Category: Theology

These Things

~ A Prayer Life ~ Leave a comment

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

~ Philippians 4:8

We must be encouraged daily to take captive our thoughts in obedience to Christ. The natural mind is prone to wander and to entertain thoughts, ideas, and imaginations which would tend against the holiness and righteousness of God. Therefore, as Paul concludes his letter to the Church at Philippi, he entreats them towards a kind of thinking, a meditating on the things of God, things which are true, and noble, and just. Things which are pure and praiseworthy. Things which are lovely and of good report that even the smallest inkling a believer might have, has the potential to be pleasing and acceptable to the Lord. Take this verse to heart and meditate on these things.

~ apl

Our Own Hearts

~ A Prayer Life ~ 1 Comment

“We can preach the Gospel of Christ no further than we have experienced the power of it in our own hearts.”

~ George Whitefield

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, help me to experience the love and the power of the Gospel of Christ more and more each day, that I might live to proclaim to others all my days. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Highly Exalted

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“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

~ Philippians 2:9-11

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, thank You for exalting Your Beloved Son. He is worthy of all glory, honor and praise. May more people come to confess Jesus Christ as their Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Something Wrong Somewhere

~ A Prayer Life ~ 1 Comment

“The ultimate test of my understanding of the scriptural teaching is the amount of time I spend in prayer. As theology is ultimately the knowledge of God, the more theology I know, the more it should drive me to seek to know God. Not to know “about” Him but to know Him! The whole object of salvation is to bring me to knowledge of God… If all my knowledge does not lead me to prayer there is something wrong somewhere.”

~ Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, may my theology always lead to doxology that I might pray and praise You for Your wonderful love grace and mercy. In Jesus; name, amen.

The Chinks & Crevices

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“[Biblical] meditation is a help to knowledge; thereby your knowledge is raised. Thereby your memory is strengthened. Thereby your hearts are warmed. Thereby you will be freed from sinful thoughts. Thereby your hearts will be tuned to every duty. Thereby you will grow in grace. Thereby you will fill up all the chinks and crevices of your lives, and know how to spend your spare time, and improve that for God. Thereby you will draw good out of evil. And thereby you will converse with God, have communion with God, and enjoy God. And I pray, is not here profit enough to sweeten the voyage of your thoughts in meditation?”

~ William Bridge

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, cause me to swim in the depth of Thy word that my thoughts, words and deeds would be controlled by the principles and precepts found therein. In Jesus name, amen.

Tents & Houses

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish.

~ Proverbs 14:11

God is faithful to both the wicked and the righteous. Sound strange? Think about it. His promises towards both are sure and certain. The Lord’s Word stands as true to one as it does the other. In our passage before us, we are told the house of the wicked will be overthrown. The meaning is all the wicked do, all they establish here on earth, any accumulation of power or prosperity, even they themselves, will one day come to nought. While the tent of the upright will be blessed, it will flourish and ultimately prosper under God’s faithful care.

Consider one other caveat from this text, notice the contrast between the house of the wicked and the tent of the upright. A house may appear more stable than a tent. The house may give the resident a greater sense of safety and security than the one dwelling in a tent. But in the Lord’s plans, the house will fall while the tent shall stand. Though the upright may do with less in this world, and live by humbler means than the wicked, God is faithful to both, and it is the upright who will flourish while the wicked are fully and finally overthrown.

~ apl