This, That, & the Other: 10/17-10/23/2021
An article to read
Six Short Rules for Young Believers From Brownlow North
Looking for a quick read to encourage your walk with Christ? This short exert from the writings of Brownlow North is for you. North lays out six incredibly practical and thought provoking “rules” for young believers to follow. Each of them, however, is just as relevant for the old saint as it is for the young convert. These six rules are some of the best condensed teaching on Christian practical theology that I have ever read. If every Christian simply put these rules into practice, much of our problems would disappear.
A teaching to listen to
The Hope of God’s Sovereign Election
This past Sunday evening, I had the privilege of preaching at my Church’s evening service. The text I chose was 1 Kings 19 with particular emphasis on verses 14 and 18. I will post the sermon in written form on this website in the near future, but for now I thought I would provide the link. What I found most encouraging from 1 Kings 19 is the way in which God encourages Elijah when he is depressed. God doesn’t change Elijah’s circumstances, but God reminds Elijah that He is sovereignly working to save people for His glory, even in the darkest of cultures.
A quote to consider
Remember children are born with a decided bias towards evil, and therefore if you let them choose for themselves, they are certain to choose wrong.
J. C. Ryle in “The Duties of Parents”
A product to buy
A Guide to Biblical Manhood by Randy Stinson & Dan Dumas
My Elders decided to give this book out to the men who attended my Church’s men’s retreat. At first, I didn’t know what to expect from this thin volume, but now I can say it is one of the most practical and helpful books on Biblical manhood I have read. I have been constantly looking for good resources on Biblical manhood, especially books on the topic. My list of recommended books on the Biblical manhood is short, but this guide is definitely on the list. As you might expect from a book dealing with such a topic, I don’t necessarily agree with every conclusion or practical instruction the author’s come to. But this book is full of wisdom and if you are a man, I recommend you make time to consume it.
A recipe to try
Sheet Pan Greek Nachos
Having a 2 month old and working towards a Master’s degree has caused me to cook more and more frequently with sheet pans during the weeknights. And let me tell you, there are a lot of interesting and delicious sheet pan recipes out there to try! My wife and I tried this one this past week and it was delicious. The recipe was a little more labor intensive than some sheet pan meals, but the fresh salad and chicken on top of crisp pita chips made it all worth it.
A question for reflection
What issues in your life could be solved by taking a long-term perspective?
When responsibilities pile up, I can easily get overwhelmed. And when I get overwhelmed, it seems like the weight of the world is crashing on me. What does this lead to? I end up imagining problems where there are none and thinking I need to solve every little thing that is bothering me in the present. But a lot of the “issues” you and I feel in life come from having the wrong perspective. I think that is why in Scripture, the Apostles are constantly calling believers to change their perspective during suffering or difficulty:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
James 1:2-3, Hebrews 12:11, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV
People have called this having an “eternal” perspective. In other words, instead of looking at the suffering in the present, you look past the suffering to the effect the suffering will have on your life through God’s sovereign will. Christians are called to have a long term perspective, rather than always focusing on the here and now. This means in times of stress, difficulty, or suffering, Christians are patient because they entrust themselves to the God who “works all things together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
So the question today is how can you shift your mindset from short-term to long-term? What would this change of perspective solve? Most good things in life require effort over a long period of time. Sometimes, because we are impatient, we can have a short term perspective of “this needs to be fixed now with no delay.” But long term perspective says “this isn’t going to be solved overnight, but I will work towards this big thing one day at a time.” Changing your perspective might help you deal with issues you face this week or cause them to disappear altogether.
A truth that is impacting me
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.
Luke 7:47 ESV
Every time I set out to read Acts, I feel like I need to read through the Gospel of Luke first. Each time I read it, Luke is the most convicting Gospel for me. This wonderful passage in which Jesus forgives a woman who comes to Him while correcting the attitude of His Pharisee host is both encouraging and incredibly convicting.
It is encouraging in that you get to see the character of Christ. He does not cast the woman out and forgives this woman’s sins. But the verse above is where the conviction appears. It is in the section where Jesus corrects the Pharisee hosting Him. Jesus connects how much someone loves Him with how much they have been forgiven.
Now, I find this passage interesting because, from a theological perspective, each of us is totally depraved and incapable of doing anything but evil before Christ saves us. So in that sense, aren’t we all “forgiven much?” But as I read the passage this time, I think Jesus is giving an incredibly practical principle for believers: The more aware you are of how much you were forgiven, the more you will love Jesus, the one who forgave you.
It is easy to think to yourself that you weren’t all that bad before coming to Christ. You forget how hopeless and helpless you were before Christ came into your life and raised you from spiritual death to life. When you forget what Christ saved you from, loving Christ can become an afterthought rather than your focus.
I think an implication of the point Jesus makes here is if you find your heart cold towards Christ, remind yourself of who you were and what you deserved before salvation. Recount what you were and who you were before Christ, remember what Scripture says you deserved for your sin, then see what glorious grace and hope and future you get instead.
Whether you realize it or not, you were forgiven much. Your soul cost the blood of the eternal Son of God. So remember who you were before Christ so that you can rejoice in Jesus’ mercy towards you.
This post is part of an ongoing series “This, That, & the Other.” For other tools I have created to aid you in Bible Study and Church life, visit the “Tools” page. If you found this post helpful, share it below and subscribe to get resources like this delivered into your inbox. Follow The Average Churchman on Instagram to get more curated resources.