Afterwords -- week 25
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV)
June 11, 2022
Dear friends,
A TRINITARIAN LIFE. Many Christians approach the topic of the Trinity as a speculative doctrine, or they avoid this doctrine because it is difficult and hard-to-understand. There is much we do not know about the Trinity in its essence, but we do experience the Trinity in action. The Triune nature of God shows forth especially in the glorious work of our salvation. The Father plans our redemption and sends his Son, who accomplishes our redemption. The Father and Son then send the Holy Spirit to apply that salvation to us. For me the doctrine of the Trinity always undergirds my daily spiritual life.
I trust the Father who ordained my salvation and called me to himself. I trust his wise providence over all my life, and know that I am accepted as his beloved child. I continually trust that Jesus' once-for-all sacrifice for my sins has reconciled me to God. I daily realize he is my Saviour, my King, and my Shepherd who covers me with his righteousness. And daily I walk by the Holy Spirit, trusting him to give me strength and to lead me in truth. I am being transformed by the Spirit into the image of Christ who is the perfect revelation of the Father's character and attributes. So I daily think about, and lean upon, the love of the Father, the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the partnership of the Spirit. Here are a couple of quotes that may help:
"Remember where everything relating to your walk with God is to be found. The Father’s love has laid it up all in the Son’s fulness, and it is the office of the Holy Spirit to teach you how to receive out of it, as grace upon grace. He teaches by his word. With this in your hand, and his light in your understanding, read and study what he has promised you for a safe, happy, and holy walk." (William Romaine, The Life, Walk, and Triumph of Faith)
"The confession of the Trinity is the sum of the Christian religion. Without it neither creation nor redemption nor sanctification can be purely maintained. We can truly proclaim the mighty works of God only when we recognize and confess them as the one great work of Father, Son, and Spirit. ... In the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is contained the whole salvation of men." (Herman Bavinck, The Wonderful Works of God)
THE MAKING OF A LEADER. I'm halfway through volume one of Dudley-Smith's biography of John Stott (1921--2011). I never read a biography or autobiography of any living person. It seems a bit egocentric to publish that in one's own lifetime, and then also, the subject has not yet finished his or her race. The ending is as important as any previous point, whether high or low. Only then can we weigh the full value of the life which that person lived.
There was a remarkable move of the Holy Spirit in the late 1940s -- 1950s in the UK, and similarly in the U.S. afterwards. The conversion of 17-year-old John Stott, and his vibrant ministry, parallels that of others in that time, such as J. I. Packer (in the UK), and Bill Bright, Dawson Trotman, and Billy Graham (in the US). That twenty-year period, from about 1950 to 1970, saw many people come to Christ and enter into ministry. Many leaders were raised up for churches and missions. It was a refreshing work of God for the western world, and we should pray to see it again!
Also, I enjoy reading about who mentored and influenced Stott in his growth. When I feel the impact of a person's ministry, I always ask, who influenced that person? For example, when I was reading books by John Piper, I realized he was greatly influenced by Jonathan Edwards, and that started me on a long period of reading the works of Edwards (sorry, John, I stopped buying your books...). I enjoy learning about the influences God uses to shape people for ministry and for his glory. We should read more biographies! My advice to our digitally absorbed generation, including me, is to 1) read the Bible first and foremost, then 2) read Christian theology, 3) read biographies of men and women God used, 4) read history, and finally, 5) read news, features, current events, and so on.
"COMFORT, COMFORT MY PEOPLE." I am reading again the 40th chapter of Isaiah and marvel how God's words give us strength. How are we comforted? (v. 1) How are we lifted up from the weariness that fear produces? (v. 31) To answer these questions, study the verses in-between these statements. Isaiah 40 is such a great chapter for today!
BIBLE READING. I wrote a Bible reading guide based upon the M'Cheyne reading schedule (over two years). Here are this weekend's readings in Isaiah and Revelation. And here in Deuteronomy and Psalms.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST (to me, anyway).
-- "Could it be that the very concept of mental illness itself stands to lose all physiological meaning if the symptoms of certain illnesses are considered politically or philosophically relevant?" (Samuel D. James)
-- "Now that therapy and self-affirmation have become the goals of all storytelling, the only thing to eliminate is any idea of fate, providence, or patriarchy." Review of Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. (Full disclosure: I have not seen this movie, but this article does seem to me to highlight the ongoing themes of Disney movies.)
-- "The bottom line: Screen time overload is hurting our relationships, our brains and our kids. Let's do something about it."
FOUNTAIN PEN-FRIENDLY PAPER. I posted on this previously, but again, part of the pleasure of writing with fountain pens is the quality of paper being used. In my journaling I use a Rhodia webnotebook with dot grid. It's a bit pricey, being made in France. There are other, cheaper papers that I use for general writing and note taking, like HP Premium 24 (laser printer paper, around $9 a ream), which is very nice for pens. Also, the light green Engineer Calculation Pad (from Roaring Spring) is good for general notes. And check out the Caliber pads (composition and steno) that are available at CVS Pharmacy, made in Viet Nam. Very good for the price.
FINAL QUOTE. "To us Christianity is Christ. To close the mind to Him is to make nonsense of history and to mock at the whole of human experience. To know Him is to have the answer to the greatest riddle of all and to find the winds of God flowing freely through every avenue of the mind. Christ is our freedom from the dogging sense of sin and condemnation. There is no freedom in the world to be compared with the sense of release that comes with a realisation of the forgiveness of God; when in one liberating moment I see the Cross as the saving act of God, and know that He loves me in spite of my sin." (Harold Earnshaw-Smith, rector of All Souls Church London, and mentor to John R. W. Stott)
That's it for week 25!
Sandy
Image credit. Stain glass window, source unknown.