The most Scriptural church government

This is a direct copy from Ray Ortlund's blog post:

“It seems to me that the most Scriptural system of church government is that which requires the most prayer, the most faith, and the most piety to keep it going.  The church of God was never meant to be an automaton.  If it were, the wheels would all act of themselves.  The church was meant to be a living thing, a living person, and as the person cannot be supported if life is absent, or if food is kept back, or if breath is suspended, so should it be with the church.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, preaching on 1 Timothy 3:15, 19 May 1861.  Italics original.

Here Spurgeon is speaking of it in a context of his whole sermon and he's no doubt trying to pack a punch in what he's saying, so take it with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, this is a good reminder whenever we think about church structure.

Blessings thrown at us by God's rough hands

In my cell, we have been reading Genesis for the past few weeks. I often found that God's blessing came to those Joseph (and others as well) in a very strange ways. The Bible says that God was with Joseph and made him proper in all he did, so he was made great in Potiphar's household, and in the jail, and later under Pharaoh. But God, being with Joseph and blessing him did not stop Joseph from being falsely accused as a rapist, nor from being thrown into the prison, nor from being forgotten after interpreting dreams correctly for two officials. And I am not often content with the explanation that goes like, "all is well that ends well," because I do not believe that the end can always justify the means.

However, this little quote from the Baptist preacher did a trick.

It is for a greater gain for us that God, in His providence, gives rough times. These temporary suffering is nothing compared to the greater spiritual gain that lasts forever.
Apostle Paul also testified, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18)."

How slow is my understanding and little my faith in Him!

Holiness, Justice, and Grace of God - a quote from the blog, Of First Importance

There is a quote posted on the "Of First Importance" blog today. I quote that quote partly.

God cannot look where there is sin with any pleasure, and though as far as Jesus is personally concerned, he is the Father’s beloved Son in whom he is well pleased; yet when he saw sin laid upon his Son, he made that Son cry, ‘My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me?’

Wow.
O, the wonderful, mysterious, and glorious cross where my Lord was nailed for my sins! O, great is our God's holiness and grace!