An excerpt from A Call To Prayer, by Bishop J.C. Ryle.
“I repeat distinctly, that backsliding generally first begins with neglect of private prayer.
Bishop J.C. Ryle 1816-1900
Bibles read without prayer; sermons heard without prayer; marriages contracted without prayer; journeys undertaken without prayer; residences chosen without prayer; friendships formed without prayer; the daily act of private prayer itself hurried over, or gone through without heart: these are the kind of downward steps by which many a Christian descends to a condition of spiritual palsy, or reaches the point where God allows him to have a tremendous fall. This is the process which forms the lingering Lots, the unstable Samsons, the wife-idolizing Solomons, the inconsistent Asas, the pliable Jehoshaphats, the over-careful Marthas, of whom so many are to be found in the church of Christ. Often the simple history of such cases is this: they became Careless about private prayer.
You may be very sure men fall in private long before they fall in public. They are backsliders on their knees long before they backslide openly in the eyes of the world. Like Peter, they first disregard the Lord’s warning to watch and pray, then like Peter, their strength is gone, and in the hour of temptation they deny their Lord.
The World takes notice of their fall, and scoffs loudly. But the world knows nothing of the real reason. The heathen succeeded in making a well-known Christian offer incense to a idol, by threatening him with a punishment worse than death. They then triumphed greatly at the sight of his cowardice and apostasy. But the heathen did not know the fact of which history informs us, that on that very morning he had left his bed chamber hastily, and without finishing his usual prayers.
If you are a Christian indeed, I trust you will never be a backslider. But if you do not wish to be a backsliding Christian, remember the question I ask you: Do you pray?”
Over the past few days Jefferson Bethke’s video, “Why I hate religion but love Jesus,” has made its rounds on Facebook, the Blogosphere and other social networking sites. I will admit to appreciating certain elements of the video but also having a great struggle with much that Bethke has to say. Kevin DeYoung wrote a very well articulated and gracious critique of the video which put words to my own concerns. You can find that review and the original video here.
Thankfully that was not the end of the story. Bethke contacted DeYoung in response to DeYoung’s review of the video. The exchange produced not only a friendship but also an opportunity for grace and discipleship to occur. DeYoung shares the rest of the story here. May God be glorified!
Our family has its traditions, things we have developed over the past nearly 12 years of marriage and nine and half years of child rearing. Perhaps the tradition I pleasure in most is our evening schedule of books and devotions. We are easily enthralled by a good story. In fact, if one of us were not equally passionate about a consistent bedtime, stories would go on well into the night.
Occasionally a product comes along which blends story time and family devotions in a special way. One such product is The Building on the Rock Series edited by Dr. Joel R. Beeke and Diana Kleyn and published by Christian Focus Publications.
This series has five books each with 26 to 36 stories of varying length which can easily be used nightly for about five months without repetition, although, in our case the boys were delighted to have a story for morning devotions as well. In the first volume, Beeke and Kleyn explain that “All of the Christian stories contained in these books are based on true happenings,” and as such they add to the excitement of coming to the resolution of each story. Each story ends with a few devotional questions and Scripture references to look up and read with your children.
In the back of each book there are a series of indexes, such as Prayer Points, Scripture Index, and Answers to Questions. The answers to devotional questions are helpful just in case one finds it difficult to provide answers to the child(ren). The authors describe Prayer Points as:
“…written as helps to prayer and are not to be used as prayers themselves. Reading these pointers should help the child or the family to think about issues connected with the story that need prayer in their own life, the life of their church or the world. Out of the two prayer points written for each story, one prayer point is written specifically for those who have saving faith while the other point is written in such a way that both Christians and non-believers will be brought to pray about their sinful nature and perhaps ask God for His salvation or thank Him for His gift of it.”
There are two themes in each volume so that in the course of reading these books with your children 10 major themes will be covered.
While these are the broad themes of each volume, the child is actually learning the nature of God and man. Through these stories the child finds God to be a trustworthy and consistent God full of all power and all knowledge yet merciful and gracious. The stories glorify the God of all creation who has a good and perfect plan and who is willing and able to carry out His plan in the lives of His creation. The stories show God who is swift to destroy the wicked and yet patient with sinners whom He loves. These and many more attributes of our great God are played out on the pages of The Building on the Rock Series.
While the true nature of God is being demonstrated to your children, the true nature of mankind is played out as well. Stories need not be graphic in any negative sense to convey the depth of depravity which resides in the heart of every natural born person. Therefore, from the small child in “Becky’s Prayer” who asks her mother “Mommy, am I born to die?” to “The Little Chimney Sweep’s Prayer”: “God be merciful to me a sinner,” your children learn that they too need the mercy of God in their lives.
