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Ezekiel 33:11
“I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked!” (Ezekiel 33:11) What a glorious declaration from God that death and destruction need not be inevitable. There is a way of life, a restoration of hope that is certain and it begins with God. We must know that God is
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From night of sorrow to morning of joy
Ezekiel 33 has drawn my attention recently and so I would like to share, in two posts, insights gleaned from Patrick Fairbairn’s The Vision’s of Ezekiel. The calamity, so often foretold and warned against, has come; and he must now address himself to the more agreeable task of reviving the hopes
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The purpose of world history
We think of history in human-centered categories and for our small schemes. The glory of the Christian truth is the enlarging and unifying understanding of and goal for world history it provides. Dutch-reformed theologian, Herman Bavinck wrote concerning this in his book The Sacrifice of Praise which are meditations for preparing
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“Beyond all human union”
Charles Spurgeon provided a gem of a thought in this morning’s (July 22) morning meditation in Morning and Evening based on Jeremiah 3:14, “I am married unto you.” First he sets forth the wondrous fulfillment of the marriage reality in the eternal union between Christ and His people. …for in
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“The impulse of their hearts”
Every true Christian will confess the truth. This is not merely their calling by god but also the “impulse of their hearts”! Herman Bavinck has written wondrously about the biblical truth and doctrines – not merely to be admired intellectually but to be confessed publicly! Confession is not a burden
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No perfect church unity here below
The reality of church disunity, division, schism is unmistakable and can be a blight on the Name and cause of Christ. A legitimate question we must consider is “what degree of unity among churches should we strive for in this world?” The puritan, Richard Baxter, addresses this question in the
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A common sentiment about doing good
Well meaning Christians can focus their efforts on the spiritual concerns of their own heart. Richard Baxter addresses this nicely in the following excerpt, One, and the better, is some religious people who think that their business is only with God and their own hearts, and that if they could
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Doing good to body and soul
I am a pastor and view the calling of being a “physician of souls” very highly. We must not, however, allow a high view of the ministry to lead us to denigrate the physical and material needs of people. In the words of Richard Baxter, Do as much good as
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Pastors who do good
I very much enjoy the writings of the Puritan pastor Richard Baxter (1615-1691) whether The Reformed Pastor and The Saints’ Everlasting Rest or a work I came across recently How to Do Good to Many I have always been intrigued by and desirous to perform – though regrettably, less effective in carrying out
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Christian submission
Revisiting Girolamo Zanchi and his The Spiritual Marriage Between Christ and His Church he unpacks the duties of husbands and wives and emphasizes the demand of submission for the wife. The spiritual side of submission is expounded with regard to faith and repentance in the following paragraphs. With regard to the submission