That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure!
~Stuart Townend
… See MoreSee Less
"How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory."
~Stuart Townend
… See MoreSee Less
DAILY STRUGGLE
Dear Christian, even though we daily struggle against sin, which is a sign of spiritual life and growth, we need to realize that we've been redeemed by Christ (Eph. 1:7; Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21), who promises to never let us be separated from the love of God (Rom. 8:39), to never let us be snatched out of His hand (John 10:28), to continue the work which He began in us (Phil. 1:6), to preserve us (1 Peter 1:5; Jude vs. 1), who also “works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). He also promises that we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Phil. 4:13). Considering all this, walk in thankfulness, rejoice in and meditate upon God’s precious promises given to His redeemed children who are progressively being sanctified into Christ's image. This is how we combat discouragement in the Christian life.
—Pastor S. Henry
… See MoreSee Less
GOD’S GRACE
“You were created to be dependent. God welcomes your dependency with His grace, so why would you want to go it on your own? Going it on your own simply does not work. The self-made man is always poorly made. Here is an argument for how much we need God’s grace. It takes an act of God’s grace to release us from our bondage to these lies so that we will confess our need for God’s grace and then seek the grace that is our only hope in life and death. It really does take God's grace to know how much you need God’s grace.”
—Paul David Tripp
… See MoreSee Less
A WORD TO PARENTS
"Parents, and not Sunday School teachers, are divinely required to educate their little ones. Nor is this to be an occasional or sporadic thing, but one that is to have constant attention. The glorious character of God, the requirements of His holy law, the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the wondrous gift of His Son, and the fearful doom which is the certain portion of all who despise and reject Him, are to be brought repeatedly before the minds of the little ones. They are too young to understand such things" is the devil’s argument to deter you from discharging your duty. Neither husband nor wife can throw on the other all the responsibility for the religious character of the home. The mother is most certainly required to supplement the efforts of the father, for the children enjoy far more of her company than they do of his."
—AW Pink
… See MoreSee Less
A LIFE-LONG PROCESS
The Holy Spirit is moment by moment molding and shaping believers into Christ's image (2 Cor. 4:16). This work of sanctification is a life-long process. That's why we still find ourselves struggling against sin in this life, even though we are walking by faith in Jesus Christ. "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do" (Galatians 5:16-17). However, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:1, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Take hope in the person and work of Jesus. "He has washed us with His blood, He has brought us near to God."
—Pastor S. Henry
… See MoreSee Less
WORK IN PROGRESS
The Christian is a continual work in progress, and even our giving of thanks to God leaves much to be desired. Nevertheless, the Potter is continually and constantly molding and shaping us, His clay, into the image of His dear Son, Jesus Christ. This work of sanctification, which can also be termed the Christianizing of the Christian, is a life-long process. That's why we still find ourselves struggling against sin in this life, even though we are walking by faith in Jesus Christ.
Martin Luther said that believers in this life are “simul justus et peccator”, a Latin phrase meaning “simultaneously righteous and sinful.” The Apostle Paul lamented the fact that the things he wanted to do he found himself not doing, and the things he did not want to do he found himself doing. He teaches in Romans 7 the fact that sin is with us at every turn, the redeemed of Jesus Christ who desire to love God and delight in obeying His commandments. However, because we are justified by Christ and declared not guilty by God on account of Christ’s perfection, we are not condemned when we daily fall short in our lives and slip into disobedience from time to time as children of God. Take comfort in the truth that your righteous standing before God is not your performance, but Christ's work on your behalf. Trust Jesus!
—Pastor S. Henry
… See MoreSee Less