I would like to share with you some thoughts on books. One of the books I have read and appreciated is Nothing Else Matters by Patricia St. John. This is a book by a missionary who is also a children’s author. Other books by her include The Tanglewoods Secret, Treasures of the Snow, Star of Light, and Where the River Begins. Nothing Else Matters is reading for adults about children in Lebanon. Its theme is forgiveness: its story is of killing, sacrifice, and bitterness. The benefit of reading it is great. The salvation message is clear, and the theme of forgiveness is powerful. I would also encourage you to read her other books, specifically Star of Light.
There are several reasons why obedience seems hard. I will comment on some of them and then speak positively on how obedience is easy. We think: 1) Obedience is an infringement on freedom. Since we are free in Christ, and obedience is somehow contrary to that freedom, we conclude that obedience is not good. Yet we know it is good. Thus, we become confused about obedience and are not single-minded. 2) Obedience is works. We who have been justified by grace through faith are opposed to works; therefore, we are opposed to obedience. 3) We have tried to obey and have failed—frequently. Therefore, the only solution is to disobey and later confess to receive forgiveness. It is easier to be forgiven by grace than to obey by effort. 4) We confuse obedience to men with obedience to God. Although these are sometimes one and the same (see Romans 13, 1 Peter 2-3, Ephesians 5-6, Colossians 3, and Titus 2), sometimes they are not the same (see Colossians 2:20-23, Mark 7, 1 Timothy 4:1-5, a
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