Under the Wings of Jesus

John Piper:

“God is not an employer looking for employees. He is an Eagle looking for people who will take refuge under his wings. He is looking for people who will leave father and mother and homeland or anything else that may hold them back from a life of love under the wings of Jesus.” (A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God)

The Miracle of the Bible

Around 40 authors wrote the sixty-six books of the Bible. Most of them we know, but there are anonymous writers too. Some of the authors wrote one book, some wrote several. The Bible was written on three continents, over a period of 1,800 years. These men came from all occupations, differing greatly from one another, but their writings never contradict. These books compliment one another. Such an accomplishment would be impossible if the Holy Spirit were not the Divine Author.

 

Zeal for Christ

Men and women with zeal throw themselves into one grand pursuit. They put everything else aside. They count everything else as inferior in importance. J. C. Ryle tells us that the same habit of mind must be applied to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“It is always good to be zealous in a good cause.” (Galatians 4:18)

Come now, and give me your attention, while I tell you something about zeal. Listen to me for your own sake—for the sake of the world—for the sake of the Church of Christ. Listen to me, and by God’s help, I will show you that to be zealous—is to be wise.

Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire which no man feels by nature—which the Spirit puts into the heart of every believer when he is converted—but which some believers feel so much more strongly than others, that they alone deserve to be called zealous men.

This desire is so strong when it really reigns in a man, that it impels him to make any sacrifice—to go through any trouble, to deny himself to any amount—to suffer, to work, to labor, to toil—to spend himself and be spent, and even to die—if only he can please God and honor Christ.

A zealous man is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, and fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing—he cares for one thing—he lives for one thing—he is swallowed up in one thing—and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives—or whether he dies; whether he has health—or whether he has sickness; whether he is rich—or whether he is poor; whether he pleases man—or whether he gives offense; whether he is thought wise—or whether he is thought foolish; whether he gets blame—or whether he gets praise; whether he gets honor—or whether he gets shame—for all this, the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing, and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory. (“Be Zealous”)