I urge upon you…a nearer communion with Christ, and a growing communion. There are curtains to be drawn by in Christ, that we never saw, and new foldings of love in Him. I despair that ever I shall win to the far end of that love, there are so many plies in it. Therefore, dig deep; and sweat, and labour, and take pains for Him; and set by as much time in the day for Him as you can. He will be won with labour.
– Samuel Rutherford –
The man who gazes upon and contemplates day by day the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, and who has caught the glow of the reality that the Lord is not a theory but an indwelling power and force in his life, is as a mirror reflecting the glory of the Lord.
– Alan Redpath –
A man who is intimate with God is not intimidated by man.
– Leonard Ravenhill –
The pilgrims now, to gratify the flesh,
Will seek its ease, but oh! How they afresh
Do thereby plunge themselves new griefs into!
Who seek to please the flesh, themselves undo!
– John Bunyan –
from The Pilgrim’s Progress
It would be rude, don’t you think, to leave a friend all alone who had come to visit? Why is it then, that God is so often neglected? Do not forget the Lord. Think on Him often; adore Him continually. Live and die with Him. This is the glorious employment of a Christian. This is our profession as Christians. If we do not already do this, then we must learn to do it.
– Brother Lawrence –
There is power through prayer. For many Christians, prayer is nothing special, just something we’re supposed to do – go to church, tithe, read the Bible, pray. But prayer should be so much more than an item on our “to do” lists.
– EM Bounds –
Jesus deserves the hearty, uncomplaining, cheerful service, of all who believe on his name. If our hearts are right with him, we shall not consider his commandments grievous; for love always makes obedience sweet. If our views of Christ are correct and scriptural — we shall esteem it our highest honor to serve him, however menial the employment. Better to be a door-keeper, and stand at the threshold, and watch night after night, for Jesus — than to dwell in a mansion with sinners, or in a palace with those who have no love to his name.
– James Smith –
What curses does the law denounce
Against the man who fails but once!
But in the gospel Christ appears
Pardoning the guilt of numerous years.
My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the law;
Fly to the hope the gospel gives;
The man that trusts the promise lives.
– Isaac Watts –
In our esteem, the joys of earth are little better than husks for swine compared with Jesus the heavenly Manna; I would rather have one mouthful of Christ’s Love, and a sip of His fellowship than a whole world full of carnal delights! What is the chaff to the wheat? What is the sparkling paste to the true diamond? What is a dream to the glorious reality? What is time’s mirth in its best trim compared to our Lord Jesus in His most despised estate? If you know anything of the inner life, you will, all of you, confess that our highest, purest, and most enduring joys must be the fruit of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God! No spring yields such sweet water as that Well of God which was dug with the soldier’s spear.
– Charles Spurgeon –