to it. We mustn’t be content with a superficial understanding of our faith.”
Flashback: Helpful Things You Can Say to Grieving Parents
It can be awkward to reach out to those who are deep in grief. It can be hard to know what to say and easy to believe that our words are more likely to offend than comfort, to make a situation worse rather than better. We sense that our words ought to be few, but also that the worst thing to say is nothing at all.

A home, and not a grave, is the true ending of our earthly life; we depart, not to be, as we say, ‘dead’, but really to live. —P.B. Power