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Why God Made Bookends
0 CommentsDawn Lockwood just sent me this encouraging note I wanted to pass on. She’s been reading a great book co-authored by Jerry Bridges that I highly recommend:
I really appreciated your message last Sunday on Naaman ... It directly corresponds with the recommended book for last month, The Bookends of the Christian Life, by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington. According to the book, every activity in our Christian life must be informed and directed by a spiritual dimension. The book’s authors call these “bookends.” The first is the righteousness of Christ, and the second is the power of the Holy Spirit.
The first time I read Bookends I was struck with the realization that most of my areas of sin and struggle with temptation were because I did not understand how to apply grace to my life. [The book] was helpful and eye opening. As I did the study questions I saw where the breakdown of lies I believed began, how it started in my heart, mostly due to pride, and God is enabling me to experience much more freedom from sin’s power … I find myself less anxious and trusting God more in everyday issues …
As I am reading and re-reading this book, I can see God forming new habits in my life to depend on His grace and to rest in the finished work of the cross. Since we are all prone to drifting into self-righteousness and striving in our own strength, I venture to say that this book will be at my bedside for a LONG time. I am becoming a “bookend” junky!
My family is also doing the study separately. We follow up with our kids and review their answers to the study questions to help them in their understanding and application of grace. I do not want my kids to believe the lie that Christianity is just following a bunch of rules and to run away from the great news of the gospel. I think many people are like me in the sense that they struggle with remembering the unchanging standing we have in Christ’s righteousness and feel left to themselves to work it out on their own …
It is my hope that others will take time to read this book …We all need to encounter God’s grace more deeply, and this study is transforming!
In Christ,
Dawn
The Bookends of the Christian Life is available in the church bookstore.