“Frueher brachte der Laerm die Menschen aus der Ruhe. Heutzutage ist es die Stille.” – Ernst Ferstl

“We are what we read,” is a column in our local paper today called. (The Northland Age, Thursday, May 7, 2020)

Straight away I am asking myself, “What am I reading?”

Looking to the right from where I am sitting just now, I see my well worn Bible on another chair. And here are two promises from the Bible, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. In Job 2:9 it says, “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still holding on to your integrity?” Curse God and die.'” (That is Job’s wife speaking.) And in First Peter 5:5 we read, “‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'”

Looking on the carpet not far from my chair I see two important books, namely a devotional book written by J. I. Packer and a book with nine sermons by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The sermons are about “THE CROSS” and “God’s Way of Salvation.”

The Daily Devotions by J.I. Packer are about “Knowing and Doing the Will of God.” The nine sermons by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones are all on Galatians 6:14, where it says, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” The following quote by Dr Lloyd-Jones is also in the book, “Superficial views of the work of Christ produce superficial Christian lives.”

From what I have told you already you know what kind of books you find in my small library in one of the other rooms of the house.

I am reading the Bible, because the author of the Bible is the Holy Spirit. And please listen to what it says about the Bible in the Gospel of Matthew 24:35: “HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY, BUT MY WORDS WILL NEVER PASS AWAY.” Read also Mark 13:31 and Luke 21:33.

Have you ever asked yourself, “What am I reading?” Please remember, “We are what we read.”

“‘If anyone comes to me

Luke 14:26

Introduction:

and does not hate

• his father and
• mother,
• his wife and
• children,
• his brothers and
• sisters – yes,
• even his own life –

End:

he cannot be my disciple.'”

“To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.” – Ecclesiastes 2:26

“‘O unbelieving and perverse generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?'” – Matthew 17:17

“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:27

“Knowing that God is on the throne upholds one under pressure and in the face of bewilderment, pain, hostility, and events that seem not to make sense.” – J. I. Packer