Christian Life

The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis, 1942. Paperback 160 pages.

This popular Christian author (who wrote the Narnia books including the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) opens our eyes, in an amusing way, to the possible subtle ways in which the devil works on us (his 'patients'), and he makes the devil more real to us. In the preface he warns us that: "There are two equal and opposite errors into which we can fall about devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. The devils themselves are equally pleased with both errors." The book consists of 31 short letters from a senior devil to junior devil in response to his reports. Here is an extract:

I see only one thing to do at the moment. Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact? All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is especially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, "By jove! I'm being humble", and almost immediately pride – pride at his own humility – will appear. If he awakes to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt – and so on, through as many stages as you please. But don't try too long, for fear you awake his sense of humour and proportion, in which case he will merely laugh at you and go to bed.

The Calvary Road by Roy Hession, 1950. Paperback 79 pages.

This simple, easy-to-read book (ten chapters of about eight pages each) has had a profound effect on many Christians. It is described in the foreword as one of the most important and strategic books in the history of the church. Over a million copies have been sold worldwide. The truths expressed lie at the heart of all movements of revival by which God has restored His church to new life when it has been dry and needy. In particular, this book reveals that sins are not just gross offences such as murder and adultery, but wrong attitudes and anything which springs from self – self centredness, self justification, self consciousness, self aggrandizement, pride, touchiness etc. Helpfully, it reminds us that at the centre of the word 'SIN' is 'I', that proud, stiff-necked letter which needs to be bent to the 'C' of 'Christ'. Only by recognizing, acknowledging and repenting of our sins before God at the foot of the Cross on Calvary, where Jesus died to pay the penalty that our sins deserve, can we have fellowship with Jesus and be filled with His Spirit. These truths are not novel but at the very heart of Christianity and need to be stressed in every age – and no more so than today.

Saved in Eternity by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, 1952. Paperback 187 pages.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones was perhaps the most influential preacher of the mid-20th century from his pulpit at Westminster Chapel in London. Many of his sermons and addresses have been published. This is the first of four books containing sermons on John chapter 17 which were delivered between 1952 and 1953. The prayer of Jesus which comprises John 17 can truly be called the Lord's Prayer because it was his actual prayer (as opposed to the model of prayer he recommended to his disciples in what we normally call 'The Lord's Prayer'). Here we look deep into Jesus's concerns and approach to God. In expounding this passage, Lloyd-Jones explains the purpose of prayer and also wonderfully displays God's great Plan of Salvation and reveals our eternal security in Jesus. This is basic Christian doctrine which is explained in Lloyd-Jones's characteristically simple style.

We would see Jesus by Roy Hession, 1958. Paperback 130 pages.

This book is linked to The Calvary Road. Its central message is that the ultimate aim or purpose of our lives is to have close fellowship with Jesus. We were made for this and will never be complete without it. The book shows how Jesus is the Way to this and also the Door to the Way (at the foot of the Cross on Calvary). He is everything we need. We are thus encouraged to abide in Him:

The word to "abide" simply means to "dwell" or "remain" or "continue". God has placed us in His Son, united us to Him as a branch to the vine. Let us simply remain there, dwell there, continue there, abide there in Him. If we do this, then He on His part promises to dwell, remain, abide in us. "Abide in Me" is the condition which we are to fulfil. "I in you" is the promise which He will fulfil. It is as if He says, "If you dwell in Me, I will dwell in you". And when He is living again His life in us, His fruit and victory cannot but be manifest, for He never fails.

When I saw Him by Roy Hession, 1975. Paperback 87 pages.
When I Saw Him 2010 reprint by Roy Hession.
Reprinted in 2010

This is a classic which is still in print almost 40 years after being written. It is not unusual to meet strong Christians today who were greatly influenced through the late Roy Hession's evangelistic ministry and this will come as no surprise to anyone reading this small book. He presents helpful and practical insights into the effect of seeing the Lord on four important Bible characters: Isaiah, Paul, the Disciples and Joshua. For instance, in describing Isaiah's vision in the temple (Isaiah chapter 6) he draws attention to Isaiah's vital conviction of sin:

In Isaiah's early years he frequently pronounced woes on others: 'Woe unto you that do this ... Woe unto you who do the other'. Truly his message is important, but there is no woe pronounced on himself. It is not until chapter 6, when he sees the Lord high and lifted up, that he says, 'Woe is me! For I am undone .. mine eyes have seen the King'. All those years he had been working not only without vision but without a broken spirit, pointing the finger at others , condemning others, but not seeing himself. We can be doing the same, criticizing others, pronouncing woes on others, without having been humbled to say, 'Woe is me! For I am undone' – and that because we have not seen what Isaiah saw. As a result revival has not yet begun in our hearts, for the Lord is only near those of a broken and contrite spirit, 'to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of contrite ones' (Isaiah 57,15).

This and the other accounts have great application for our lives as we seek to better worship and serve our Lord in humility and love. Set out in six short chapters it is very readable and highly recommended.

Humility the forgotten virtue by Wayne Mack, 2005. Paperback167 pages

CS Lewis, in 'Mere Christianity' asserted that pride is 'the essential vice, the utmost evil. It is the one vice of which no man in the world is free, and of which hardly any people imagine they are guilty themselves'. Wayne Mack, in this book, effectively demonstrates the truth of this and much more about pride. Although firmly based on Scripture, he also reminds us of an early event in the Christian life of John Bunyan's pilgrim, when he had to descend into the valley of humiliation. This represents the humbling experience that God brings into our lives to destroy the sin of pride and help us develop godly humility. He defines humility as an attitude wherein we recognize our own insignificance and unworthiness before God and attribute to Him the supreme honour, praise, prerogatives, rights, privileges, worship, devotion, authority, submission and obedience that He alone deserves. He then goes on, in separate chapters, to show the ways humility towards God and other people shows itself in practice, and then gives practical advice, starting with the need for 'an absolute awareness and acknowledgment that we are utterly dependent on God'.

There are searching questions at the end of each chapter together with self evaluation inventories for us to score ourselves. For example we are invited to score from 1 to 4 the following two (out of thirty three) questions about ourselves: a) I accept and submit myself to God's revealed will even if it is difficult and might cause others to criticize me and lose respect for me when I do so; b) I am willing to serve others and not be upset when I don't receive appreciation for what I've done. Read conscientiously, this will be a life-changing book.

Developing a Healthy Prayer Life by James and Joel Beeke, 2010. Paperback 99 pages

Daily prayer is an essential part of the Christian life and yet many find it difficult and don't persevere. This book consists of 31 three-page chapters which are suitable for daily study for a month. It provides helpful advice and encouragement. If you want to be more devoted to meaningful prayer this may be the book for you.

Steps for Guidance by Peter Masters, 1995. Paperback 184 pages

How do we find God's guidance for our lives? Some say it comes by dreams, visions and 'words of knowledge'. Others say that God doesn't have a specific plan for the lives of His people and that He allows us to please ourselves as long as we take decisions in a wise and moral way. This book presents the time-honoured view that Christians must seek God's will in all the major decisions of life and outlines six.

What You Should Know about Your Conscience by Peter Masters, 2009. Paperback 18 pages

The conscience, though very real, is mysterious. This small booklet explains vital facts including how it functions, what happens when it is abused, and what trouble it can cause. It shows the biblical way of unburdening the hurting conscience.

The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer 1948. Paperback 100 pages Tozer was a pastor in Chicago when he wrote this classic. He had detected among Christians a thirst for a real relationship with God. He realised that it is not mere words which nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth. He saw the Bible as not an end in itself but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they might delight in His presence, and may taste and know God Himself in the centre of their hearts. The book describes his pursuit of this goal and practical guidance for us to follow.

I like this quote: 'The modern scientist has lost God amid the wonders of the world; we Christians are in real danger of losing God amid the wonders of His word'. Here is another quiet: 'A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here awaiting our response to His presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon on its reality.'