The Gospel is the hardest thing in the world to believe

Michael Horton says this about the Gospel,

"Don't take the Gospel for granted. Don't assume that your people already get it because you don't, I don't, none of us gets the Gospel. It is unfamiliar, strange, and counter intuitive every time we hear it, and so we need to hear it over and over again, and not just as a slogan, you know: Come to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.

Charles Spurgeon said: preaching Christ and Him crucified--when Paul said, I had determined to know nothing among you but Christ and Him crucified, Paul didn't mean that he just ran around yelling, "Christ crucified, Christ crucified." He meant that in all of the Scriptures, Christ is either anticipated as the One who will be crucified for our sins and raised for our justification, or He is announced as having arrived. And so, as we preach the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, not our own hobby horses but the Scriptural text, we must ask how Christ, if He could show the disciples on the Emmaus Road how everything in the Scriptures pointed to Him, we need to be able to do that in the pulpit, and not assume anything when it comes to our parishioners' knowledge of the Gospel.

The Law is in us by nature. You don't have to tell anybody you need to be nicer, that you need to love your wife or your husband, and that you shouldn't leave your children unattended. You don't have to convince people these things are true. They already know it.

Pastors, you always need to convince not only your parishioners, but yourself, that the Gospel isn't too good to be true, that the Gospel really is an objective event that has happened regardless of what it looks like inside of me. It's the hardest thing in the world to believe the Gospel. "

The Manhattan Declaration- all law no gospel

The Manhattan Declaration is a document that has recently been released addressing the issues of marriage, the sanctity of life, and religious freedom- all from a distinctively conservative view. It is a joint declaration put together by Evangelicals, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox adherents. It is signed by a number of noteworthy Evangelicals (Al Mohler for one). Yet, it has been opposed by at least three reformed evangelical heavyweights- including John MacArthur, Alistair Begg, and James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries. Some such as John Piper have yet to weigh in. Tim Challies also stands opposed.

It is one of those things that is both good and bad with the bad finally trumping the good.

Essentially it is a good document in its goals, but confuses the gospel in its means. It ends up presenting a law solution to sin rather than a gospel solution. The gospel is briefly mentioned, but is never defined, nor is it offered as the solution to the sins of homosexuality and abortion.

It calls out the evils of homosexuality and abortion without giving the answer of the cross. It is like a man who goes down to the local crack house with a bull horn to warn those who pass by that this is an evil place- but never calls the cops to shut the place down. Only the gospel has the power to shut down sin.

The document also easily gives the message that there is essential agreement between Evangelicals, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox over what the gospel is that saves. Evangelicals and especially Roman Catholics are as far apart on the gospel as is the east from the west. (The Orthodox church has rejected justification by faith alone, but in less bold language as Rome)

The sad truth is that this document has gotten its passing attention in the news media and has been shrugged off. It is like attacking a lion with a paper sword. The thing the world can never ultimately ignore is the gospel- for it alone is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Too bad the Manhattan Declaration is all bark and no bite.

It is all law and no gospel.

UPDATE: Michael Horton responds here
SECOND UPDATE: RC Sproul responds here

Calvin or Darwin- You choose. But choose wisely.

John Calvin

Charles Darwin

The following article makes a good case that there are two distinct Americas. One is the heir of the reformer John Calvin, and the other is the heir of Charles Darwin. The first holds to objective truth and the sinfulness of man and the second abandons anything but scientific observation and embraces the basic goodness of man. One seeks to protect divinely given liberties from the sinful actions of man (Calvinistic). The other seeks to limit liberties even though believing man is basically good(Darwinian). However why is there a need to limit anything if man is basically good?

Just a simple scientific observation of the newspaper or watching the news each day hoots the idea of man's basic goodness right off the stage. And yet the soldiers of progressive and liberal thought march on with heads held high.

Here is the article from the American Thinker.

There is only one religion of peace

The recent Fort Hood shooting reveals (ad infinitum) that there is only one true religion of peace. Islam is a false religion bent on physical war with the infidel (even though there are many nominal Muslims who do not actively engage in jihad). Christ is the only one who truly brings peace because he has destroyed sin and death- man's real enemies. If you want to understand the teachings of Islam regarding jihad, here is a good site that sets out the very teachings of the Koran, the Hadith and Sira- http://www.answering-islam.org/Silas/jihad.htm

Islam offers no victory from sin, death, and the wrath of God. It is only the cross of Christ that brings the real peace that men need. We all need peace with a three times holy God whose wrath against us is just and beyond imagination in its power to destroy both body and soul in hell.

