Category: Vision

Earlier this year I was reading J. C. Ryle’s Thoughts for Young Men. I stumbled across this brief text (about 100 pages) in a “Top 20 of 2020” list from Banner of Truth (one of my favorite publishers) – and I’m sure glad I did, for I found it a hard hitting and highly motivating book.

J. I. Packer described Ryle as “a single-minded Christian communicator of profound biblical, theological, and practical wisdom, a man and minister of giant personal stature and electric force of utterance that sympathetic readers still feel.”

Regarding this book in particular, one young reviewer wrote, “I can just say I wish I had this book at the age of 15.” Me too, friend, me too. Continue reading “…but I must decrease (J. C. Ryle on Pride)” →

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

There is a story in the third chapter of the book of John where John’s (i.e., John the Baptist, not the Apostle who authored the book) disciples reported to him that the crowds that once flocked to John (cf. Matt 3:5) were now flocking to Jesus (cf. John 3:26). John’s response?

“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Continue reading “ἐκεῖνον δεῖ αὐξάνειν ἐμὲ δὲ ἐλαττοῦσθαι” →