Jonathan Edwards: "A Great Christian Life"

I wanted this first Blog post to cover the brief description located under my name on the right column of the desktop page and on the bottom of the mobile version. The focus as you have observed says, "Blogs on great Christian lives throughout church history." We can sit and discuss “great Christian lives” all day but we must also arrive at the conclusion that extraordinary Christian living can only result by growing through God’s inspired Word.

On the About Me page on this website, there is information about the manuscripts and homiletics of Jonathan Edwards and his contribution to his own generation and how his legacy continues three centuries later. Numerous scholars have described Edwards as “America’s greatest theologian and philosopher.” This statement carries much truth but as one digs deeper into the mind of Edwards, his daily love and life-long passion for the Word of God is pronounced.                                               

At the age of nineteen, Edwards wrote out his personal “Resolutions” as personal guidelines for his life and ministry. One of his first notes to himself said, “Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.” Later he would write, “Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.” Edwards, first and foremost, knew the importance of loving God. He realized that if people came to a true saving faith, they would not need to be coerced into loving and living for God. Consequently, for fifty-four years Jonathan Edwards produced voluminous works without anyone having to look over his shoulder and remind him of his job description. Although strong opposition and trials often came his way, he persisted in keeping his focus upon God’s call and will for his life through the Word and his personal “Resolutions.”

Why do you think men such as Edwards were able to accomplish so much in such a brief life?~TKE~

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