Christianity offers a God whose love makes a way to overcome the guilt of our sin. God makes atonement for us in the death of Christ. It is an atonement that only comes to those who put their faith in Christ alone.

That message does not cause Christians to kill those who do not believe in Christ. It makes us call all men everywhere to repent and believe in Christ who one day will be called Lord- by every Muslim and non-Muslim (Philippians 2:9-11).

Planned Parenthood leader watches ultrasound of abortion- resigns

The truth will make you free.


4-D Ultra Sound of babies in the womb

Be Afraid- Be Very Afraid of Errors about Justification

This October 31st most of the US will be celebrating Halloween- a mindless day of candy and costumes that often celebrates death and evil. Few will remember a day that actually changed western civilization and rescued the gospel. October 31st is the day in 1517 when Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation by nailing up his 95 Theses or protests against the Church of Rome.

The heart of his protest was about the gospel. Luther ultimately believed that the Church of Rome had lost the gospel. Rome had come to believe that we are not justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Rather, Rome believed and still believes we are justified by Christ and by our work through the sacraments. Christ does his part and we do our part and "voila"- we are justified.

Luther and the Reformers understood the Bible to teach that we are justified by faith apart from works of the law. Our works are actually an offense to God if we are seeking to be justified by them.

Rome's was no small error. Luther said that justification by grace alone through faith alone was the article by which the church stands or falls. This meant that if you denied this doctrine you no longer were a true church. John Calvin also agreed that this doctrine was the main hinge upon which everything else turns.

It is a frightening thing to deny justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. To do so is to drive off a cliff of Christian truth and explode on the rocks below. Be afraid.

The Roman Church stills denies this doctrine to this very day.

Words as Weapons or Words as Worship

We are presently using a study by Paul David Tripp entitled "The War of Words". It is a study that often makes you go "Ugh" about your own words and tremble at the words of Jesus who said that we shall be judged for every careless word we speak (Matt. 12:36-37).

Our words are either weapons that attack and destroy, or they are acts of worship that honor the Cross of Christ by either declaring the gospel, defending the gospel or giving grace to those around us in the form of teaching, rebuking, correcting, training (II Timothy 3:16), and encouragement and perseverance (Romans 15:4).

To see all of my words through those two lenses (weapons or worship) is humbling. Too often my words are jagged and crude weapons to fight for my own glory rather than words of worship to lift up God's glory.

Below is a picture of what too often seems to happen to others when I speak. May God give to me Cross-centered words of worship- especially with my own family.

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God" Psalm 14:1

The Wall Street Journal has published an article from two leading atheists in our day. One from the ever fun-loving Richard Dawkins affectionately known as "Darwin's Rottweiler" and another from a more congenial atheist Karen Armstrong, a former nun. Al Mohler has published a very thorough review here . My observations are limited to this comment by Karen Armstrong,

"Evolution has indeed dealt a blow to the idea of a benign creator, literally conceived. It tells us that there is no Intelligence controlling the cosmos, and that life itself is the result of a blind process of natural selection, in which innumerable species failed to survive."

Two things to be said. One, if this is true we can all go home right now because there is no meaning in anything. There is no purpose. There is no reason to even argue the point of a Creator or the idea of evolution. Nothing really matters. Everything is a mere collision of atoms and chemicals with random consequences.

Secondly, number One cannot be true because we are using meaning and purpose to even speak and think about the idea of a Creator or a cosmos, and to even argue against the idea of a Creator. So even the most basic of human thought speaks of a Creator. Even to be able to speak one single idea and call it meaningful or purposeful means that there is a Creator.

This makes the atheist like a man running away from his own shadow. No matter how fast or far he runs, it is still there. And it isn't even tired.

No, we aren't Mr. President

Obama's stumping for health care reform continued yesterday in a telephone conference, in which the president said that "we are God's partners in matters of life and death." (HT:Lifesitenews.com)

‘See now that I, I am He,

And there is no god besides Me;

It is I who put to death and give life.

I have wounded and it is I who heal,

And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
Deuteronomy 32:39

When justice is turned on its head

On December 21, 1988 Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 people on board plus 11 on the ground for a total of 270. There were 189 Americans on the plane.

Today in the name of "compassion" Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi was freed from a prison in Scotland in order to return to Libya, because he has terminal prostate cancer. He was the only one convicted in the bombing and has served only eight years of his sentence.

