Roots by the River

People are followers; people are imitators. They copy other people in language, manners, dress, and conduct. This characteristic describes 100% of the population—in other words, all of us. Initially, we do not get to choose whom we copy. We are born into a certain family, in a certain culture. We imitate those who are older than we are and those we are next to. We have their language, accent, diet, clothing, and profession. There is something common to all the cultures of the world. In the Scripture, it is called several things. One of them is “human tradition,” and the other is “the basic principles of this world.” “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8). “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?” (Colossians 2:20). “So also, when we...

Excerpted from The Narrative of Surprising Conversions by Jonathan Edwards These gracious discoveries given, whence the first special comforts are derived, are in many respects very various. More frequently, Christ is distinctly made the object of the mind in His all-sufficiency and willingness to save sinners; but some have their thoughts more especially fixed on God, in some of His sweet and glorious attributes manifested in the Gos pe l, and shining forth in the face of Christ. Some view the all-sufficiency of the mercy and grace of God; some, chiefly the infinite power of God, and His ability to save them, and to do all things for them; and some look most at the truth and faithfulness of God. In some, the truth and certainty of the Gospel in general is the first joyful discovery they have; in others, the certain truth of some particular promises; in some the grace and sincerity of God in His invitations, very commonly in some particular invitation in the mind, and it now appears...

Excerpted from The Narrative of Surprising Conversions by Jonathan Edwards Horatius Bonar tells of an awakened soul in Scotland who, in the bitterness of his spirit, set himself to work and pray, in order to get peace. He doubled the amount of his devotions, saying to himself, “Surely God will give me peace,” but the peace came not. He set up family worship, saying, “Surely God will give me peace.” But the peace came not. At last he bethought himself of having a prayer-meeting in his house, as a certain remedy; he fixed the night, called his neighbors, and prepared himself for conducting the meeting by writing a prayer and learning it by heart. As he finished the operation of learning it, preparatory to the meeting, he threw it down on the table saying, “Surely that will do; God will give me peace now.” In that moment a still small voice seemed to speak in his ear, saying, “No, that will not do; but Christ will do.” Straightway the scales fell from his eyes and the burden fr...

“ At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’” (Matt. 11:25-30). Isn’t that wonderful? Come to Him and find rest for your souls. I can’t think of a better thing to come to Him for. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. He will carry our burdens. This is Jesus’ object: to bring us to the Father. We can come to the Father through the Son and find rest for our souls. This post coord...

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matt. 6:31-32). There are two reasons not to worry. First, that is what the pagans do. Do you want to be like the unbelievers? Second, your Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33). I remember 4 January 1958. We lived just off Piney Branch Road on Aspen Street in Washington, D.C. It was a Saturday morning. We had a little food in the house, but it was not the kind that our three preschool children liked: no peanut butter, milk, bread, eggs, or orange juice. We had no money to buy food. Standing in the dining room, Bessie and I read this passage from Matthew to God. We told Him that we were not anxious and that we were seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. The m...

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7). Years ago, a friend of mine told me that he was not into evangelism because the more converts he had, the more backsliders he had. Of course, that is not a reason to hold back on evangelism, but it makes you wonder why it sometimes seems to be so. Here is a major reason. The new Christian often is not taught to live the Christian life the same as he was taught to receive Christ. He is taught a different way of living than he was taught of receiving. That is why he falls. The new Christian received Christ by grace through faith. He did not receive Christ by trying or by effort. He is not to live by trying or by effort. He is to live by grace through faith. In other words, the Christian life should be like being born again every day. Please pray for the new Christians you kno...

“So we know and believe the love God has for us” (1 John 4:16 RSV). What struck me when this passage was brought to my attention were the two verbs know and believe . We know the love of God. We believe the love of God. The New International Version says, “We know and rely on the love of God.” Let me say it this way: We know and trust the love of God. The verse starts out with the word “so,” which means this conclusion is based on the previous verse: “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us” (1 John 4:15-16), That is how we know , and that is how we believe . This post coordinates with today's reading in the Same Page Summer Bible Reading Challenge . If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com . We would love to have you reading with us.

  “But that night they caught nothing.” “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.” “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” “Come and have breakfast.” “Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.” (Selections from John 21) Jesus had been fishing. Jesus had made or purchased bread. Jesus started a fire and cleaned the fish. Jesus cooked the bread and the fish. Jesus invited the men to breakfast. Jesus served them their breakfast. This was the risen Christ. “None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord.” Isn’t this a wonderful picture of the risen Lord? He is still a servant. We are to be like Him. This post coordinates with today's reading in the Same Page Summer Bible Reading Challenge . If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com . We would love to have you reading with u...

There are two verses in the Scripture that speak to the immanency of conversion. “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor” (John 4:35-38). “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Matt. 9:37-38). These are the truths: the harvest is ripe; the harvest is plentiful; and there are few harvesters. That means that there are more people who want to get into the kingdom than there are Christians who want them in. Over the years, I have not been fru...

