Doctrinal Books Are Devotionals

B. B. Warfield:

Sometimes we hear it said that ten minutes on your knees will give you a truer, deeper, more operative knowledge of God than ten hours over your books. What! Than ten hours over your books on your knees?”

The lion of Princeton , the great theologian B.B Warfield hits the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned. Prayer is a vital component of a healthy walk with God , but unless you know God , His work ,His ways and comprehend what Jesus Christ has done for you , your prayer life will be anemic . 

The point of the quote is , learning of God is not something that you stick you head in the sand of devotionals , read a brief little life quote and walk away knowing God. I still recall after first becoming a Christian and picking up the Daily Bread . A hugely popular devotional . Hoping for some food to feast on about God , Christ ,the cross etc... what I got was not even pablum . It was so empty of any substance that it was giving a man dying of thirst a thimble for drink.

Apart from the Bible , I have found reading doctrinal books not only educational but soul stirring and a heart delight to inspire devotion and prayer.The first real introduction I had to a doctrinal book was Knowing God by J.I Packer . It touched on God's character . the gospel,the sovereignty of God in salvation etc.. From there I have moved on to books on the works of grace , the substitutionary atonement of Christ,Justification and numerous others that have greatly helped me dig deeper into the word.

That is why I'm so excited to anticipate the release of Michale Horton's Systematic Theology , The Christian Faith : A Systematic Theology For Pilgrims on the Way . Horton's books have greatly shaped my understanding of the faith . His writing is  reformed , solid biblically and so well written that it truly stirs my heart to want to know the Bible better , and therefore God better. I only own two other books one would call systematic theologies ,one by the late Dr.James Boice called Foundations of the Christian Faith and being a Calvinist , John Calvin's Institutes . So needless to say , I look forward to using this book along with Boice's and Calvin's to deepen my knowledge of God.

So for me doctrinal books are my devotionals. They feed the soul . Too many people seem to be intimidated by the word doctrine , but real theologians write to feed the sheep , not sit in ivory towers stirring at their intellectual  belly lint.

Side-note :  The daily Bread is a daily dud but one devotional has depth, real meat to chew on and solid articles to challenge you and that is Table Talk  , a ministry by RC Sproul. Get it , Now !


Verse Of The Day :  He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:9 ESV)

Michael Horton -- The Christian Faith

May We Stand Prepared

In the Pilgrims Progress , Christian on his journey encounters Apollyon (Satan) who attempts to sway Christian to renounce his Lord and rejoin him . Once Christian refuses , Apollyon tries to destroy him . But thanks to the armor given to him ,he is able to protect himself and strike a mortal blow that forces Apollyon to flee.

What this triggered in me was a reminder that we should never forget that Satan and his demons are real . In the west perhaps due to how advanced we think we are , belief in the devil seems to have been placed in the forgotten box. But the Bible clearly portrays him as a real enemy to God , the gospel and Christians. The world ,the flesh and the Devil are all our enemies . But for some reason in that unholy trinity , Satan seems at times to be the quiet partner.

[8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

(1 Peter 5:8 ESV)

We need to awaken the reality that he is our adversary . We may never encounter him personally in a spiritual attack for he is not omnipresent , but his demons and in worldly influence we may. It is a real threat and real danger . To be sober-minded is to realize we have an enemy and discern his ways so that we resist him .


[7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(James 4:7 ESV)

We must call on God , draw near to Him and in His strength ,and do battle. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness , each time He used the word of God to respond to the Devils attacks. The word of God is our weapon ,our sword to repel the Devil . May we remember when Jesus was crucified , died and rose again , Satan has been given a death blow . His time is short ,he knows his destiny and may we stand firm in the power of the gospel , in Jesus and be courageous . Drawing near the Lord , He will not leave us unable but will be our protector and victor.

Verse Of The Day  :  [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  EPHESIANS 6:11-13

Storms and Hot Chocolate !