How many murders get to leave prison in order to die at home? Not many. How many mass murders get to leave prison to die at home? Should Charlie Manson be allowed to go home because he is terminally ill?

Scottish justice has mistaken sentimentality for compassion, and replaced justice with something very wicked.

Woe to those who enact evil statutes

And to those who constantly record unjust decisions (Isaiah 10:1)

Piper on Jesus' view of women

Here is a good explanation of Scripture's view of women (and men) by John Piper as he recently preached from John's gospel.

An Atheist's view of trendy evangelicals

Phil Johnson shares this article about what an atheist thinks of "uber" cool evangelicalism. It is from a writer who attended a large mega-church called "Planetshakers" in Australia. Here's how the writer finishes his article appropriately titled "Shaken but not stirred".....

The crowd left believing they had been moved by God and touched by Jesus. They hadn’t. They had been seduced by slick video packages and had their emotional desire for love, community and certainty met by manipulation. It wasn’t the Holy Spirit; it was just people.

So often churches' attempts to be cool and hip by the world's standards just makes us look plain silly and cheap, like a MacDonald's Happy Meal toy.

Erase any doubts about Islam's ultimate intentions

This is from a conference that was held at the Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom in Oak Lawn, IL this past weekend. The conference of about 800 participants was held by the group Hizb Ut Tahrir; a group that has been banned in Germany, Russia, Pakistan and several other Middle Eastern countries. (HT:Newsbusters).

Islam is a varied religion, but it has an unbending core of world domination that will continue to seek the overthrow of western culture and its Christian underpinnings. Watch and pray.

Even a Stopped Clock is Right Twice a Day

Even the ever cynical and Christian-phobic Bill Maher gets it right at times. He said this on his HBO show "Real Time" Friday night during his "New Rules" segment..... (HT:Newsbusters)


"Michael Jackson IS America. We love him so much because he reflects our nation perfectly: fragile, over-indulgent, childish, in debt, on drugs, and over the hill."

Pray for Bill Maher that his anger and cynicism would drive him to despair over man's ability to make the world better, and that he would see his great need for a Savior.

Two Ways to Read the Bible

There are two ways to read the Bible.

The one way to read the Bible is that it’s basically about you: what you have to do in order to be right with God, in which case you’ll never have a sure and certain hope, because you’ll always know you’re not quite living up. You’ll never be sure about that future.

Or you can read it as all about Jesus. Every single thing is not about what you must do in order to make yourself right with God, but what he has done to make you absolutely right with God.

- Tim Keller

The beauty of the human voice combined with words of ultimate beauty

My Song is Love Unknown

Baby Memories

Babies in the womb remember. Jennifer Harper of the Washington Times reports on a new study that confirms babies in the womb indeed remember.

They weigh less than 3 pounds, usually, and are perhaps 15 inches long. But they can remember.

The unborn have memories, according to medical researchers who used sound and vibration stimulation, combined with sonography, to reveal that the human fetus displays short-term memory from at least 30 weeks gestation - or about two months before they are born.

"In addition, results indicated that 34-week-old fetuses are able to store information and retrieve it four weeks later," said the research, which was released Wednesday.

Scientists from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Maastricht University Medical Centre and the University Medical Centre St. Radboud, both in the Netherlands, based their findings on a study of 100 healthy pregnant women and their fetuses with the help of some gentle but precise sensory stimulation.

She goes on to note...

A call to NARAL Pro-Choice America for comment on the implications of the research were not returned.

Hmmm...perhaps they simply forgot to return the call, as their memories are slipping with age. Oh well, I guess it means they're just human.

He became sick on Saturday--and died on Monday!

Timeless words on the brevity of our times and the richness of grace by John Newton


Dear friend,
Two people who were well the day you left us--have since died. One of them has already been buried--he was a poor ungodly creature, suddenly cut off in the prime of life! The other man was young, jovial, jesting and thoughtless. He became sick on Saturday--and died on Monday!

Oh, my friend, what do we owe to the grace of God--that we were not cut off in the days of our ignorance--as so many others have been!

Blessed be God for Jesus Christ--He is exalted to "save to the uttermost!" That word 'uttermost' has an extensive meaning--it includes a conquest over all difficulties, and a supply of all that is necessary! How totally, and how often, would I have been lost--had not Jesus engaged to save me to the uttermost! And many a time I would have given up all hope--but for that text, "He is able to save to the uttermost!" "To the uttermost" reaches to all possible circumstances. He can . . .
enlighten the most ignorant,
soften the most obdurate,
support the most tempted,
comfort the most distressed,
pardon the most guilty!

