Pastor John MacArthur’s commentaries on the Bible were always on my dad’s bookshelves growing up. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I picked up his 1 Peter commentary to read before leading a girls Bible study at church and my mind was blown. I learned so much from his clear and careful exposition of God’s Word that I kept going back to that shelf for more reading in the weeks to come. It was no surprise that when I was choosing where to go for college my first choice was The Master’s College (it wasn’t a university yet!) where John MacArthur was the president. And as the Lord would have it, that is where I met and married my husband and we have been part of Pastor John’s church ever since then. My husband also attended seminary and had the privilege of working alongside Pastor John in his office at church while studying. His guidance and mentorship over my husband’s career and life has only ever been a blessing and I am so thankful.
I will never forget the personal note he wrote to me when I had my first miscarriage. He made sure that I was cared for, but he also made sure that I knew my little baby whom I never met was loved by God and in glory. And he gave me a copy of his book, In the Arms of God, that I will always cherish. His scriptural encouragement in that book got me through such a dark time in my life as a young mother… I’m forever grateful!
Today marks one week since Pastor John went home to the Lord. But when he was in the hospital last week, my daughter prayed, “Please have a really good time with Pastor John when he gets to go to heaven with You.” I’m sure that prayer has been answered… of course God would have a good time with one who served Him so faithfully. May God be glorified in the death of his saint!
As I have been reading through the Psalms during this summer, the one that has come to mind over and over again this week is Psalm 91.
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge…
…For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
“With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”
And if you’ve never listened to Pastor John’s sermons, you are missing out! They are available on Grace to You’s website.
