Five Chapters I’d take with me to an Island

Until You’ve loved something with all of its inadequacies, you will never understand the audacity of God’s love.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

I have been following Ray Ortlund, founder of Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and current president of Renewal Ministries, for some time now. I love how apt he explains biblical truth, anchored in the grace of God while helping others find their way to Jesus. A few months into the new year, my heart swelled with excitement at the announcement of his book, Good News at Rock Bottom: Finding God When the Pain Goes Deep and Hope Seems Lost, which draws wisdom from Isaiah 57:15, meeting the “Man of Sorrows” where we need Him most. One of Ray’s most important contributions to reformed Christianity is his provision of the entire commentary for the book of Isaiah (ESV version), so his book drawn out of that verse excited me to listen to his appearance on The Russell Moore Show on Christianity today. The final part of the conversation from that podcast is what led to this blog when Russell asked Ray (paraphrased): Assuming you forgot everything you know about God, Christianity, Religions, and the Bible. If you could take only five chapters of the Bible while isolated on an island, which five would they be?

I felt that question was directed at me, and I wanted to share it in the hope that you, too, will give it some thought in your…