Oh, may His precious name be engraved upon our hearts, and sound sweeter than music to our ears--for He has loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and will save us to the uttermost--in defiance of . . .
all our sins,
all our fears and
all our enemies!

(Letters of John Newton)

Happy 500th Birthday John Calvin

1958-2009


In 500 years will anyone be celebrating the birth of Michael Jackson? Will anyone note his great influence on culture and nations and the cause of the gospel? Will anyone still be singing "Beat It" or moonwalking? I can't say for sure but my money will still be on Calvin. Today all over the world many will be celebrating the birth of the great Reformer John Calvin who was born July 10, 1509. To grasp the impact of the entire Reformation Michael Horton has this article on the 5 Sola's of the Reformation.

Probably one of the most ill-informed accusations ever said about Calvin is that his views kill evangelism and missions. Yet listen to these excerpts from an article by Ray Van Neste

Perhaps the best evidence of Calvin's concern for missions is the mission activity of the Genevan church under his leadership. Under Calvin's leadership, Geneva became "the hub of a vast missionary enterprise"[14] and "a dynamic center or nucleus from which the vital missionary energy it generated radiated out into the world beyond."[15] Protestant refugees from all over Europe fled to Geneva; they came not merely for safety but also to learn from Calvin the doctrines of the Reformation so they could return home to spread the true gospel.

In one year, 1561, though the Register mentions only twelve missionaries, other sources indicate that at least 142 missionaries were sent![21] Hundreds of men were sent out, reaching Italy, Germany, Scotland, England, and practically covering France.[.


In addition to the extensive work in Europe, one group of Genevan missionaries was sent to Brazil. The Register simply states that on Tuesday, August 25, 1556, M. Pierre Richier and M. Guillaume were sent as ministers to Brazil.

Soli Deo Gloria- To God Alone Be the Glory

True Freedom

"I shall now conclude my discourse by preaching this Savior to all who hear me, and entreating you in the most earnest manner to believe in Jesus Christ, for "there is no salvation in any other". ... If you are not reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, if you are not clothed with the spotless robe of His righteousness, you must forever perish."


- United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of John Witherspoon, (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. V, p. 276, 278, "The Absolute Necessity of Salvation Through Christ", January 2, 1758

There are only two things which I am sure of

In a day of information explosion (think nuclear!), these are must know truths from a couple of hundred years ago.

John Newton, former slave trader, writer of Amazing Grace, pastor and saved sinner writes:


When I was young, I was sure of many things.
But now that I am old, there are only two
things which I am sure of:
One is that I am a miserable sinner!
Secondly, that Christ is an all-sufficient Savior!

He is well taught--who learns these two lessons.

"This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full
acceptance: 'Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners'--and I am the worst of them!"
1 Timothy 1:15

A reason to smile in the abortion debate

4-D Ultra-sound of babies in the womb

Do babies in the womb hear? Do they react to sounds and music and voices? Chuck Colson reports on a new PBS special with footage that reveals that babies in the womb indeed hear and react and even smile in reaction to music and voices- particularly the voice of their mothers. He believes this can have a similar impact that the film Silent Scream did in shifting the debate toward life. Colson writes:

The footage was part of a recent PBS special, The Music Instinct: Science & Song. The program was an exploration of, among other things, music’s “biological, emotional and psychological impact on humans.”

Part of this “exploration” included how music affects babies. If we are, as some scientists believe, “wired for music,” then babies are ideal test subjects since their reactions are, by definition, instinctual.

Part of this research involved the effect of music on fetuses. While we knew that mothers often sing to their unborn children, we weren’t sure that the unborn child could hear them.

We are now. A segment of The Music Instinct featured Sheila C. Woodward of the University of Southern California, who has studied fetal responses to music. A camera and a microphone designed for underwater use were inserted into the uterus of a pregnant woman. And then Woodward sang.

The hydrophone picked up two sounds: the “whooshing” of the uterine artery and the unmistakable sound of a woman singing a lullaby.

Then something extraordinary happened. Upon hearing the woman’s voice, the unborn child smiled.

It was one of those moments that makes you catch your breath. The full humanity of the fetus could not have been clearer if he had turned to the camera and winked.

