We all know that some disappointments have their uses. The ruins of cherished plans are often the first steps to the true good that God has in store for us. The apostle Paul learned this when he asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh (2 Cor. 12:7–9). God, in his great and strange mercy, said no. Nationalistic Israelites also learned this in how they were waiting for the Messiah. God had something better in his plans than the immediate political supremacy of Israel over her enemies.

And that is true in your life and mine. Neither you nor I have a life perfectly attuned to the will, desires, and hopes of God. So we will inevitably face disappointment. We will watch the things we fix our hopes upon sink like stones in water.

Yet it is God’s grace to us that they do. As strange as it may seem, if we really believe the Bible, we must learn to trust that he knows what he is doing, and that his plans for us are better than whatever we have planned for ourselves. So often we cling with all our might to what we have in this world. But God has something even better prepared for his children.

If you are a child of God through new birth in Christ, the conclusion God has in mind for you is unimaginably good! As John writes in one of his letters, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Paul, also, dissolves into doxology when he thinks of what God has done and will do: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Rom. 11:33).

In What Does God Want of us Anyway? Dever provides an overview of the entire Bible. This is perfect for readers seeking to grasp the big picture, how the Old Testament and New Testament relate, how the Maker of promises fulfills his promises in Christ.

Visit Ellen’s blog today for an opportunity to win a copy!

“I have always thought it unfortunate that the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross have been called his ‘last words,’” expressed Boyce. “Because the perhaps unwitting implication is that Jesus did not rise again and therefore never said anything else. Jesus did rise again, of course.”

Jesus’ words from the cross are these:

1. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). These words are a prayer for God to forgive those who were crucifying him. They show the merciful heart of the Savior.
2. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). These words were spoken to the believing thief and were a confident promise of salvation. They show that while life lasts, it is never too late to believe on Jesus and be saved.
3. “Dear woman, here is your son” and “Here is your mother” (John 19:26-27). Here Jesus commended his mother, Mary, to the care of John, one of his disciples. It shows Jesus’ concern for family ties.
4. “I am thirsty” (John 19:28). This request shows the true humanity of Jesus. But it also shows his concern that every facet of his death be in accord with the Bible’s prophecies about him.
5. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34; Matt. 27:46). This statement is the most shattering of all. It reveals more than any other what was really happening on the cross. It teaches the nature of the atonement and what our salvation cost God.
6. “It is finished” (John19:30).These are the most important words, because they refer not to Jesus’ life, as if he were saying, “It is over,” but to his atonement for sin. It is because Jesus made a complete and final atonement for sin that we can be sure of our salvation.
7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke23:46). These words show Jesus to have been in control of his life until the very end. They also show that the relationship between himself and the Father, which earlier had in some sense been broken, was now restored.

These saying have been interpreted as teaching seven duties: 1) to forgive our enemies, 2) to have faith in Christ, etc. Far more important than looking at these words to learn our duties is to look at them for what they teach us about the nature and work of Christ himself, which is what this book does.

Check out the preface and Chapter 1-3 here.

A reminder of how Trackback Thursday works: Simply link to the blog post from your blog, leave a comment on Crossway’s Facebook Page, or re-tweet Trackback Thursday on Twitter @Crosswaybooks. Winners are picked on Friday morning.

“One generation shall commend your works to another,” write David in Psalm 145:4, “and shall declare your mighty acts.” David surrounds this statement with comments about the nature of God as being altogether worhy of praise, He says people will “pour forth the fame of (his) abundant goodness” and “sing aloud of his righteousness.” In other words, telling stories of God’s acts will help to make known God’s character.

Written for elementary school-aged children, Mighty Acts of God tells the story of God’s revelation of himself, his saving purposes, and his covenant. Author Starr Meade explains that these stories are not simply moral examples for kids, but rather they introduce kids to God as Sovereign Ruler, Holy Judge, Powerful Savior, and Faithful Redeemer.

If you’re looking for an illustrated family Bible story book and you enjoyed The Big Picture Story Bible, you may want to check out Starr Meade’s new book, The Mighty Acts of God. You can read online select chapters and the note for parents.

