J. C. Ryle reminds us of a key truth in Matthew 13:1-223, our passage for today. Jesus tells the parable of the sower. Like the sower, the preacher CANNOT GIVE LIFE. He can scatter the seed committed to his charge, but cannot command it to grow. He may offer the word of truth to a … More J. C. Ryle: To give life is God’s sovereign prerogative.
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, … More Worship God!
John Piper, in a sermon on Job 42, “Job:Reversal in Suffering” Neither bad theology (in the words of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) nor good theology (in the words of Elihu) gives us the knowledge of God which changes a person’s heart. “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8). There is a knowledge … More Job Tasted and Saw That the Lord Is Good
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25 J.C. Ryle wraps up our reading of John: As much of Christ’s sayings and doings is recorded as the mind … More “…many other things that Jesus did”
John Piper, in a sermon “The Sun of Righteousness Will Rise” from Malachi: Here is a prophet writing 450 years before Jesus but full of expectation that the Messiah is coming. In 3:1 he says, “The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight; … More Five Pictures of What the Coming of Jesus Means
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my … More I am the Alpha and the Omega
Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were … More Self-Effort or Spiritual Power
“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.” John Piper unpacks this text from Zechariah: Zechariah promises the people that at some future time a fountain would be opened which would take away their sin and guilt. I … More The fountain of cleansing is the first checkpoint on the road to heaven.
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27-28 J. C. Ryle comments at GraceGems.org We should mark, lastly, in these verses, how Christ was addressed … More My Lord and my God
Job 41:5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls? I really appreciate the sarcastic humor we find in the Bible. In Job 41, God is asking Job if he would like to bring this creature, called a leviathan, home as a pet and play with … More A pet for Job?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 