Ray Stedman on Jeremiah 20-22: So it is a number of years later, and Zedekiah, weakest of all the kings of Judah and the last of the line, is now on the throne. Nebuchadnezzar is sending up another army against Jerusalem, the city is under siege, and king Zedekiah now sends a hasty word to … More God is not a heavenly genie
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a … More Unsatisfied until we find our satisfaction in God alone
Today in our read-through-the-Bible plan, we come to Isaiah 49-50. Here is a helpful article from Marshall Segal of Desiring God: Spiritually, we struggle to make sense of our surroundings. The eyes of our heart squint, searching for even a fragment of the light of Christ. In those days (or weeks, or years), we will … More He knows the words you need to hear
Like a pendulum, when we think about our future, many of us tend to swing between two opposite and wrong ends. Sometimes we worry over the future and what it holds…will we have a job? Will we have enough to eat? Will I get cancer? We fret as if we do not remember that we … More Swinging like a pendulum or trusting in God’s purpose?
Today we come to Isaiah 46-48 in our read-through-the-Bible plan. Here are helpful words from John Piper in an article, “Biblical Texts to Show God’s Zeal for His Own Glory” Probably no text in the Bible reveals the passion of God for his own glory more clearly and bluntly as Isaiah 48:9-11 where God says, … More God’s Passion for His Own Glory
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. —Isaiah 41:10, part of our Bible reading plan today. Here is some encouragement from John Piper, in … More The crucial factor in fearless living
John Piper, in a sermon, “Prayer and the Victory of God” helps us understand Isaiah 37, part of our Bible reading plan today. Now to fix this truth vividly in your minds—that the victory of God is coming and that it is coming by means of our prayers—look with me at Isaiah 37 and one … More The Stunning Effect of Prayer Illustrated
O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. At the tumultuous noise peoples flee; when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon. The Lord is … More Ultimate stability in unstable times
When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” —Luke 22:53 (verses 47-53 in our reading plan) J.C. Ryle comments on Luke 22:53– …the time during which evil is permitted to triumph is fixed and limited … More God’s absolute and complete sovereignty
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.—Isaiah 30:18 (Reading plan is Isaiah 29-30) John Piper’s introduction and conclusion of a sermon, “Battling the Unbelief of Impatience,” Impatience … More Piper: Impatience is a form of unbelief.
