Doctrine for Life
A beautiful, calm, restful, sunny, 80 degree day on Marco Island biking, talking, and walking with the Queen. Absolutely lovely day with a lovely lady—my special Mary! (And yes, I also enjoyed sitting outdoors editing a hundred pages of a new 800-page book that Paul Smalley and I are working on—the title is a secret—for now!)
Today is my very good friend Sinclair Ferguson’s 75th birthday. Here is a note of best wishes and appreciation that I just sent him:
Dear Sinclair,
I wish you and Dorothy and your family every blessing on your 75th birthday tomorrow. May God graciously spare you for many more years with good physical and spiritual health and zeal for the triune God to the end, continue to make you eminently useful and fruitful, and save the best wine of personal communion with Him until last. May you live to see all your children and grandchildren brought to know God savingly (Ps. 128:6). Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank you wholeheartedly for all that you have meant and still mean to me. You are the most important mentor I have had in my life and I can’t express in words how your teaching and life has impacted me over the decades. One statement in particular that you made in a WTS class has impacted me hugely, and it was this: “Save the best energy of your life for preaching Christ!”
I have also been deeply touched by all the ways in which you have assisted me over the last four decades—such as your editing of my doctoral dissertation, your forewords and endorsements for a good number of my books, and of course, for the unforgettable days you spent with us on our tour group in the UK several years ago. You also impacted me more than you know through a conversation we had when I was wrestling to know God’s will about accepting or declining a call that had been sent my way. I am deeply grateful for all these things—and many more.
You have been a true friend indeed. I love you in Christ, dear brother Sinclair, and am humbled by our 40-year friendship. Have a wonderful birthday with your Queen and family! Warmly, Joel
Dear friends, will you please lift up a prayer of thanks to God for Sinclair Ferguson today and pray that God will continue to bless him and his family and his speaking and writing ministry abundantly to His glory, the maturation of the saints, and the salvation of the lost?
