While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. —Ezra 10:1 Steven J. Cole comments: Ezra was prostrating himself and praying “before the house of God” (10:1). Shecaniah … More Repenting and Confessing
Here is a rather long quote from a sermon by J. Ligon Duncan III on 1 Timothy 5:1-15, “Caring For the Church” Now this is a strange passage, isn’t it? It doesn’t have the feel of I Timothy 1,2,3, and 4. The personal nature of Paul’s interaction with Timothy is for the moment set aside, … More The church is to be a place of mutual accountability
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7 John Piper, on Luke 15:1-10, in a sermon “The Happiest Days of Heaven”- The Ninety-Nine Finally, consider the worship of the ninety-nine who are already in the … More More joy in heaven
Proverbs 7 contains some strong words of warning for those who think they somehow are the exception to the rules of wisdom- verse 7: I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, verse 23: as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. … More Words of warning
Steven J. Cole comments on Ezra 9: Because we are so desensitized toward sin, we fail to have the proper response toward it, whether it is our own sin, or sin in others. We minimize it, justify it, or ignore it and go on our way unaffected by it. If we see someone reacting in … More What is the godly reaction to sin?
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. John Piper, in a sermon, “Let No One Despise You For Your Youth” This is one of Paul’s words to the younger Timothy who needed to be reminded that … More Low expectations of the impact of your life toward those who are older?
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26 J.C. Ryle comments: We learn, firstly, from … More Grace and Collisions of Opinion
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and … More Forsake not your mother’s teaching
Ezra was ashamed to ask King Artaxerxes for an escort because he previously had told him, The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him. (Ezra 8:22) Almost as if Ezra knew Romans 8:28 says, And we know that for those … More Trusting God and His Goodness
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery … More “Proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world”
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 