John Piper, an Advent Poem from 1984 Ezekiel sat stunned and cold. The word that he had just been told Converted every large complaint He ever made into a faint Concern. No pain would be absurd, He thought, if this one word Of God could be withdrawn tonight, “I would engage in any fight For … More Weep not, great seer, for me nor you
1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. John Piper comments: What is the main value of light? Negatively, it helps you avoid danger. Positively, it helps you reach what you are after. When you … More No Hidden Agenda, No Small Print
Exodus 34:6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s … More How can these two texts keep from contradicting each other?
John Piper, in an introduction to a sermon on 2 Peter 1, “Destruction is not Sleeping” And now comes chapter 2, and a very significant change in Peter’s approach. I say a change in his approach, not his goal. His goal is still to make us firm and stable and unshakable in our faith. But … More 2 Peter: Chapter 1 is the carrot, chapter 2 is the crack of the whip over our heads.
Job lost everything: his wealth, his health, and his ten children. All swept away in one satanic storm. Reduced to a heap of flesh, ashes, and tears—rebuked by friends and jeered by strangers—righteous Job wrestled over the purpose and presence of God in the midst of unbearable pain. In this book, John Piper recounts the … More Wrestling with the purpose of God in suffering
John Piper, from Part 1 of a sermon series on Job, “Reverent in Suffering”: Did you notice that in the two heavenly scenes God handed Job over to Satan’s power? But when Satan had done his work of taking Job’s wealth and family, Job said in 1:21, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken … More Ultimate Sovereignty in God’s Hands, not Satan’s
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having … More Power and Promises
What can we learn about God this month as we read through the book of Job? In chapter 1 we read: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan … More Learning About God in Calamity
Think about how would you react if you applied to be a missionary and the missions agency told you: You are going to a very tough, hard place. This people group is rebellious and difficult. In fact, they have been double-crossing God all along. They are stubborn and offensively bold and shameless in their sin. … More When the going gets tough…
John Piper, in a sermon, “Are You Humble Enough to Be Care-free?” Did you notice (in the NASB) the grammatical connection between [1Peter] verses 6 and 7? “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares … More Piper: “undue worry about your future is probably a form of pride.”
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 