On Friday, retailers hosted Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when the mad rush of the commercial Christmas season gets into full steam. Piper’s chapter lit in me a passion for preparing constantly for Jesus’ Coming, for indeed, it could be any day now.This week marked a transition on our calendars. I typically spend Advent preparing spiritually for Christ’s Second Coming. Too often, the lamps of my life are not lit and the candles are not burning. I appreciated the author’s love for Scripture and found myself enthusiastic and excited about Christ’s second coming, as well as convicted over my lack of preparation. Piper quotes so much Scripture in this chapter that it almost becomes a chain of Bible verses with only periodic interruptions from Piper’s pen. I enjoyed the final chapter, one that spoke about Jesus’ return. Piper’s chapter on the severity of Christ reminded me of these lessons. If pride takes root now, it will grow into a bitter tree that God will have to chop down in due time. Humility is difficult to maintain when you are in an institution that prizes knowledge, intellectual ability, and communication skills. In seminary, this is of vital importance. Piper helped me to remember the importance of maintaining a teachable spirit. I do not want to be a baby that can’t handle solid food, but a grown-up who is able to take the healthy meat of the Word even when it does not go down as easily. The tough portrait of Jesus is rarely portrayed in our churches, so it was good and healthy to remember the untamable Savior I serve. The second chapter that meant a lot to me personally was on the Severity of Jesus Christ. Yet, Christ suffered these slanderous comments for our sake and for His own glory. Piper reminded me that Christ’s reputation was tarnished by the circumstances surrounding His own birth and by misunderstandings revolving around His association with sinners.
So often I have only noticed the passages that speak of Jesus’ enormous popularity in the Gospels. Chapter 7 speaks of the bad reputation that Jesus endured. There are two chapters that stood out especially for me.
0 kommentar(er)