The stories throughout this series provide a great springboard for the gospel and discipleship in the lives of children. In this series, you and your child will be confronted with the real substance of life and the fact that we have a great God.
When I was a freshman in college I remember attending a conference with a little known theologian named R.C. Sproul. I remember having him sign my book I purchased (The Invisible Hand of God). As I approached the table timidly I felt the need to say something to this man whom I had just heard speak on God’s sovereignty. I stated how much I appreciated what he had to say on suffering and God’s providence. He smilingly looked at me and then signed and handed me back the book. I’m sure he must have thought this 19-year-old knew nothing of suffering. He would be right, but at the time, the recent divorce of my parents occupied my thoughts and rocked my world. The fact that God would be involved and in control of such a tragic event in my life was an idea I had not given much thought. Sproul’s words encouraged me as he pointed to Scripture and the story of Joseph. He showed how, though never the author of sin, God does control the good and the evil. He is all sovereign God. Honestly, I didn’t finish Sproul’s book until a few years ago when I uncovered it from a box left in storage, but it was a reminder of God’s total control of all things.
In a similar way, NancyGuthrie’s Be Still, My Soul: Embracing God’s Purpose & Provision in Sufferingserves as an excellent source for Christians, especially those experiencing suffering. As one who suffered the loss of two of her children, Guthrie cogently brings together classic and contemporary writings on the problem of pain. From Jonathan Edwards to John Piper, each essay and excerpt sheds biblical light onto the path of suffering and trials.
Trials, be they emotional, physical or spiritual (or all), consistently remind us of our state in a fallen world. Trials of all kinds shout to us amplified as though through a “megaphone”; “the megaphone of pain is a loud one” (Yancey, 26). They abruptly call us to quit being distracted and to turn to Him who made us; to recognize and rejoice that His ways are not our ways. Whether you are in the midst of a difficulty or are enjoying a period of refreshment, this small anthology is worthwhile. Guthrie has carefully chosen solid writings full of biblical encouragement. I imagine she has pored over these texts during her personal trials and compiled the writings to comfort others with the comfort she has received (2 Cor. 1:4). The work divides the essays into 3 categories: God’s Perspective on Suffering, God’s Purpose in Suffering and God’s Provision in Suffering. The words in each work are challenging and redirect our emotions of despair to the solid rock of Jesus Christ.
I remember years ago reading a popular devotional on trials. It was helpful at the time, but later I found it to be filled with trite quotes that were more emotional based rather than on the Word. Though we don’t come to such times without emotions (despair is an emotion!), the balm we seek is biblical truth. Christ and his truth heal the broken-hearted. This collection by Guthrie certainly brings Christ and His Word to the forefront. The authors draw from a multitude of scripture such as the often quoted Psalm 23 or the Romans 8:18 passage, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Other commentaries such as one on Habakkuk by Wilson Benton, Jr. cause us to stay our whys and know that the just shall live by faith (Hab. 2:4). The writings in these works remind us that “[o]ut of the worst thing that ever happened in the world, God brought the greatest triumph ever known in this world – your salvation and my salvation the deliverance of all his people” (Benton, 60). We find encouragement that “[t]he deepest need that you and I have in weakness and adversity is not quick relief, but the well-grounded confidence that what is happening to us is part of the greatest purpose of God in the universe – the glorification of the grace and power of his Son-the grace and power that bore him to the cross and kept him there until the work of love was done. That’s what God is building into our lives. That is the meaning of weakness, insults, hardships, persecution, calamity” (Piper, 152).
In 1678 a tinker and non-conformist pastor published what would become one of the most monumental works in the history of literature. A volume which was produced by a man with virtually no formal education whom had spent many of his adult years in prison for preaching the gospel via the Word of God rather than by the dictates of the English church. The Pilgrim’s Progress has given the world not just and extraordinary picture of the Christian life, but has enhanced the vocabulary of the world. Words and phrases such as “muck-rake” and “Vanity Fair” come into common use in the English language due to The Pilgrim’s Progress.
I had been watching with interest this week as my nine year old son worked his way through Bunyans work. We talked through each of the struggles that is met along the way. It was one of these that got me to thinking this week, that of “Vanity Fair”. In Bunyan’s book young Christian and his traveling companion come upon a town known as Vanity. In Vanity was a fair which continued on without end. It was a fair upon which all the vanities of life were celebrated. To quote Bunyan:
“Therefore at this fair are all such merchandise sold as houses, lands, trades, places, honors, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, as whores, bawds, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not. And, moreover, at this fair there are at all times to be seen , jugglings, cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves and rogues, and that of every kind.”
The people of Vanity fair cared only for the foolish things of this world, and hated the truth which would lead them to God.