Here are five biblical passages on joy: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22). “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18). “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you” (Psalms 51:12-13). “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’ He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have give...

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 3:16-4:2). "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13). There was a time when there were very few Bibles, even in cultured lands. There were no printing presses, and most of the people were illiterate. If people received the Word, it was through the public reading of Scripture by people who could read and had the Scriptures. Now in the church today in this country, we can read, and we each own at least one Bible. A year ago* ...

Dear Mary, Your good letter arrived today, and I thought it need an immediate reply. I am glad to see that you really saw the change in Susie’s relationship with her parents when she took the action she took of writing letters of respect and love to them. Then you said that you did not take that same action, and in fact, you were not sure that you wanted their love. And the more you prayed for them, the less you felt attached to them, and this included your whole family. Well, you are doing things backwards. You do not want their love, you pray for them, and you feel less attached to them. Listen, God did not give you those unloving feelings. The enemy gave you those unloving feelings. Since God did not give them to you, and you decided to have them from some other source, you are going to have to repent of those feelings. Repent of your not wanting their love. You will not be able to grow in the Lord without taking this action. You might learn more, and you might not get really ...

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Exod. 20:12). Of the many talks I frequently give, those which have received the most favorable response and the most fruitful application among young and old alike are “How to Be Free from Bitterness” and “Relationships with Parents.” Right now, I am sitting in a study room at the Illinois Street Residence Hall at the University of Illinois. Last week, at Urbana ’93, I conducted a workshop on relationships with parents. Only about 50 students attended the workshop. The shock, the incredulity, the rebellion, and the impossibility of putting this teaching into effect showed in the tears, the questions, the comments, and the follow-up conversations. That is why I am here writing it down. I would first like to draw your attention to two passages in the Old Testament. I will comment on them, then make a few suggestions for applying these Scriptures in your life. “You shall not ...

The 102 nd Psalm has some wonderful truths: “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD” (v. 18). We are one of those future generations. “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them, and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end” (vs. 25-27). Isn’t this wonderful? The heavens are going to wear out like old clothes which we throw away or give to Goodwill.   This post coordinates with today's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge . If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com . We would love to have you reading with us.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Notice the alls in the sentence: ·        all grace ·        all things ·        all times ·        all that you need Pay attention also that all grace abounds and that you will abound in every good work. This is either true or false. If true, then thank God! “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). We cannot write a check on God’s bank account that He cannot cover. His checks do not bounce. This post coordinates with today's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge . If...

As we celebrate the many wonderful stories of Olympic triumph and victory,* I am reminded of God’s teaching about attitude and triumph. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God” (2 Cor. 2:14-17). Paul teaches an amazing truth! He says that God always (not sometimes or even most of the time) leads us in victory. This is what our attitude should be. This is how we can “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:17). Just as the Olympic athletes overcome adversity to compete and triumph, God does not want our circumstances to ...

Today, I am giving an assignment. You do not need to turn in your homework or papers for grading. It is an open-book assignment. 1. Read chapters 1 through 3 of Ephesians several times, listing everything that the believer has in Christ . Thank God for each of them. 2. Do the same thing with Colossians 1 and 2. 3. After you are fortified with all of this wonderful truth and are rejoicing in it, then read Ephesians 4-6 and list all of the commands. 4. Repeat with Colossians 3-4. You will find that the commands are not impossible because of where you are in Christ. This post coordinates with today's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge . If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com . We would love to have you reading with us.

Douglas Wilson Credenda Agenda Vol. 10 No. 2 Rumor thrives in two environments. The first is obvious. When men who love to wag the tongue are so undisciplined that they refuse to confirm what they pass on, the ninth commandment is clearly broken. The environment is that which is established by the lying tongue. The world has always contained many who have loved to live in this way—and Christians condemn all such gossip, slander, libel, and wild speculation, particularly when it has to do with a "ruler of your people" (Acts 23:5). But another breeding ground for rumor exists as well, and this is why we have seen such a remarkable explosion of astounding reports in recent years. This environment for rumor is created when the courts of justice have been hopelessly compromised and corrupted, and have been turned aside from their ordained and appointed use. When this happens, it means that those who have reasonable grounds to make an accusation are prevented from doing so b...

When we read rumors and stories on the internet, we do not know if they are true. Here are my comments. First, the Scripture: “ One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deut. 19:15). “Surely God is good to Israel,      to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;      I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant      when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles;      their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens;      they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace;      they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity;      their evil imaginations have no ...

“ In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed ” (Dan. 7:13-14). When Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man, He is referring to this person. The Jewish leaders knew what He was saying and did not like it. “ Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory ” (Matt. 24:30). “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoe...