Category: Spiritual Life

Book Review: Max on Life by Max Lucado

In this resource, popular pastor and writer, Max Lucado responds to some of the letters he has received from people pursuing answers to some of life’s more important questions. Max answers close to two hundred practical questions based on these letters. The questions along with his subsequent answers – supported by the Scriptures – are handled in the following categories:

 1) Hope: God, Grace, and “Why am I here?” – pages 1-36.

2) Hurt: Conflicts, Calamities, and “Why me?” – pages 37-74.

3) Help: Prayer, Scripture, and “Why church?” – pages 75-118.

4) Him/Her: Sex, Romance, and “Any chance of a second chance?” – pages 119-150.

5) Home: Diapers, Disagreements, and “Any hope for prodigals?” – pages 151-176.

6) Haves/Have-Nots: Work, Money, and “Where’s the lifeline?”  – pages 177-196.

7) Hereafter: Cemeteries, Heaven, Hell, and “Who goes where?” – pages 197-230.

8) Addendum: The Write Suff – helpful and brief advice on: how to write, when to write, who can publish, who can edit. – pages 231-235.

9) Notes – pages 236-238.

10) Topical Index – a helpful index for quick access to the topics addressed in the book beginning with “abortion” and ending with “worship.” – pages 239-245.

Overall, the answers to the questions are gracious, practical, clear, and concise. I’m sure I will consult his answers again as they come up in my own ministries of counseling and life coaching. I think his book is definitely worth having and consulting – especially for new believers in Christ.

I think Max does an adequate job in his answers to these questions, but Max represents what I would deem a “Generic Christianity.” I would prefer to see the questions answered within the framework of a robust Biblical Theology with Christ at the center. I would love to see Tim Keller or D.A. Carson write a book answering the same questions. For those who would prefer a more Theological approach (considering Biblical and Systematic Theology) to frequently asked questions I would recommend R.C. Sproul’s, “Now That’s a Good Question” as a much better resource with more depth of insight into the Christo-centric emphasis of the Scriptures and their connection to life in the 21st century.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Plan for Reading the Bible Chronologically in a Year

January

(1) Genesis 1-3; (2) Genesis 4-7;( 3) Genesis 8-11; (4) Job 1-5; (5) Job 6-9; (6) Job 10-13; (7) Job 14-16; (8) Job 17-20; (9) Job 21-23; (10) Job 24-28; (11) Job 29-31; (12) Job 32-34; (13) Job 35-37; (14) Job 38-39; (15) Job 40-42; (16) Genesis 12-15; (17) Genesis 16-18; (18) Genesis 19-21; (19) Genesis 22-24; (20) Genesis 25-26; (21) Genesis 27-29; (22) Genesis 30-31; (23) Genesis 32-34; (24) Genesis 35-37; (25) Genesis 38-40; (26) Genesis 41-42; (27) Genesis 43-45; (28) Genesis 46-47; (29) Genesis 48-50; (30) Exodus 1-3; 31) Exodus 4-6

 February

(1) Exodus 7-9; (2) Exodus 10-12; (3) Exodus 13-15; (4) Exodus 16-18; (5) Exodus 19-21; (6) Exodus 22-24; (7) Exodus 25-27; (8) Exodus 28-29; (9) Exodus 30-32; (10) Exodus 33-35; (11) Exodus 36-38; (12) Exodus 39-40; (13) Leviticus 1-4; (14) Leviticus 5-7; (15) Leviticus 8-10; (16) Leviticus 11-13; (17) Leviticus 14-15; (18) Leviticus 16-18; (19) Leviticus 19-21; (20) Leviticus 22-23; (21) Leviticus 24-25; (22) Leviticus 26-27; (23) Numbers 1-2; (24) Numbers 3-4; (25) Numbers 5-6; (26) Numbers 7; (27) Numbers 8-10; (28) Numbers 11-13.

 March

(1) Numbers 14-15; Psalms 90; (2) Numbers 16-17; (3) Numbers 18-20; (4) Numbers 21-22; (5) Numbers 23-25; (6) Numbers 26-27; (7) Numbers 28-30; (8) Numbers 31-32; (9) Numbers 33-34; (10) Numbers 35-36; (11) Deuteronomy 1-2; (12) Deuteronomy 3-4; (13) Deuteronomy 5-7; (14) Deuteronomy 8-10; (15) Deuteronomy 11-13; (16) Deuteronomy 14-16; (17) Deuteronomy 17-20; (18) Deuteronomy 21-23; (19) Deuteronomy 24-27; (20) Deuteronomy 28-29; (21) Deuteronomy 30-31; (22) Deuteronomy 32-34; Psalms 91; (23) Joshua 1-4; (24) Joshua 5-8; (25) Joshua 9-11; (26) Joshua 12-15; (27) Joshua 16-18; (28) Joshua 19-21; (29) Joshua 22-24; (30) Judges 1-2; (31) Judges 3-5.

 April

1) Judges 6-7; 2) Judges 8-9; 3) Judges 10-12; 4) Judges 13-15; 5) Judges 16-18; 6) Judges 19-21; 7) Ruth; 8) 1 Samuel 1-3; 9) 1 Samuel 4-8; 10) 1 Samuel 9-12; 11) 1 Samuel 13-14; 12) 1 Samuel 15-17; 13) 1 Samuel 18-20; Psalms 11; Psalms 59; 14) 1 Samuel 21-24; 15) Psalms 7; Psalms 27; Psalms 31; Psalms 34; Psalms 52; 16) Psalms 56; Psalms 120; Psalms 140-142; 17) 1 Samuel 25-27; 18) Psalms 17; Psalms 35; Psalms 54; Psalms 63; 19) 1 Samuel 28-31; Psalms 18; 20) Psalms 121; Psalms 123-125; Psalms 128-130; 21) 2 Samuel 1-4; 22) Psalms 6; Psalms 8-10; Psalms 14; Psalms 16; Psalms 19; Psalms 21; 23) 1 Chronicles 1-2; 24) Psalms 43-45; Psalms 49; Psalms 84-85; Psalms 87; 25) 1 Chronicles 3-5; 26) Psalms 73; Psalms 77-78; 27) 1 Chronicles 6; 28) Psalms 81; Psalms 88; Psalms 92-93; 29) 1 Chronicles 7-10; 30) Psalms 102-104.

 May

1) 2 Samuel 5:1-10; 1 Chronicles 11-12; 2) Psalms 133; 3) Psalms 106-107; 4) 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23; 1 Chronicles 13-16; 5) Psalms 1-2; Psalms 15; Psalms 22-24; Psalms 47; Psalms 68; 6) Psalms 89; Psalms 96; Psalms 100; Psalms 101; Psalms 105; Psalms 132; 7) 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; 8) Psalms 25; Psalms 29; Psalms 33; Psalms 36; Psalms 39; 9) 2 Samuel 8-9; 1 Chronicles 18; 10) Psalms 50; Psalms 53; Psalms 60; Psalms 75; 11) 2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 19; Psalms 20; 12) Psalms 65-67; Psalms 69-70; 13) 2 Samuel 11-12; 1 Chronicles 20; 14) Psalms 32; Psalms 51; Psalms 86; Psalms 122; 15) 2 Samuel 13-15; 16) Psalms 3-4; Psalms 12-13; Psalms 28; Psalms 55; 17) 2 Samuel 16-18; 18) Psalms 26; Psalms 40; Psalms 58; Psalms 61-62; Psalms 64; 19) 2 Samuel 19-21; 20) Psalms 5; Psalms 38; Psalms 41-42; 21) 2 Samuel 22-23; Psalms 57; 22) Psalms 95; Psalms 97-99; 23) 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalms 30; 24) Psalms 108-110; 25) 1 Chronicles 23-25; 26) Psalms 131; Psalms 138-139; Psalms 143-145; 27) 1 Chronicles 26-29; Psalms 127; 28) Psalms 111-118; 29) 1 Kings 1-2; Psalms 37; Psalms 71; Psalms 94; 30) Psalms 119:1-88; 31) 1 Kings 3-4; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalms 72.

 June

1) Psalms 119:89-176; 2) Song of Solomon; 3) Proverbs 1-3; 4) Proverbs 4-6; 5) Proverbs 7-9; 6) Proverbs 10-12; 7) Proverbs 13-15; 8) Proverbs 16-18; 9) Proverbs 19-21; 10) Proverbs 22-24; 11) 1 Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3; 12) 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; 13) 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5; 14) 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalms 136; 15) Psalms 134; Psalms 146-150; 16) 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; 17) Proverbs 25-26; 18) Proverbs 27-29; 19) Ecclesiastes 1-6; 20) Ecclesiastes 7-12; 21) 1 Kings 10-11; 2 Chronicles 9; 22) Proverbs 30-31; 23) 1 Kings 12-14; 24) 2 Chronicles 10-12; 25) 1 Kings 15:1-24; 2 Chronicles 13-16; 26) 1 Kings 15:25-16:34; 2 Chronicles 17; 27) 1 Kings 17-19; 28) 1 Kings 20-21; 29) 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18; 30) 2 Chronicles 19-23.

 July

1) Obadiah; Psalms 82-83; 2) 2 Kings 1-4; 3) 2 Kings 5-8; 4) 2 Kings 9-11; 5) 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24; 6) 2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25; 7) Jonah; 8) 2 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 26; 9) Isaiah 1-4; 10) Isaiah 5-8; 11) Amos 1-5; 12) Amos 6-9; 13) 2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12; 14) Micah; 15) 2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16-17; 16) Isaiah 13-17; 17) Isaiah 18-22; 18) Isaiah 23-27; 19) 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalms 48; 20) Hosea 1-7; 21) Hosea 8-14; 22) Isaiah 28-30; 23) Isaiah 31-34; 24) Isaiah 35-36; 25) Isaiah 37-39; Psalms 76; 26) Isaiah 40-43; 27) Isaiah 44-48; 28) 2 Kings 18:9-19:37; Psalms 46; Psalms 80; Psalms 135; 29) Isaiah 49-53; 30) Isaiah 54-58; 31) Isaiah 59-63.

 August

(1) Isaiah 64-66; (2) 2 Kings 20-21; (3) 2 Chronicles 32-33; (4) Nahum; (5) 2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35; (6) Zephaniah; (7) Jeremiah 1-3; (8) Jeremiah 4-6; (9) Jeremiah 7-9; (10) Jeremiah 10-13; (11) Jeremiah 14-17; (12) Jeremiah 18-22; (13) Jeremiah 23-25; (14) Jeremiah 26-29; (15) Jeremiah 30-31; (16) Jeremiah 32-34; (17) Jeremiah 35-37; (18) Jeremiah 38-40; Psalms 74; Psalms 79; (19) 2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36; (20) Habakkuk; (21) Jeremiah 41-45; (22) Jeremiah 46-48; (23) Jeremiah 49-50; (24) Jeremiah 51-52; (25) Lamentations 1:1-3:36; (26) Lamentations 3:37-5:22; (27) Ezekiel 1-4; (28) Ezekiel 5-8; (29) Ezekiel 9-12; (30) Ezekiel 13-15; (31) Ezekiel 16-17.

 September

(1) Ezekiel 18-19; (2) Ezekiel 20-21; (3) Ezekiel 22-23; (4) Ezekiel 24-27; (5) Ezekiel 28-31; (6) Ezekiel 32-34; (7) Ezekiel 35-37; (8) Ezekiel 38-39; (9) Ezekiel 40-41; (10) Ezekiel 42-43; (11) Ezekiel 44-45; (12) Ezekiel 46-48; (13) Joel; (14) Daniel 1-3; (15) Daniel 4-6; (16) Daniel 7-9; (17) Daniel 10-12; (18) Ezra 1-3; (19) Ezra 4-6; Psalms 137; (20) Haggai; (21) Zechariah 1-7; (22) Zechariah 8-14; (23) Esther 1-5; (24) Esther 6-10; (25) Ezra 7-10; (26) Nehemiah 1-5; (27) Nehemiah 6-7; (28) Nehemiah 8-10; (29) Nehemiah 11-13; Psalms 126; (30) Malachi.

 October

(1) Luke 1; John 1:1-14; (2) Matthew 1; Luke 2:1-38; (3) Matthew 2; Luke 2:39-52; (4) Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3; (5) Matthew 4; Luke 4-5; John 1:15-51; (6) John 2-4; (7) Mark 2; (8) John 5; (9) Matthew 12:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6; (10) Matthew 5-7; (11) Matthew 8:1-13; Luke 7; (12) Matthew 11; (13) Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11; (14) Matthew 13; Luke 8; (15) Matthew 8:14-34; Mark 4-5; (16) Matthew 9-10; (17) Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9:1-17; (18) John 6; (19) Matthew 15; Mark 7; (20) Matthew 16; Mark 8; Luke 9:18-27; (21) Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9:28-62; (22) Matthew 18; (23) John 7-8; (24) John 9:1-10:21; (25) Luke 10-11; John 10:22-42; (26) Luke 12-13; (27) Luke 14-15; (28) Luke 16-17:10; (29) John 11; (30) Luke 17:11-18:14; (31) Matthew 19; Mark 10.

 November

(1) Matthew 20-21; (2) Luke 18:15-19:48; (3) Mark 11; John 12; (4) Matthew 22; Mark 12; (5) Matthew 23; Luke 20-21; (6) Mark 13; (7) Matthew 24; (8) Matthew 25; (9) Matthew 26; Mark 14; (10) Luke 22; John 13; (11) John 14-17; (12) Matthew 27; Mark 15; (13) Luke 23; John 18-19; (14) Matthew 28; Mark 16; (15) Luke 24; John 20-21; (16) Acts 1-3; (17) Acts 4-6; (18) Acts 7-8; (19) Acts 9-10; (20) Acts 11-12; (21) Acts 13-14; (22) James; (23) Acts 15-16; (24) Galatians 1-3; (25) Galatians 4-6; (26) Acts 17-18:18; (27) 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians; (28) Acts 18:19-19:41; (29) 1 Corinthians 1-4; (30) 1 Corinthians 5-8.

 December

(1) 1 Corinthians 9-11; (2) 1 Corinthians 12-14; (3) 1 Corinthians 15-16; (4) 2 Corinthians 1-4; (5) 2 Corinthians 5-9; (6) 2 Corinthians 10-13; (7) Acts 20:1-3; Romans 1-3; (8) Romans 4-7; (9) Romans 8-10; (10) Romans 11-13; (11) Romans 14-16; (12) Acts 20:4-23:35; (13) Acts 24-26; (14) Acts 27-28; (15) Colossians; Philemon; (16) Ephesians; (17) Philippians; (18) 1 Timothy; (19) Titus; (20) 1 Peter; (21) Hebrews 1-6; (22) Hebrews 7-10; (23) Hebrews 11-13; (24) 2 Timothy; (25) 2 Peter; Jude; (26) 1 John; (27) 2 John; 3 John; (28) Revelation 1-5; (29) Revelation 6-11; (30) Revelation 12-18; (31) Revelation 19-22.

Ten Books I Would Want Every Christian to Read – by Dr. David P. Craig

1)    The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul – Why? Because we need to be exposed to the Majesty of God in a culture that deifies mankind and the creation above the Creator. Next to the Bible – no other book has influenced me more than this one. I could easily include several other works by Sproul in my top 10 – but I believe that if you start with this book – you will be hooked and read many of the other 50 plus books he’s written.

2)    Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero – Why? Because this book goes to the depths of the soul to reveal how original and generational sin has impacted our natures to show us the depths of our sin, and our need of Christ to make us whole again.

3)    Heaven: The Heart’s Deepest Longing by Peter Kreeft – Why? This is the most difficult read (for me, anyway) on the list, but well worth the effort. I think Kreeft does a masterful job of giving a fantastic apologetic for the afterlife, and in particular demonstrating that all that we long for in this life will be fulfilled in Christ for the rest of eternity.

4)    The Prodigal God by Tim Keller – Why? Tim Keller distills the gospel in a most eloquent manner by giving a masterful exposition of Luke 15:11-32. He shows how we have a tendency to err on the side of legalism and how to correct this by coming to a deeper understanding of the grace of God as revealed by Jesus – the Master story teller.

5)    The Reason For God by Tim Keller – Why? I debated on whether to have “Reason to Believe” by R.C. Sproul, or this book by Keller on my list. I chose this one, because it is better at tackling the post-modern objections that people have to believing in God, and more specifically – Christianity. Keller does a masterful job of making a compelling argument for the logic and cogency of believing in the God of the Bible.

6)    Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem – Why? Dr. Grudem is a humble and scholarly theologian who has given us his Magnum Opus in a readable, clear, an articulate fashion. He covers all the major doctrines of the Bible with thoroughness, balance, and grace. I would love for Christians to read more theology than they do, but if they only read one book of theology in their life time – I would want this to be it! God-centered, Christ-centered, and very relevant and practical with application questions for each chapter.

7)    Desiring God by John Piper – Why? I had to have something by Piper in here! I have to admit, that Piper is difficult for me to read. However, the thesis he develops in this book “God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him” is strongly and powerfully developed in this book. You can’t read this book without being more powerfully drawn into the glorious presence of our wonderful Maker and Sustainer of all the desires of our heart.

8)    Humility by C.J. Mahaney – Why? Because God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble! This is the shortest and easiest read on my list. However, that doesn’t minimize how important an understanding of Christ’s humility can radically change our lives for the greater good of the Kingdom. Too many Christians are prideful, fleshly, and live in a status quo state. Mahaney’s book is extremely enjoyable and Christ-centered.

9)    Spiritual Depression by David Martyn-Lloyd-Jones – Why? This book is one of many that I could have selected by the Welsh Medical Doctor turned Preacher. It consists of various sermons he preached and distills his mastery of Biblical exposition and combining that with his understanding of the human soul. It covers various topics (more than depression) and really the focus of the book is on how to have more joy because of the person and work of Jesus Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit in our soul.

10) Trusting God – by Jerry Bridges – Why? Because as a pastor – the issue I deal with more than any other is people dealing with worry, anxiety, fear (whatever you want to call it). Bottom-line many Christians live like atheists. They live as if God is NOT sovereign or good. Yet the Bible, and reality teach otherwise – if we view things from His perspective. This book is an excellent practical read that combines good theology with practical encouragement for those who struggle with doubting God’s goodness in their lives.

Prayer Changes Us

“Prayer does change things, all kinds of things. But the most important thing it changes is us. As we engage in this communion with God more deeply and come to know the One with whom we are speaking more intimately, that growing knowledge of God reveals to us all the more brilliantly who we are and our need to change in conformity to Him. Prayer changes us profoundly.” – R. C. Sproul, The Prayer of the Lord, Kindle Location 163-165

Prayer – Getting God’s Perspective

“I need the corrective vision of prayer because all day long I will lose sight of God’s perspective.” – Philip Yancey, Prayer, Kindle Location 435-438

Book Review: Sabbath by Dan B. Allender

From Duty to Delight

Dan Allender’s very practical book on the application of the Sabbath to today’s thesis is that practicing the Sabbath results in “delight that delivers us to joy.” He reminds us that the Sabbath is “not merely a good idea; it is one of the Ten Commandments.” Therefore the Sabbath is not optional but a biblical command or absolute that needs to be practiced. However, instead of this merely being an oppressive duty consisting of do’s and don’t’s, the adherence of the practitioner of the Sabbath is led into peace, abundance, and joy.

