J.C. Ryle: This is better than all other gifts and knowledge…a rare and precious gift.

J.C. Ryle comments on Matthew 8:5-13 We know little about the centurion described in these verses. His name, his nation, his past history, are all hidden from us. But one thing we know, and that is, that he believed. “Lord,” he says, “I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the … More J.C. Ryle: This is better than all other gifts and knowledge…a rare and precious gift.

Piper: look at your life, think hard about what you are doing, and get ruthless about what stays and what goes.

John Piper, on Hebrews 12 One more illustration: in Hebrews 12:12-13 the writer says, “Strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” He is talking in … More Piper: look at your life, think hard about what you are doing, and get ruthless about what stays and what goes.

Piper: Having true faith in God is no guarantee of comfort and security in this life.

John Piper, in a sermon on Hebrews 11:29-38, “Faith to Be Strong and Faith to Be Weak” God does not always work miracles and acts of providence for our deliverance from suffering; sometimes by faith God sustains his people through sufferings. That’s the point of verses 35b-38. Or another way to put it would be … More Piper: Having true faith in God is no guarantee of comfort and security in this life.

Faith is a spiritual act that sees the fingerprints of God.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. —Hebrews 11:1-3 John … More Faith is a spiritual act that sees the fingerprints of God.