On Thursday evening one of the longest term writers for the magazine Vanity Fair died. Christopher Hitchens died at the age of 62 after battling cancer for the past 18 months. Hitchens was a famous and vocal atheist, though his brother Peter has long since abandoned atheism for faith in Christ. Peter writes about that struggle here, and about the loss of his brother here.
Three other posts on Hitchens bear mentioning before moving on. Justin Taylor writes an excellent post here, John Piper writes an compelling piece here, and Douglas Wilson writes a very good piece here. The posts by Taylor and Wilson dovetail nicely as Taylor ads video of Hitchens and Wilson debating, and Wilson writes from the perspective of one who genuinely cared for his adversary.
Back at Vanity Fair long time friend and associate of Christopher, wrote the official Memoriam for the magazine. It is a well written piece and well worth reading. As I read Carter’s piece I was struck by two phrases, which Carter obviously uses with great intentionality.
“Christopher Hitchens was a wit, a charmer, and a troublemaker, and to those who knew him well, he was a gift from, dare I say it, God. “
and
“Christopher Hitchens will be remembered for the millions of words he left behind. They are his legacy. And, God love him, it was his will.”
Christopher, or “one who bears Christ”, was a likable man. Christopher was a brilliant man. Yet the record of his life provides weighty evidence that Christopher was a fool. In the book of Psalms we read:
Over the past year we have seen the death of some famous individuals. From the malevolent Osama Bin Laden to the brilliant Steve Jobs and now Hitchens, all three of whom in life denied the only hope of salvation, Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God.
Perhaps in my wandering thoughts I struggle with how many in my own little world deal with such death. Some eulogize with great passion the glory of God in the death of the wicked. They picture God as taking pleasure in eternally stoking the fires of Hell under such as these. Is this how we should look at such death?
The ESV Study Bible gives this note: ” The Bible is clear that God will punish sin and vindicate his holiness and justice. At the same time, God feels sorrow over the punishment and death of creatures created in his image.”
Therein we find the key to dealing with the issue of death. We are created in the image of God. Christopher Hitchens was an image bearer of God. Perhaps he more than many others felt the weight of that in that his very name was a reminder of this fact. As an image bearer he rejected the very one who formed him, and lived his life in opposition to God.
Regardless of how we feel about his life choices however, one who was created in the image of God has left his body of flesh and entered eternity. Death is not natural, death is not right. It will one day be destroyed by God forever, but for now it is a reminder of sin, punishment and eternity.
How do we as Christians deal with death?
We grieve.
We mourn the loss of the image bearers of the King.
We look forward to eternity with the Triune God, an eternity in which death is no more.
We rejoice in our salvation, that we are not condemned to an eternity of suffering for sin, both that of Adam and that which we commit ourselves.
We pray that the Sovereign God of all would open the eyes of the blind that they may see Him and give glory to the Father in heaven.
Matt Redman once wrote and recorded a song called “fearfully and wonderfully made”. The song intro blends the ultrasound of a babies beating heart with music and then leads with the words: “So fearfully and wonderfully made, how can they say ‘there is not God!” How true, the very heavens declare His glory!
Today I am grieved that an image bearer of the Great God of all glory and honor chose to muck in the things of Vanity Fair rather than to live for the one thing will not fade away.
The following excerpt is from The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes, an influential figure in the Puritan movement during the early years of the seventeenth century. May it be an encouragement and reminder that we cannot, even in thought, rely upon our own strength.
Let us know, therefore, that it is dangerous to look for that from ourselves which we must have from Christ. Since the fall, all our strength lies in him, as Samson’s in his hair (Judg. 16:17). We are but subordinate agents, moving as we are moved, and working as we are first wrought upon, free in so far as we are freed, no wiser nor stronger than he makes us to be for the present in anything we undertake. It is his Spirit who actuates and enlivens, and applies that knowledge and strength we have, or else it fails and lies useless in us. We work when we work from a present strength; therefore dependent spirits are the wisest and the ablest. Nothing is stronger than humility, which goes out of itself, or weaker than pride, which rests on its own foundation. Frustra nititur qui non innititur (He strives in vain who is not dependent). And this should be particularly observed because naturally we aspire to a kind of divinity, in setting about actions in the strength of our own abilities; whereas Christ says, ‘Without me ye’, the apostles, who were in a state of grace, ‘can do nothing’ (John 15:5). He does not say, you can do a little, but nothing. Of ourselves, how easily are we overcome! How weak we are to resist! We are as reeds shaken with every wind. We shake at the very noise and thought of poverty, disgrace or losses. We give in immediately. We have no power over our eyes, tongues, thoughts or affections, but let sin pass in and out. How soon we are overcome by evil, whereas we should overcome evil with good. How many good purposes stick in the birth, and have no strength to come forth – all which shows that we are nothing without the Spirit of Christ…Therefore in all, especially difficult encounters, let us lift up our hearts to Christ, who has Spirit enough for us all, in all our exigencies, and say with good Jehoshaphat, ‘We have no might…neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee’ (2 Chron. 20:12); the battle we fight is thine, and the strength whereby we fight must be thine. If thou goest not out with us, we are sure to be foiled. Satan knows that nothing can prevail against Christ, or those that rely upon his power. Therefore his study is how to keep us in ourselves, and in the creature. But we must carry this always in our minds, that that which is begun in self-confidence ends in shame.