Apparently, fetal responses to music aren’t limited to smiling. They have been observed moving their hands in response to music, almost as if conducting. They have been soothed by Vivaldi and disturbed by loud tracks from Beethoven. They have even responded “rhythmically to rhythms tapped on [their] mother’s belly.”

The power of a child's smile can soften some pretty hard hearts. Pray that God might make this little smile to cause many to have a change of heart- especially President Obama.

Drinking Water from Your Own Well- Proverbs 15:5

This week we have seen yet another public figure destroy his life with adultery. Nothing new, but few things are more devastating to families. Gov. Sanford from South Carolina was found out in his affair with an Argentinian journalist. Though it appears that his wife was well aware of his sin, it is now public and the damage has just begun.

I spoke to my wife about how it is that a man, so much in the public eye, can convince himself that adultery can be hidden. What possesses a man who lives in a fish bowl that he can keep this a secret? Even if it can be hidden for a season, God has said that He will always judge the adulterer (Heb 13:4). That verse should scare the lust right out of us. Sin however, has a powerful blinding effect to reason and good sense. Sin makes us dumber than a box of rocks (Proverbs 6:32).

Years ago I read a list of reasons to guard us from the sin of adultery. Randy Alcorn put this list together and it is meant to put the fear of God before us in our moral purity. Here is Randy's list... (Hat tip: Justin Taylor)

Personalized List of Anticipated Consequences of Immorality

• Grieving my Lord; displeasing the One whose opinion most matters.
  
  
• Dragging into the mud Christ's sacred reputation.
  
  
• Loss of reward and commendation from God.
  
  
• Having to one day look Jesus in the face at the judgment seat and give an account of why I did it. Forcing God to discipline me in various ways.


• Following in the footsteps of men I know of whose immorality forfeited their ministry and caused me to shudder. List of these names:


• Suffering of innocent people around me who would get hit by my shrapnel (a la Achan).


• Untold hurt to Nanci, my best friend and loyal wife.


• Loss of Nanci's respect and trust.
  
  
• Hurt to and loss of credibility with my beloved daughters, Karina and Angela. ("Why listen to a man who betrayed Mom and us?")
  
  
• If my blindness should continue or my family be unable to forgive, I could lose my wife and my children forever.
  
  
• Shame to my family. (The cruel comments of others who would invariably find out.)


• Shame to my church family.
  
  
• Shame and hurt to my fellow pastors and elders. List of names:


• Shame and hurt to my friends, and especially those I've led to Christ and discipled. List of names:


• Guilt awfully hard to shake—even though God would forgive me, would I forgive myself?


• Plaguing memories and flashbacks that could taint future intimacy with my wife.


• Disqualifying myself after having preached to others.


• Surrender of the things I am called to and love to do—teach and preach and write and minister to others. Forfeiting forever certain opportunities to serve God. Years of training and experience in ministry wasted for a long period of time, maybe permanently.


• Being haunted by my sin as I look in the eyes of others, and having it all dredged up again wherever I go and whatever I do.


• Undermining the hard work and prayers of others by saying to our community "this is a hypocrite—who can take seriously anything he and his church have said and done?"


• Laughter, rejoicing and blasphemous smugness by those who disrespect God and the church (2 Samuel 12:14).


• Bringing great pleasure to Satan, the Enemy of God.


• Heaping judgment and endless problems on the person I would have committed adultery with.


• Possible diseases (pain, constant reminder to me and my wife, possible infection of Nanci, or in the case of AIDS, even causing her death, as well as mine.)


• Possible pregnancy, with its personal and financial implications.


• Loss of self-respect, discrediting my own name, and invoking shame and lifelong embarrassment upon myself.

Randy's list is good. Be afraid. Be very afraid. But there is also a need to put before us the positive effects of guarding ourselves in this way.

1. The blessings of years of faithfulness to my spouse that brings a trust that cannot be found in any other manner. Just think of looking at a photo album after 40 years of marriage, without twinges of guilt or feelings of what might have been. Rather, think of being reminded of years of faithful commitment that is like looking with satisfaction in seeing a tree you planted growing three feet across and fifty feet tall.

2. Children who have a model of faithfulness, who can find no excuse in mom or dad for their own adultery.

3. A thousand small blessings of a touch on the hand or look across the room that says "I love you" and "I trust you". Small inside jokes that only come from deep trust and intimacy.

