1 Corinthians 12:28
Good, gracious, perfect Lord. Show us Your will.
We want to follow Your perfect guidance. Only you know where we can best serve your Kingdom. Lord, today we ask for the wisdom that only comes to you. Lord, we thank You and praise You for all the ways You have built up Christ Church. Show us where You are leading up next and help us follow Your calls.
Thank You, God, Amen.
J.C. Ryle
“God is continually holding out inducements to man to listen to him, obey Him, and serve him… He has shown his perfect knowledge of human nature, by spreading over the Book a perfect wealth of promises, suitable to every kind of experience in every condition of life… Their name is legion. The subject is almost inexhaustible. There is hardly a step in man’s life, from childhood to old age, hardly any position in which man can be placed, for which the Bible has not held out encouragement to everyone who desires to do right in the sight of God. There are “shalls” and “wills” in God’s treasury for every condition. About God’s infinite mercy and compassion,–about His readiness to receive all who repent and believe,–about His willingness to forgive, pardon, and absolve the chief of sinners,–about His power to change hearts and alter our corrupt nature,–about the encouragements to pray, and hear the gospel, and draw near to the throne of grace,–about strength for duty, comfort in trouble, guidance in perplexity, help in sickness, consolation in death, support under bereavement, happiness beyond the grave, reward in glory,–about all these things there is abundant supply of promises in the Word. No one can form an idea of its abundance unless he carefully searches the Scriptures, keeping the subject steadily in view. If any one doubts it, I can only say, “Come and see.”
My son closed his sermon Sunday with this written by JC Ryle
who was an Anglican Bishop in the 1800’s. John Piper used it in a book Jase read. It’s long but meaningful, especially the emphasis on God’s Word. Lord, help us to wear out our Bibles, listen to Holy Spirit, and diligently serve you.