The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9: 10 Randy Alcorn, of Eternal Perspective Ministries: In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, volume I of The Chronicles of Narnia, one of the children asks Mr. and Mrs. Beaver about Aslan the … More We all must fear. But if you fear God, you need fear no one and nothing else.
Nehemiah 1:4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, … More Prayer from a deep reservoir of faith
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18 ESV Ray Stedman, in a sermon “Help for Elders” based … More Elders and Oxen
Look! [He says to his father] For so many years I have been serving you, and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a kid, that I might be merry with my friends. John Piper, in a sermon, “The Blinding Effects of Serving God”- Up till now … More A doctor with a cure, not an employer with a labor shortage
David Porter posted this at “Boomer in the Pew”- Proverb’s personification of God’s wisdom, as Lady Wisdom, is at first a little perplexing. Proverbs 8:4-5 –“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. To see God’s character personified, and … More Perplexing Personification
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?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 