4. A life of serving Christ together as a model for many to follow.

5. Never having to try to repair the bond of sexual intimacy. Think of never having to worry about trying to overcome the deepest hurts possible. Think of never having to have brain surgery. How much better to never have to undergo major surgery on your relationship with your spouse!

6. People who engage in adultery see it as a freedom of sorts. What a massive lie from the pit of hell! In reality it is a brutal prison with its own torture chamber. Real freedom is in being faithful to one spouse so long as you both shall live. Only in marital faithfulness is there freedom to know joy and trust and the blessings of God. Marriage is never without troubles, but there are enough troubles without the nuclear explosion of adultery.

7. God designed sex for marriage alone. If it is put anywhere else but marriage it destroys. I love the illustration of a fire. A fire is a great thing if it is kept in the fireplace. But if you build a fire in the middle of the floor of your living room, it will burn down the house. Keep it in the fireplace and it will be a glorious thing. It will bring both warmth, light and a wonderful atmosphere.

8. Ultimately we are faithful to our spouses because it honors Christ. For husbands we witness to Christ's love for the church, and wives witness to the church's commitment Christ. What a glorious privilege that will bring with it eternal rewards.

Because of sin we need both fear and joy set before us as motivations to faithfulness.

Take this opportunity to pray for your own commitment to your spouse, and for one other couple and their faithfulness. And do something special for your wife or husband today that will say to them, "I am committed to you and I love you, for Christ's sake." Maybe a note or a breakfast in bed or just a hug in the kitchen.

From the End of the Road to the Ends of the Earth

What a great weekend we had to hear about how the good news of Jesus Christ is changing the nations - specifically Hungary and Albania. We had the privilege of having the Grant Olson Family for the weekend. Grant and his wife Deb and their children Mandi, Lydia, Anna and William work with Campus Crusade for Christ in Hungary and they brought with them Kajdis (pronounced "Kay- dis"). Kajdis is an Albanian national working in Hungary who also is hoping to plant a church in his native Albania.

If you would like to help Kajdis, he is looking to raise $1,000.00 a month for his missionary efforts. Contact Grant Olson at grant.olson@ccci.org to find out more about helping. Kajdis is looking to plant a church in a area of about 1 million people who are without any gospel witness. Find out more on the Olson's ministry at www.OlsonUpdate.com

Be a Dad for Jesus' Sake

This Father's Day let me just give an encouragement to those who are dads and are sinners- from one who is both. I am joyfully a dad and regretfully still a sinner. God has called imperfect men to lead imperfect wives and imperfect children, but he has called us to do this the power of His grace. He supplies the wisdom in his Word and his Spirit gives the power to apply the Word to both ourselves and our families. What we do imperfectly He is somehow directing it perfectly in his sovereign plan. Take courage then and lead, be humble when you fail and ask God to bless you in both your strengths and your weaknesses. Remember your responsibility is great, but your God is greater. Know that He loves your wife and family more than you and he has placed "imperfect" you to lead and shepherd them. It was not a mistake that He chose a sinful man to lead as a husband and father. Rather it was his plan to cause his grace to be glorified in your weaknesses.

This never excuses our weaknesses, but it gives us confidence to lead with great humility, fear and a great sense of calling.

If you are dad who has been saved by grace alone all through the work of Christ alone here is a Father's Day prayer for you:

God, may you give wisdom to those who are fathers
Cause us to be faithful men, though we still fall
Grant to us tongues that speak wisdom
Give to us words that heal rather than wound
May our corrections be firm but gentle
Supply courage to face down temptations
Stiffen our spines to lead in uncertain times
Grant tenderness to listen to broken hearts and discouragements
May we be sources of laughter and song in our homes
Let us teach our children warmly and not woodenly
Help us to love our wives in a way that honors the Cross
Make us fearless in the face of evil
Willing to make great sacrifices for the gospel at home, church and world
Oh let us be men who would die a thousand deaths for the glory of our justification in Christ
Let us teach our children well the message of Christ crucified as the only remedy for our sin
Supply us with great patience and careful instruction.
Let us imitate the strengths of our own fathers and avoid their weaknesses
May our children be given grace to rise above our own failings
Make us good and quick repenters
Give us sons and daughters who fear nothing but God,
Who love all that is Christ-centered
And whose blazing passion is to find their great joy in God and not in the trinkets of this world
May they long to be found in Christ not having a righteousness of their own, but that which comes completely from Christ on the basis of faith.
May both we, our wives and our children be faithful unto death or until Jesus Christ returns. Amen