“Liberating Black Theology” book promo from Joseph D. Martinez on Vimeo.

In chapter 4 of A Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ, Sam Storms shows how prayer is always a “win” for all involved:

• The ones who pray (in this case, the Corinthians) experience the joy of being an instrument in the fulfillment of God’s purposes and delight in beholding how God works in response to their intercessory pleas (cf. Rom. 10:14–15).
• The one who is prayed for (in this case, the apostle Paul) experiences the joy of being delivered from peril or sustained in trial or being made the recipient of some otherwise unattainable blessing.
• The one to whom prayer is offered (in every case, God) experiences the joy of being thanked, and thus glorified, for having intervened in a way that only God can in order to bless or deliver or save his people.

Read the intro and entirety of chapter 4. Learn more about A Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ.

No one enjoys being misunderstood or having their motives questioned. By nature we’re defensive and seek ways to vindicate our reputation. All too often we react rather than respond. Sam Storms draws on Paul’s interaction with the church in 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4 to provide some wisdom that we can apply as we seek to grow in godly communication:

1. Don’t be quick to “read between the lines.” Unless past indiscretions or the preponderance of evidence indicate otherwise, trust your Christian friends. Give them the benefit of the doubt when they say they are sincere (vv. 13–14).
2. Don’t always look for some ulterior and sinister motive in what others do simply because things did not turn out the way you wanted them to (vv. 15–16).
3. If someone has proven himself faithful and devoted in the past, don’t be quick to believe accusations brought against him by an outsider. Be patient and give him an opportunity to explain himself. In other words, don’t jump to conclusions, for it just may be the case that you are the one at fault (vv. 17, 23).
4. Don’t become frustrated or withdraw yourself from other Christians if they should prove fickle or unfaithful. Ultimately, your trust and dependence are not in them anyway, but in Christ who never fails (vv. 19–22).
5. Finally, even if it means suffering unjustly and being slandered, avoid unnecessary confrontations. Don’t be too quick to vindicate yourself. Be willing to endure what you don’t deserve for the sake of peace in the body of Christ. The opportunity to clear your name will eventually come (v. 23).

Check out Sam Storms’ new work on 2 Corinthians. This is highly recommended if you’re looking for sermon prep material or rich expository devotion material.

Justin Taylor Interview: Nancy Guthrie from Crossway on Vimeo.

Jesus and the Rulers of this Fallen World

The kings and rulers and presidents of this fallen world order exercise their authority out of a deep sense of self-promotion, out of a deep sense of wanting to be number one, out of a deep sense of self-preservation, even out of a deep sense of entitlement. By contrast, Jesus exercises his authority in such a way as to seek the good of his subjects, and that takes him, finally, to the cross. He did not come to be served, as if that were an end in itself; even in his sovereign mission he comes to serve—to give his life a ransom for many. Those who exercise any authority at any level in the kingdom in which Jesus is king must serve the same way—not with implicit demands of self-promotion, confidence in their right to rule, or a desire to sit at Jesus’ right hand or his left hand, but with a passion to serve.

Small wonder, then, that Pilate could not figure Jesus out. Jesus claimed to be king, but he had none of the pretensions of the monarchs of this world. Small wonder that for the next three hundred years, Christians would speak, with profound irony, of Jesus reigning from the cross.

So here is the first irony in Matthew’s presentation of Jesus’ crucifixion: the man who is mocked as king—is the king.

(Excerpt from Scandalous pp 20)

This fasting Piper speaks of is not just that of food, but addressing the deadening effects of any innocent delight that hinders the sweet longings of our homesickness for God. Many small acts of preferring fellowship with God above these delights can form a habit of communion and contentment. Christian fasting is a test to see what desires control us.

A reminder of how Trackback Thursday works: Simply link to the blog post from your blog, leave a comment on Crossway’s Facebook Page, or re-tweet Trackback Thursday on Twitter @Crosswaybooks. Winners are picked on Friday morning.