Packer on the Christian Life by Sam Storms is my book of the
year (for whatever that is worth). I’ve read or perused many of Packer’s books
but this book condenses much of what he’s written over his lifetime and
includes some personal history that puts it all in perspective. Unless the
reader has read everything Packer has written, this book will be a valuable and
insightful tool. In clear concise fashion Storms lays out Packer’s thoughts and
beliefs on many, if not all, areas of the Christian life. It behooves us all to
read, learn and apply these teachings.
In a world full of books on how to live and enjoy the
Christian life, this one stands out. Storms delves deeply into Packer’s writings
on numerous subjects extensively. Topics include atonement, holiness,
indwelling sin, Holy Spirit, prayer and the will of God to point out a few.
Packer, like many of us, began his spiritual journey under false teaching.
Through a lifetime of learning and then writing he has shared much with us to
correct our own deficiencies. In this work Storms has admirably complied some
of the best.
It’s difficult to be precise on what most benefited me.
Perhaps the chapters on prayer, suffering, and theocentricity left me both
struggling and joyful. I’ll leave it to
you, the reader, to scour the pages and glean the best from Packer.
The “on the Christian Life” series from Crossway is simply marvelous.
If you have not started reading any of these I would suggest doing so now. They
are a fascinating look into the lives of many well-known Christians that have
blazed the trail for us. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain the valuable
knowledge they gained.
