Savedthroughfaith.com

I remember being at a circus and watching the performers toss and juggle sharp knives like they were pencils. I was amazed at their skill amid such obvious potential danger. However, their familiarity actually lessoned the impact of the feat. I, myself even became somewhat used to their act after time went on. I think there is a similar affect upon us when we come to familiar narratives in the Bible. And there are not many narratives more familia...

One of my favorite contemporary authors is Paul Tripp. I like him because he makes me hurt and sing. He shows me sin and gospel. Earlier today he tweeted the following: Humility is admitting that my greatest, most long-term personal dilemma is inside me, not outside me and I can’t free myself from it.(sin) I think this is a very helpful quote. As I sat and chewed on it a bit, I couldn’t help but pile on… Humility is admitting th...

Recently, I was speaking with a friend who is a missionary to the Dominican Republic. Amid our encouraging talk I asked him about discouraging aspects of his ministry. His answer surprised me. He confessed that the most discouraging aspect of ministry in his region is the other missionaries. He went on to describe in detail how so many western churches send people to the island for mission work but in reality they are just on a vacation. They col...

I am continually struck by Jesus’ teaching in Luke 18.9-14. There are so many angles by which I am instructed, convicted, refreshed, and amazed. Jesus tells us that he told the parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous. In other words, they did not need him. They were good with their own ability to earn and maintain God’s pleasure through their obedience/holiness. At the heart of the parable Jesus shows that i...

If you are like me you might begin to become so familiar with God’s promises that they become residual and assumed. You might even feel somewhat uncomfortable praising God for doing what he has always said that he would do. For example, Jesus speaks of God’s sovereign, loving faithfulness to his sheep: (Joh 10.28-29)  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has...

This quote from Calvin greatly refreshed me today as it reminded me of this blessed benefit of the gospel. “Surely the gospel does not confine men’s hearts to delight in the present life, but lifts them to the hope of immortality. It does not fasten them to earthly pleasures, but by announcing a hope that rests in heaven it, so to speak, transports them thither.” –John Calvin, Institutes, Book II.10.3 Possibly Related po...

I recently had  a great discussion with my 10 year old son. He was remarking about how the word ‘believe’ is so often tossed around in different ways. He mentioned that we believe there are certain planets, countries and stuff. And then people say they believe in Jesus. His point (in my words) was that it seems that to believe in Jesus means a little more than to just have some mental assent or agreement. As I sat with him I was so e...

I have enjoyed the album Looked Upon from the Na Band for a couple of years now. There are many soul-stirring, Christ-magnifying songs on there. Recently at the Together for the Gospel conference we sang “All I have is Christ” from this album. It was great. And the song remains great because the truth behind the song is true! So…in effort to expose more folks to the album and the song here is a video with Devon Kauflin singing t...

We all have blind spots. We have our issues. Whether we are talking about personal, social, or theological blind spots, we have them. And to say you don’t, is to, well, make my point. The important thing for us to look for said weaknesses, identify them and replace them. This is living life as a fallen sinner it is reality. But sometimes our blind spots are our hobby horses. And this is a problem. I can remember arguing about abortion with ...

We can all relate to being unjustly charged. We’ve had our opponents. We have been ridiculed. We can identify with the Psalmist in the 43rd Psalm. Evidently he is undergoing some scourging at the hands of evil and unjust people (Ps. 43.1). It has gotten to the point where he has even begun to feel like God also has turned on him (43.2). From varying experiences, we can all relate to this. So what is the response? Often times our default is ...