Quotes from The Legacy of Sovereign Joy

Here are some quotes from the Introduction of The Legacy of Sovereign Joy (Piper, John. The Legacy of Sovereign Joy: God's Triumphant Grace in the Lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006. Print.):

God ordains that we gaze on his glory, dimly mirrored in the ministry of his flawed servants. He intends for us to consider their lives and peer through the imperfections of their faith and behold the beauty of their God. (17)

From David, the king, to David Brainerd, the missionary, extraordinary and incomplete specimens of godliness and wisdom have kindled the worship of sovereign grace in the hearts of reminiscing saints. (17)

Of course, Augustine is not alone in mingling a deep knowledge of grace with defective views and flawed living. Every worthy theologian and every true saint does the same. Every one of them confesses, “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12). But the famous flawed saints have their flaws exposed and are criticized vigorously for it. (27)

There are life-giving lessons written by the hand of Divine Providence on every page of history. (37)

Lloyd-Jones on pride and biographies

"The best way of checking any tendency to pride-pride in your preaching or in anything else that you may do or may be-is to read on Sunday nights the biography of some great saint. It does not matter which, or to which century or branch of the church he belonged as long as he was a saint ... if that does not bring you to earth then I pronounce you are ... beyond hope." (Lloyd-Jones, David Martyn. Preaching and Preachers. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publ. House, 1971. 256)

I need to read more biographies.

Biographies of 'Fathers of our Faith' and Courage

A few things from my Bible reading today.

It seems to me one could look at the first verse of Psalm 44 and take away from it an encouragement to read some biographies of Christian men and women from our past:

44:1 O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,

in the days of old:

Also, would it not be great to have it said about you what was said about Jehoshaphat:

His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. (II Chron. 17:6a)