Category Archives: witness

The plot to kill Lazarus…

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Yes, that Lazarus, the one Jesus raised from the dead. Opponents of Jesus wanted him dead. Why? Read for yourself, in JOHN 12 [emphasis added] — 

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Two “wow” thoughts come to mind.

#1. Here a life greatly changed by Jesus was changing the lives of others! I have been changed — born again — because of Jesus; am I impacting the lives of those around me?

#2. Those opposing Jesus couldn’t help but face, in Lazarus, evidence for the divine power of Jesus. Nevertheless, they sought to get rid of the evidence rather than change their view of Jesus! How rock hard is the heart of unbelief! How irrational are those who refuse to believe.

I praise God for His grace to me, in opening my eyes, and giving me life in Christ.
pdb

Small steps to conversion

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The wise J. C. Ryle writes:

The first beginnings of the work of grace in a sinner are generally exceedingly small. It is like the mixture of leaven with a lump of dough:

A single sentence of a sermon…

A single verse of Holy Scripture…

A word of rebuke from a friend…

A casual religious remark overheard…

A tract given by a stranger…

A trifling act of kindness received from a Christian…

…some of these things are often the starting-point in the life of a soul. The first acts of the spiritual life are often small in the extreme–so small, that for a long time they are not known except by the person who is the subject of them, and even by them not fully understood:

A few serious thoughts and prickings of conscience…

A desire to pray for real and not formally…

A determination to begin reading the Bible in private…

A gradual drawing towards means of grace…

An increasing interest in the subject of religion…

A growing distaste for evil habits and bad companions…

…these are often the first symptoms of grace beginning to move the heart of man. They are symptoms which worldly men may not perceive, and ignorant believers may despise, and even old Christians may mistake. Yet they are often the first steps in the mighty business of conversion. They are often the “leaven” of grace working in a heart.

~ J.C. Ryle
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke vol. 2 , Banner of Truth, 1998, 126, 127.

PS: I always enjoy reading Ryle. I find these compact volumes some of the best Christian reading in print today! – pdb