Well we have finally been hit with a winter storm . The snow is steady and the roads are very tricky. If one is home , its a good time to open up a good book , get a nice cup of hot chocolate and sit back in your favorite chair by a heater. Our homes are a place of safety and comfort when a storm is raging outside. There is nothing better than to know that you whole family is safe.

It has been said many times before and will again , but life is full of storms that wage against the soul . From the moment of birth , life is a real struggle . It is a hard world , full of broken dreams, pain and tears. Yes it is mingled with much joy,laughter and successes but it is the times of distress that we truly want a safe place to go , a shelter against the storm . Living in a broken and sinful world , we need to first deal with the storm within first.

We know a storm of sin wages inside our hearts. Our conscious condemns us and the law of God comes like a hurricane to convict us that before a holy God , we stand in the storm of His wrath . Our destination is straight to the never ceasing winds of hell . For our cosmic rebellion . But the good news the coming storm of God's wrath can be calmed and has been. On calvary's tree , on the cross ,Jesus the perfect lamb ,took all the wrath so that we may have the peace of forgiveness and reconciliation. His call is for us to repent , believe and follow . Trusting in His life ,death and resurrection.

Second ,when we have peace with God ,we become beneficiaries of having a loving Father in heaven we can cry out in times of trouble. The promise of Jesus that all who came to Him will be given rest . If we are weary , broken and worn form our earthly toil , Jesus calls us to rest in Him. He will give us peace and rest. Not that we will have no pain ,suffering or an ever flowing flow of cash but what will happen , our desires and will be changed  so that we will see this life as a gift to glorify God in all that comes our way . If we see this life in perspective in light of eternity , as Paul says , then our present toils seem as nothing.

I admit I have struggled at times to take God at His word and for that I need to confess , repent and trust in the promises of God's word .  He is our refuge and will ever be . I guess that is one of the reasons the Holy Spirit is called the comforter . Now for some more hot chocolate and the Pilgrims Progress.

Verse Of The Day :  There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain. 
(Isaiah 4:6 ESV)

Their Blood Cries Out

When one thinks of a martyr for the faith , most Christians in general think of those long  ago . Perhaps those who died under Roman rule or even up to the reformation time frame.  In reality those who who have been put to death for their faith in Jesus Christ in the last 100 or so years ,outnumber all the martyrs of the past 1900 years.

In the west , we have been blessed with a free and open democratic society , the product of Christian influence . For over 100 years we have lived in relative safety . The rest of the world in the east is a different story . From China to the middle east , Christians have been imprisoned , tortured and killed because of their allegiance to the Saviour , Jesus Christ. To openly share the gospel , possess a Bible and assemble to worship ,can openly leave one a target . 

If you want to read a moving account of those killed for their faith , go to http://www.challies.com and read the story of John and Betty Stam . It is a story that will leave you in tears and praise at the same time . 

After I read their story , it made me wonder about me . If I was placed in a situation that to openly proclaim Christ would mean persecution and possible death , what would I do? I don't think we need to seek it , as Paul reminds us that if possible , live in peace but at the same time a society can turn to the point that just sharing the gospel will be hated and despised. Read the stories of missionaries who even though they were helping feed the poor and needy , were killed solely because they were Christian.  

I hope and pray that if ever faced with that day , I would honor my Lord , who gave His life that I might have life. Christians need not fear the sword for nothing can separate from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus . 

For now God is allowing it to occur . Sometimes we cannot understand but there is coming a day when the day of grace is over . 

Revelation 6:9-11

[9] When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. [10] They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” [11] Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. 

Those who have killed the Lord's sheep ,will face a day and on that day they will wish they have never been born . As the martyrs cry out to the Lord , when will you avenge our blood , they are promised that day will come but for now they rest before His throne. A day of reckoning is coming when Jesus Christ comes again in all His holy wrath  against  those who oppose Him and have harmed His sheep. Till then we need to remain faithful , pray for those in countries where the persecution is happening and support them in whatever ways we can. May we stand firm with them  , sharing the gospel with those who are their persecutors. May we not forget our brother and sisters who are in peril . To our shame if we do. 

