All other books might be heaped together in one pile and burned with less loss to the world than would be occasioned by the obliteration of a single page of the sacred volume [Scripture]. At their best, all other books are but as gold leaf, requiring acres to find one ounce of the precious metal. But the Bible is solid gold. It contains blocks of gold, mines, and whole caverns of priceless treasure. In the mental wealth of the wisest men there are no jewels like the truths of revelation. The thoughts of men are vanity, low, and groveling at their best. but he who has given us this book has said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Let it be to you and to me a settled matter that the word of the Lord shall be honored in our minds and enshrined in our hearts. Let others speak as they may. We could sooner part with all that is sublime and beautiful, or cheering and profitable, in human literature than lose a single syllable from the mouth of God.

Here are a few summary thoughts as well as a book recommendation for your continued meditation:

• We were made to live forever with God.

• The feeling that things are “not as they were intended” is inescapable.  It is not a Christian thing.  It is a creation thing.  Everyone “gets it” on some level. As Tripp says, [paraphrased]  

Children aren’t supposed to grow up never knowing their biological parents.  Husbands and wives were not meant to leave one another in hurt and selfishness.  Boys and girls aren’t supposed to live in daily fear of the mockery of friends at school.  Pleasurable experiences aren’t supposed to have the power to addict us.  The world shouldn’t be scarred by violence and war. Your skin color shouldn’t be a reason for being rejected.  Human beings were not meant to use other human beings for their own pleasure.  Government was meant to protect people, not use people to consolidate its own power.  Human lives were not meant to be cut short by hunger, natural disaster, or disease.  Innocent peoples’ futures were not meant to be destroyed by political and financial scams.  Daughters were never meant to despise their mothers, or sons their fathers.  Brothers and sisters were never meant to spend their childhood years in daily conflict with one another.  The soil of the earth was never designed to grow weeds better than food or flowers.  No person was meant to go to sleep with tears or wake up with anxiety or dread. 

• Every longing for perfection is a longing for eternity with God.

• Jesus did not come ultimately to die for our sins.  He came ultimately to bring us back to God.  Sin was the cause, separation from God was the problem that was caused.  Jesus came to die for our sins so that he could ultimately bring us to God.  If he came simply to die for our sins then reforming our earthly lives would be his ultimate goal.  This would be a false gospel which would lead to despair.  We have hope because we are offered a different life, eternal life.  This life is not all there is!  

• While Christians experience real pain in this sin-cursed world (just like unbelievers), for us, the pain has meaning.  Like the pains of a new mother in child birth, the pain though very real, is an affirmation that what she has been told is accurate and she will indeed, after experiencing these pains, receive the promised expectation.

• Every earthly pain and heartache is a reminder that the gospel is true and that this is not how we were intended to live.   

I mentioned that much of our application from the message came from a book by Paul David Tripp entitled Forever: why you can’t live without it.  If you would like to consider these thoughts further you can purchase the book here.  

Chosen As His Children
Chosen by the Father’s mercy,
Set apart to serve His Son,
Sanctified by His own Spirit—
Praise the Holy Three in One!
Saved by resurrection power,
Shielded in His faithful love;
Now, no enemy can tarnish
My inheritance above!

Chorus:
I’m Born again!
I’m God’s own chosen child of mercy!
Born again! What love and grace!
Father, keep me walking worthy
‘Til I look upon Your face.

Led by wisdom into suff’ring,
Grieved by many trials below,
Yet rejoicing in His purpose,
That my faith as gold may glow.
Granted faith for overcoming,
Filled with love for Christ unseen;
Even angels cannot fathom
What salvation God will bring!

Fixed upon this hope completely,
As obedient children fear;
For the Holy One who called you
Purchased you with blood so dear.
Born anew from seed eternal,
By His lovingkindness spurred,
Lay aside all tasteless yearnings—
Crave the true and living Word!

Built on Christ, the sure foundation,
We are free from guilt and shame;
He is fitting us together
As a house to praise His name!
We are chosen as God’s people,
Called from darkness into light;
O what mercy now entreats us
To proclaim His glories bright!

Text by Paul Keew, drawing from 1 Peter 1:1-2:10.
© 2008 by Paul Keew. All rights reserved.

See first children’s video post here.

We are always looking for fresh ways to communicate the gospel to the little one’s in our home.  The Jesus Storybook Bible has been one of the most helpful resources we’ve found.  Now they have short promotional clips as well as the entire audio book is for sale.

This year I’m captivated with when the Christmas story truly began. Christmas is the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the promised one, who came to save mankind from eternal separation from God resulting from their sin.

But Scripture reveals that the Christmas story started long before mankind ever existed.

Jesus existed before all things were created and was involved in creating all things (John 1).  Scripture states, “we were chosen before the foundations of the world” (Ephesians. 1:4, 1 Peter 1:20).   So, in a sense, Christmas began in eternity-past, in the mind of God.  And so I find myself wondering,

“Why would God create mankind when he knew they would be treasonous and make themselves his enemy by sin?”

If God the Father knew it would cost him his Son and the Son knew he would hang on a tree bearing the weight of sin and the full wrath of the Father, why would God extend the gift of eternal friendship to any of mankind?  Why would he not just refuse the idea of such a creation?  Isn’t that what we would do?

This is one of the great wonders of Christmas;  God knowingly, created mankind and offered them mercy.  

That mercy was Jesus, packaged as fully human; a man, who could die and take the judgment of the law mankind had broken. A man, who could live and fulfill perfectly all the law demanded.  That mercy was also packaged as fully God; that he might make payment eternally for all of mankind’s sins, and once and for all, conquer the effects of sin (suffering, guilt, death), affirming by the resurrection that mankind  could again be in a forever friendship with God.

Why? Why would God do this?

That certainly is something to wonder about this Christmas season.  It is the wonder of the ages, the mystery of the gospel, and it never ceases to bend and reflect its light anew bringing fresh amazement to all who view it.

My  greatest wonder this Christmas?  

…that the idea of the gospel was ever retained (much less acted upon) by the mind of our infinitely merciful God.  

Nearly every Christian would affirm, even if he or she couldn’t express, that Christians are saved by God’s grace through their faith in Jesus Christ, apart from their own good works. But the place we most often see the muddling of grace and law is in the area of sanctification. The implicit idea seems to be that the gospel is our entry ticket, but Law keeps us in line for the ride. But this belief, Martin Luther says, is “as though Christ were a workman who had begun a building and left it for Moses to finish.”

With the authority of the God of the universe, Paul has this to say about such a concept: “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3).

Here’s another great resource for your family.  This just came out and is presently selling for $9.99.  That is  67% off the list price.  

This would make an excellent gift for any family with young children.  

You can purchase and preview the entire book here.  

During Advent, the period that begins four Sundays before Christmas, many Christians prepare their hearts to celebrate the miracle of God entering the world in human form. Advent began yesterday, November 27, and YouVersion.com, the Bible App, offer several topical and devotional Reading Plans to help you focus on the true meaning of Christmas:

1. Countdown to Christmas (29 days)
An Advent activity calendar that’s fun for the whole family

2. Rediscovering the Christmas Season (25 days)
Features Scriptures and reflections to help you center each day on Christ

3. Carols: A Christmas Devotional (25 days)
Explores the biblical roots of songs born out of the joy of the season

4. The Christmas Story (5 days)
Chronicles the humble beginnings of the Savior of the world