A. W. Tozer remarks in the chapter on justice that there is no conflict between God’s justice and God’s mercy. God does not send people to hell necessarily with neither delight nor with regret. In Ezekiel 18:23, God says, “‘Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?’ declares the Sovereign LORD. ‘Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?’” God is pleased to show mercy to those who are willing to receive it. And yet in Isaiah 13:11, he says, “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” This is remarkably unflinching. God does not express the slightest hesitation in handing out his justice in the right time. In 2 Peter 3:9, he writes that “The Lord is…
Month: November 2006
Prayer of Meditation on Psalm 139
Psalm 139. I thank you, Lord, for the truth revealed in Scripture of your omnipresence. You are everywhere and in everything. I suppose there is some truth to the eastern religions that say “god is in the tree†or something like this: you are there in the fact that you are everywhere. Nothing is hidden from you, you know all things and are aware of every hurt. You know every wicked thing we do and you bear it up and you endure it with great patience. All at once you are here with me as I write these words and you are at the bottom of the sea watching the tiny fish swim under rocks. All at this time you are watching the landscape and enjoying the beauty of your own splendid creation from the tops of mountain peaks and you have counted every snowflake that falls on them.…
Thoughts on family worship
As expected, the lecture on family worship was one of the very best of the semester and I set my mind immediately to implement what was taught. Several aspects of the lecture I found particularly helpful. The first was the simplicity of the task. I have known of families who have practiced this but the idea had always been somewhat intimidating. It seemed something relegated to the super-spiritual club and I had resisted it, in part, due to my own shame and failure, and also because I did not want to do it simply because all the Christians-who-are-really-good-Christians do it. So it was with great anticipation that I looked forward to this lecture because I knew, in my heart, that it was the right thing to do and I wanted some guidance now, especially since I have two small children that I want to train for godliness. And so, back…