“While We Sojourn” reviews Growing up in Grace. Read below…
The main goal of Murray G. Brett’s Growing up in Grace is to encourage readers to find their happiness in communion with God.
The author believes, as the Puritans did, in the use of means for growing in grace. Humility, confession, repentance, prayer, and meditation on God’s word are heavily emphasized, and for the right reasons. We are to do all of these things in order to “glorify and enjoy God.”
Each chapter deals with a single topic. A story or passage–often from a Puritan classic such as the Pilgrim’s Progress–along with a passage of Scripture introduces each chapter. From there the author proves the importance and usefulness of his subject, liberally quoting Scripture and the best Christian authors. Every chapter ends with application and exhortation, questions, a case study, and a list of recommendations for further study.
Particularly convicting to me was the chapter dealing with humility and pride. “God is immeasurably superior to us and unless you understand that—unless it affects you to the point that you cry out to Him for His grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ—you do not yet know Him as you ought” (page 35). “Pride is the first, the worst, and the most prevalent of all sins; yet we have the tendency to treat it as if it is nothing at all, at least when it is in us” (page 38).
Also, I had to give up on highlighting in the chapter titled, “A Catalogue of Sins Seldom Confessed or Repented of.” Every point was worthy of reflection, repentance, and prayer. Beginning with, “Acting from, to, and for ourselves, rather than from, to, and for God,” the author lists 95 sins, mostly dealing with our attitudes and affections.
Murray Brett is obviously influenced heavily by the Puritans and Scripture. The content—and even title—of his book is reminiscent of a Puritan work, yet it is written in contemporary English with timely applications. Mr. Brett’s style is clear and direct. The tone of the book is warm, loving, and pastoral; at the same time, the author does not dismiss the least sin or laziness. His goal is to encourage communion with God, and so he doesn’t spare anything that serves to hinder that communion.
This book is meant to be worked and prayed through, not merely read. I hope to go back and do just that. It will certainly be worth the effort. I heartily recommend it to the reader who desires a stronger relationship with God through Christ. To those that believe that their relationship with God is strong enough, I recommend it even more.
Murray G. Brett has been the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Commerce, Georgia for twelve years. He earned his Master of Divinity from The Master’s Seminary, which is headed by Dr. John MacArthur. Growing Up in Grace is his first book. I hope we see many more.