In other words, the Sabbath was modeled by God Himself after creation not so much as an act of rest, but to actively enjoy and participate in His creation. God has designed the Sabbath for us to proactively enjoy Him, and His creation (not just vegetate and check out on the Sabbath) – because we have been made to find our satisfaction and delight in Him above all else. In the midst of the busyness of our lives God knew that we would need time set apart to celebrate and delight in Him and what He has made for our pleasure.

The book was very helpful in providing many applications of how to delight in God. He did an adequate job with the Scriptures that relate to the Sabbath, and a good biblical theological overview of the reasoning behind God’s establishing this day of delight.

I highly recommend this book – especially as an introduction to keeping the Sabbath and for those who want to spend more time delighting in God and His creation in creative and satisfying ways that result in living the abundant life that Jesus came to give us.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am under no compulsion to write a positive or negative review of this book. The opinions expressed are exclusively my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Great Definition of Intercessory Prayer

“Intercession is not so much placing our burdens on God’s heart but God putting his burdens on our hearts.”

Lloyd John Ogilvie, Praying with Power, p.63.

Great Definition of Spiritual Gifts

“Spiritual gifts are not God bestowing to his people something external to himself.  They are not some tangible ‘stuff‘ or substance separable from God. Spiritual gifts are nothing less than God himself in us, energizing our souls, imparting revelation to our minds, infusing power in our wills, and working his sovereign and gracious purposes through us. Spiritual gifts must never be viewed deistically, as if God ‘out there’ has sent some ‘thing’ to us ‘down here.’ Spiritual gifts are God present in , with, and through human thoughts, human deeds, human words, human love.” – Sam Storms in The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts, p. 13.

On Apologetics

“Our priority in apologetics is not to make the nonbeliever listen to us, but to help the person be ready to listen to God and be taught by him.”

– Joe Boot in Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend

Book Review of Tim Keller’s “The Prodigal God”

Tim Keller (Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhattan, N.Y.) is a very gifted thinker and communicator. His book “The Prodigal God” is one I have read 3 times in the last year. The book is based on perhaps the most famous story that Jesus told in the New Testament (Luke 15) – often referred to as the the parable of the “prodigal son.”I have been a Christian for 39 years now (24 of those years in the pastorate), and I have never read a better presentation of the gospel than he presents in this book. Dr. Keller helped me to fall in love with the God of the gospel again. He helped me to realize that the gospel isn’t just about forgiveness for what I’ve done in the past, or for the promise of Christ’s return and the hope of Heaven for the future, but that the gospel is essential for living today. God’s grace through a relationship with Christ is what we need to be reminded of every day in order to basque in the pleasure, peace, and presence of a wonderful God – who loves us despite our tendencies to rebel, or revel in our own righteousness – either way – our sins of thinking we are too bad, or too good keep us at a distance from knowing God the Father through His perfect Son – Our Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Out of 5 stars – I would give it a 10. The principles in this book are invaluable and I sum up what I learned from this book here:

1) I am a bigger sinner than I thought I was – I have a tendency to be like the “older brother” in Luke 15 – who sees himself as more righteous than he really is.

2) God is more gracious than I thought He was – He provides forgiveness for both the rebel (the younger brother) and the older brother – who is lost because it is his supposed righteousness that keeps him from having a relationship with his father – he is an idolater becasue he loves his father’s “things” more than the father himself.

3) It has helped me to understand the gospel and explain it better. Religions have a tendency to lead to idolatry – we think we are good – because we follow rules, or do “good works,” but these good works are self serving and make us look down on others.

4) Ultimately, I owe my salvation solely and totally to the goodness, patience, mercy, grace, and provision of God through Christ. He sought me while yet a sinner. He gave me His righteousness in exchange for my sin. He forgave me despite my rebellion and pride, and revealed His love for me in that He sent His one and only sin to die for me on the cross – Romans 5:8.

5) The Prodigal God wants me to go after all people with the good news that He has made provision for their salvation – no matter what separates them from Him. What a mighty and wonderful God we serve!