Do, keep, perform – how many different ways can the Lord impress on us His intention for us with respect to His Law?

We may not always find aspects of God’s Law easy to understand or even agreeable.

A whole year without working! What would that be like?

The Other Side of Penance

Violence, it turns out, is not a European import to the New World.

10/27/10

Paul likened pastors to the Levites of ancient Israel (1 Cor. 9), who were guardians of the tent and testimony of the Lord (Num. 1.53). In what sense are pastors "guardians" in the household of faith today? Are we not called to guard the Gospel and the ministry of the Word against those who would minimize or distort it? And what about the worship of God? Paul's lengthy instructions to the Corinthians concerning worship indicate that this, too, must be carefully guarded. The work of disciple-making, by which the saints are equipped to do the work of ministry (Eph. 4.11, 12); the work of shepherding God's flock (1 Pt. 5.1-3); the ministry itself, against those unfit for such a calling (Acts 8.9-24); and our own souls and teaching (1 Tim. 4.16).

In all these areas the Scriptures and the heritage of the Church present a rich trove of holy things that ministers must daily labor to guard.

If we fail to guard the household of God in each of these areas, the influences of contemporary culture, the winds of false doctrine, and the self-serving designs of false teachers will corrupt and consume the flock, and the glory of the Lord will depart His Church as surely as it departed Israel in the days of Ezekiel.

Pastors, are we faithful guardians of the tent and testimony of the Lord?

T. M. Moore

Do we really think American artists are the best good will ambassadors for the nation?

How shall the people we love realize the promises of God?

The Christian faith orients us toward God and others. From God we seek blessings and glory; to others, we extend blessings, so that they might live for God and His glory. Central to this life of blessing and blessedness are the precious and very great promises God held out to our forebears and, through them, to us (2 Pet. 1.5).

Jesus confirmed the promises to Jews and Gentiles alike by serving according to the truth of God (Rom. 15.8, 9). He embodied the promises of God (2 Cor. 1.20) and, thus, through His words and works, drew people into the orbit of God's blessings and glory and empowered them to show that glory and be a blessing to others.

What was true for the Lord Jesus must be true for us as well. The more we embody the promises of God - "I will be your God and you will be My people" - the more, through service in love and truth, we will enable others to know them as well.

Service in love and truth: This is the way others can know the precious and very great promises of God.