This is a very encouraging book. It is written as 31 daily meditations to help readers ‘magnify the Lord’. The theme is clearly developed in every chapter: God is always better than we can imagine, for however much we see of him, he is always greater, wiser, more generous, more lovely. This truth should do our souls real good. I have certainly benefitted from the book’s simple focus.
Each chapter covers less than ten pages, making them easy to use during daily quiet times or as a bedtime read. They all begin with a Scripture passage. Meditation 1 sets the theme from Ephesians 3:14-21, then, with a few exceptions, they proceed in biblical order.
These chapters are not expositions but meditations, conversational in style and with plenty of illustrations. A few illustrations meander a little, but they all reinforce the author’s point. Each chapter ends with three questions for reflection, apart from the last meditation which brings us back to the glorious doxology from Ephesians 3:20-20. A fitting climax to a heart-stirring book!
I was particularly struck by Meditation 10, ‘The Gospel in the Law: The Eighth Commandment’. Wright shows us that John 3:16 is ‘really a commentary on the eighth commandment’ (p.81). Read it and rejoice! Meditation 11 includes the moving statement, ‘The Saviour went more willingly to the cross for his people than you go to the throne of grace for forgiveness’ (p.89)
Though we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, this one has an attractive abstract design, with an arresting title. I hope that will encourage many to pick it up and profit from it.
Paul Brunning
Abingdon
