Entries from January 2007 ↓

Wow, life moves by fast and I have trouble keeping up. I feel like Christ teaches me something new everyday, which can be overwhelming at times, but also very encouraging. The last two weeks have been so full of events, tasks, and responsibilities, but also fulfilling in that I have learned so much.

Last week, we had our Truth & Life Conference, at which I heard some amazing sermons. The theme was on the glory of the Cross and really challenged me to think on how the cross of Jesus is central to the gospel and thus central to our lives.

I have been meditating and marinating much on “Looking Only to Christ.” I have been reminded much of the illustration of our Christian lives being a race. Hebrews 12:1-2 speaks of this race and tells us that we must consider the example those who have gone ahead of us in faith, lay aside everything which stands in our way whether it be sin or not, and to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The author of Hebrews throughout the whole book is concerned with how we run the race, not just that we are running it. With that in mind, what must characterize our run is a moment by moment, unflinching, rentless gazing upon our Savior. My ultimate concern in this race of life is the One who has enabled me to run and who has gone before me. He is the forerunner (Hebrews 6:20) and He is the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Christ has already finished the race perfectly and now He stands at the finish line calling all of His elect to run with endurance. “Don’t give up!” He shouts. “Run and look to me for I have given myself to redeem and I will take you to the end of this race.” I must listen to voice of my Forerunner and run with everything that I have.

This principle is not something that you hear in the pew and then walk out the door into life and neglect it. It has direct and immediate application to us. The race that I run is not only during church, chapel, or quiet times. I run a race that is 24/7 and every moment of that must be spent looking only to Christ. I must fight to keep my eyes set on Jesus and to run without holding back. Why? Because I believe Jesus is worth it.

Here is an article on some practical suggestions for what NOT to blog about. Check it out:

Things You Should Avoid Blogging About

The topic headings are:

• Nobody Cares About My Stupid Cat
• I’m Too Busy To Blog. So What?
• Nobody Is Commenting! Poor Me.
• I Hate My Future In-Laws
• My Hourly Diary

An RD at the Master’s College, named Gunner, recently put up a great post on his blog, Raw Christianity on how often we try “to be profound or penetrating or eye-opening or informative or memorable or edgy or persuasive or funny or just clear (which is hard enough).” He has some very insightful thoughts on how to blog and write humbly for our King.

Here is another quote from it: “We have to be very careful. In the past I’ve sometimes realized that I’m writing paragraphs that are more flowery than they are true, sentences that are more clever than they are humble, and words that resonate with the flesh but erode true godly affections.”

You can find it here: The Scourge of Cleverness

I found this word from Charles Spurgeon very timely for me tonight. I pray that it ignites something in your heart as well. It is his commentary on Colossians 4:2.

A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honor of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love. Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”

Preachers must not come to dally and to play with men’s fancies, nor with their own wit; but when they come to speak the Word of God, in God’s name, they should labor to speak it so that the hearts of their listeners may be struck with fear and trembling. For, indeed, there is such a way of speaking the Word of God that will bring it with majesty to the hearts of the people to whom we speak.

I remember reading of a man named Tully, who spoke so powerfully that he made Caesar’s book fall out of his hands. And, certainly, if Tully could do so with his eloquence, there is that power and eloquence in the Word of God as will make the lusts of men fall out of their hearts. The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God, to the casting down of strongholds, and proud imaginations that cast themselves against God and His truth. There is a power in God’s Word; men are mighty through God. Not being carnal according to the flesh but spiritual, they come to be able to cast down the proud imagination and to make them tremble before the Lord.

Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646) in his book Gospel Fear