Verse Of The Day : I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

(John 16:33 ESV)

Miscellaneous Monday

Another crazy shoots people in Arizona . The news has been playing every angle and some from a very biased blind spot .Bottom line ,said individual was a disturbed , mentally unstable person . A ticking time bomb of many messed up ideologies. But the part that disturbed me was that he could face the death penalty because he murdered a Federal Judge in the shootings .
Now I believe in the death penalty and hold that officials need to be protected but a judge or a police officer's life is no more valuable than any person murdered by a heinous person. The little girl killed by this madman has just as much value as a judge . If this person is found to be mentally competent , knowing right from wrong , then  he deserves the death penalty for his reckless disdain of life by killing all those poor victims , all baring the image of God. Sickening and a clear example of a fallen and depraved world .

The average student coming out of University in Canada will owe between 30,000 dollars and beyond. It has risen at a ridiculous amount over the last 30 years .My generation(I'm 47) could get an under grad and come out with maybe 9000 in debt . Today unless the parents can afford a good chunk of change , it can easily top 40000. The expense of getting a good education is putting a huge burden of many trying to get started with thier lives. It doesn't help that text books are outrageously expensive.
My oldest son recently had to order two books that he needed for his business degree. The total cost , 1100 bucks . These books will hopefully pay off , enabling him earn more money but the bottom line , they are ridiculously over priced. For one , they are soft cover , printed on standard paper and have a combined page count under a 1000. They don't even come with a slip cover or special stands to display thier awesomeness. Bad enough young men and women are getting fleeced at tuition , but its criminal the books that they need cost . If I didn't know better , I would say the  mafia is in charge .

Christian fleeing the City of Destruction

I have been reading through Pilgrim's Progress again . It is the new edition released by Crossway last year . It is beautifully done . What the Editors have done was tweak what Bunyan masterfully wrote back in the the 1600 hundreds during his imprisonment and released in 1678 . They modernized some of the English phrases that would be awkward today but maintaining the beauty of what Bunyan wrote. It seems fresh and I'm throughly enjoying  reading of Christians pilgrimage from the City of destruction to the Celestial City . Plus it features new art wonderfully done by Mike Wimmer. Highly  recommend it.



Verse For The Day:   May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.  (Romans 15:13 ESV)

Must Be My Irish Blood

Certain songs always come into my mind when I'm reflecting on life or just thinking about the past . John Denver was always one of my favorite artist growing up . Even when I embraced heavy rock from Zepplin to Iron Maiden , there would be John Denver . His songs just spoke to my heart .

Plus when Dr.James White , one of my favorite reformed baptist theologians , list John Denver as one of his favorite artist , well that seals it.

Today was a strange one . I spent time in quiet thought over many things . How thankful and blessed I'm and sad at the same time thinking of those I can no longer talk to and see . My wife tells me my mood or happy/sad at the same time come from my Irish roots so who am I to argue . So John's song pretty much summed up my head space today.

John Denver -Looking For Space

On the road of experience
I’m trying to find my own way
Sometimes I wish that I could fly away
When I think that I’m moving
Suddenly things stand still
I’m afraid ‘cause I think they always will

And I’m looking for space
And to find out who I am
And I’m looking to know and understand
It’s a sweet sweet dream
Sometimes I’m almost there
Sometimes I fly like an eagle and
Sometimes I’m deep in despair

All alone in the universe
Sometimes that’s how it seems
I get lost in the sadness and the screams
Then I look in the centre
Suddenly everything’s clear
I find myself in the sunshine and my dreams

And I’m looking for space
And to find out who I am
And I’m looking to know and understand
It’s a sweet sweet dream
Sometimes I’m almost there
Sometimes I fly like an eagle and
Sometimes I’m deep in despair

On the road of experience
Join in the living day
If there’s an answer
It’s just that it’s just that way

When you’re looking for space
And to find out who you are
When you’re looking to try and reach the stars
It’s a sweet sweet sweet dream
Sometimes I’m almost there
Sometimes I fly like an eagle and
Sometimes I’m deep in despair
Sometimes I fly like an eagle
Like an eagle, I go flying high, ooh