Writing for His Glory is a series of reflections and writing prompts drawn from a writers’ workshop I teach for high school students. God spoke all of creation into existence His Word; as He made us in His image, we can glorify Him with our own. My prayer is that these reflections prompt you to wonder, praise, and pick up your pen.
Writing for His Glory: Eyes to See
Many devotionals begin with meditation upon a specific verse or passage from Scripture. God’s word is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12), and even a single verse can change the heart and move nations. St. Augustine’s conversion hinged upon Rom. 13:13; for Martin Luther, Rom. 1:16-17 was revelatory. A single verse or paragraph can inspire volumes.
Among Christian writers, the Puritans of 17th-19th century England were especially adept at expositing the Scriptures. The following two readings offer examples of such an approach, although their structures are quite different. As you read, note the following:
- How are these approaches different? How are they similar?
- Note how the authors contextualize each verse and relate them to other passages in the Bible.
A Divine Cordial (Excerpt) by Thomas Watson, 1663
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
If the whole Scripture be the feast for the soul (as Ambrose says)—then Romans 8 may be a dish at that feast, and with its sweet variety may very much refresh and animate the hearts of Gods people. In the preceding verses the apostle had been wading through the great doctrines of justification and adoption, mysteries so arduous and profound, that without the help and conduct of the Spirit, he might soon have waded beyond his depth. In this verse the apostle touches upon that pleasant string of consolation, “we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God.” Not a word but is weighty; therefore I shall gather up every filing of this gold, that nothing will be lost.
In the text there are three general branches.
First, a glorious privilege. All things work for good.
Second, the people interested in this privilege. They are doubly specified. They are lovers of God, they are called.
Third, the origin and spring of this effectual calling, set down in these words, “according to His purpose.”. . . .
2. The EXCELLENCY of the privilege. “All things work together for good.”
This is as Jacob’s staff in the hand of faith, with which we may walk cheerfully to the mount of God! What will satisfy or make us content, if this will not? All things work together for good. This expression “work together” refers to medicine. Several poisonous ingredients put together, being tempered by the skill of the apothecary, make a sovereign medicine, and work together for the good of the patient. So all God’s providences being divinely tempered and sanctified, do work together for the best to the saints. He who loves God and is called according to His purpose, may rest assured that everything in the world shall be for his good. This is a Christian’s cordial, which may warm him—and make him like Jonathan who, when he had tasted the honey at the end of the rod, “his eyes were enlightened” (1 Sam. Xiv. 27). Why should a Christian destroy himself? Why should he kill himself with care, when all things shall sweetly concur, yes, conspire for his good? The result of the text is this—all the various dealings of God with His children, do by a special providence turn to their good. “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant” (Psalm 25:10). If every path has mercy in it, then it works for good.
Obtaining Promises (Excerpt) by Charles Spurgeon, 1862
“Who through faith obtained promises.”— Hebrews 11:33
THE promises of God are to the believer an inexhaustible mine of wealth. Happy is it for him if he knows how to search out their secret veins and enrich himself with their hid treasures. They are to him an armoury containing all manner of offensive and defensive weapons. Blessed is he who has learned to enter into the sacred arsenal, to put on the breastplate and the helmet, and to lay his hand to the spear and to the sword. They are to the believer a surgery in which he will find all manner of restoratives and blessed elixirs; he shall find therein an ointment for every wound, a cordial for every faintness, a remedy for every disease. Blessed is he who is well skilled in heavenly pharmacy and knoweth how to lay hold on the healing virtues of the promises of God.
The promises are to the Christian a storehouse of food. They are as the granaries which Joseph built in Egypt, or as the golden pot wherein the unrotting manna was preserved. Blessed is he who can take the five barley loaves and fishes of promise and break them till his five thousand necessities shall all be supplied, and he is able to gather up baskets full of fragments. The promises are the Christian’s Magna Charta of liberty, they are the title deeds of his heavenly estate. Happy is he who knoweth how to read them well and call them all his own.
Yea, they are the jewel room in which the Christian’s crown-treasures are preserved— the regalia, secretly his to-day, but which he shall openly wear in paradise. He is already a king who hath the silver key with which to unlock the strong room; he may even now grasp the sceptre, wear the crown, and put upon his shoulders the imperial mantle. O how unutterably rich are the promises of our faithful, covenant-keeping God! If we had here the tongue of the mightiest of human orators, and if that tongue could be touched with a live coal from off the altar, yet still it could not utter a tenth of the praises of the exceeding great and precious promises of God. Nay, they who have entered into rest, and have had their tongues attuned to the lofty and rapturous eloquence of cherubim and seraphim, even they can never tell the height and depth, the length and breadth of the unsearchable riches of Christ which are stored up in the treasure-house of God — the promises of the covenant of his grace. See, then, my brethren, how needful it is that you and I should know the heavenly art of by faith “obtaining promises.
Writing Exercise: Choose a verse or passage from Scripture and write a reflection on its meaning and significance. Pay attention to:
- The original context of the verse,
- The meaning of the verse within the narrative arc of the Bible, and
- Its application to the life of a disciple.
Don’t be intimidated! It’s fine to describe how a verse has influenced you, just make sure you consider its meaning in context.
When not writing, she loves adventuring through books with her kids, wandering through the mountains, and chasing dragons out of her kitchen.
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- Writer, Treat Your Words as Offerings - April 22, 2024
- Writing for His Glory: Meditate on His Word - March 20, 2024
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