First, I apologize for the lack of updates on the Shepherds’ Conference.  I was just simply too busy in the midst of the conference to update day by day.  I will post a summary of the conference soon.

Today, however, as I was rereading J.I. Packer’s classic work Knowing God, I was struck with one paragraph particularly.  Packer said in regard to Daniel and J.C. Ryle’s boldness for God, “those  who know their God are sensitive to situations in which God’s truth and honor are being directly or tacitly jeopardized, and rather than let the matter go by default will force the issue on men’s attention and seek thereby to compel a change of heart about it – even at personal risk.”¹

It is this “personal risk” aspect that caught my attention.  It is easy for me to sit behind a computer and defend my positions on a page or a blog, there is a certain amount of anonymity to it.  But to boldly stand in a personal way in the face of opposition to my God, that is a “horse of a different color” to quote the Wizard of Oz.  How am I doing at defending the honor of God to a watching world?

I also happen to be writing an exposition of Psalm 73, in which Asaph is struggling to see the justice in the lack of consequences the wicked incur at their bold defiance of God.  How much more the piercing of the heart will I receive, if I do not boldly stand for His honor now?

These are just questions I am asking myself.  I am now encouraging you to ask the same.

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¹ Packer, J.I., Knowing God, p.28