Whenever I grumble, it affects my whole family. My mom used to say: “If my mouth doesn’t run, nothing around here ever gets done.” She liked her saying so much, she wrote it down and stuck it on the fridge. Pastor and theologian R.C. Sproul in jest said he and his children used to call his wife “she who must be obeyed.” Admittedly when I am in my “nobody-can-possibly-be-doing-as-much-as-I-am-to-keep-this-family-afloat” mentality, it seems like I am the only voice of reason. However, these are the times when usually (if I surrender the fleshly thoughts to God’s will) I am reminded of very convicting scripture such as Proverbs 21:9 “It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife” or Proverbs 27:15, “A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike”. Ouch, strong words! Even if I don’t actually complain out loud, when I harbor these feelings I am in the wrong, and I don’t know about anyone else, but I sure can sense when my thoughts and frustrations are leading to an eventual outburst of emotion. I know, you all thought I was perfect; sorry to disappoint.
I tend to thrive on order and routine. My husband, well… he likes the byproduct of order and routine. I believe God has intricately designed me and my husband to grow us as individuals and as a couple living for His glory. As Psalm 139:13-14 declares, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” In the sense of this passage, I am physically designed by an amazing Creator, and I am also set apart as His child to bring Him praise. That knitting is also used to teach and grow me, and many times (like when I start to grumble) I must step back and reflect upon who I am in Christ. Order and routine are good, but if I miss the point of my life as a reflection of God’s grace and glory, then my best, most well-laid plans amount to rubbish.
Genesis 2:18-25 describes the creation of Eve, the first woman. Verse 18 describes how it is “not good that the man should be alone.” The “helper fit for him” or corresponding to him is then created. She is his helpmeet and completer. Scores of books have been written on biblical womanhood and submission. I do not intend to expound upon such a subject when others have done a much better job. I will, however, state that if we, as women (and men) do not get this part right, i.e., our creation, then we miss everything. We are created by God, and as the Westminster Confession Shorter Catechism states, it is “to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever”. If that means as one who is married, then to His glory; if it means as one who is single, don’t waste it. Don’t squander your purpose living amongst “tares” and looking like weeds when you’re created to be “good seed” (Matthew 13:24-30); growing to glorify your Father in Heaven.
We must continue to learn how to glorify Christ and daily “die” to our selfish ways. We begin by knowing we are created by God and for God. In addition, for those who are married, we need to recognize and apply what Scripture states regarding marriage and biblical roles. Wives, we can’t decry our husbands for not leading our family when we don’t allow them to be in such a role; even if we think we can do our husband’s jobs better. Ephesians 5:22-33, Titus 2:3-5, and 1 Peter 3:1-7 are just a few passages delineating God’s plan for marriage as a reflection of Christ and the Church. The painting of this picture happens every day, and we either walk in the Spirit or in the flesh (Galatians 5:16-26); it’s either all about you or all about Jesus Christ. Proverbs 31:10 also says “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” May it be said far more often than the proverbial grumbling wife that we are precious in our husband’s eyes, living for our King.
I have greatly enjoyed and benefited from the blog J.C. RYLE QUOTES. Here is a taste of what you will get by either going there or getting a daily subscription sent to your e-mail. Enjoy!
You Are Never a Loser With Christ
26JUL
We may rest assured that no person shall ever be a real loser by following Christ. The believer may seem to suffer loss for a time, when they first begin the life of a decided Christian. They may be cast down by the afflictions that are brought upon them on account of their religion. But let them be rest assured that they will never find themselves a loser in the long run. Christ can raise up friends for us who shall more than compensate for those we lose. Christ can open hearts and homes to us, far more warm and hospitable than those that are closed against us. Above all, Christ can give us peace of conscience, inward joy, bright hopes, and happy feelings, which shall far outweigh every pleasant earthly thing that we have cast away for His sake. He has pledged His royal word that it shall be so. None ever found that word fail. Let us trust it, and not be afraid.
