Never think little of praise, since holy angels and saints made perfect count it their lifelong joy. Even the Lord Himself said, “Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me” (Psalms 50:23).
– Charles Spurgeon –
from Spurgeon on Praise
God’s Glory
Don’t Add Anything to Grace – Richard Sibbes
If, as the Psalmist says, “he made us, and not we ourselves” (Psa. 100:3), shall we think that we have a hand in making ourselves again? Will God allow his glory to be encroached upon by intercessions of saints’ merits, and satisfaction, and free will? Grace is not glorious if we add the least thing of our own to it.
– Richard Sibbes –
from Glorious Freedom, 1639
The Heavier Your Cross to Bear – Thomas Watson
Afflictions add to the saints’ glory. The more the diamond is cut, the more it sparkles; the heavier the saints’ cross is, the heavier shall be their crown.
– Thomas Watson –
The Highest and Holiest Work – Andrew Murray
Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that even a small child can pray, it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which anyone can rise. It is fellowship with the unseen and most holy One. The powers of the eternal world have been placed at its disposal. It is the very essence of true religion. It is the channel of all blessings and the secret of power and life. Through prayer, God has given to everyone the right to take hold of Him and His strength. It is on prayer that promises wait for their fulfillment, the kingdom for its coming, and glory of God for its full revelation.
– Andrew Murray –
from Teach Me to Pray
Enjoying God Forever – Charles Spurgeon
The purest and most exhilarating joy is the delight of glorifying God and anticipating the time when we will enjoy Him forever.
– Charles Spurgeon –
from Spurgeon on Praise
Faith Seeks the Glory that Come from God – Andrew Murray
Faith is the organ or sense for the perception and apprehension of the heavenly world and its blessings. Faith seeks the glory that comes from God, that only comes where God is All. As long as we take glory from one another, as long as ever we seek and love and jealously guard the glory of this life, the honor and reputation that comes from men, we do not seek, and cannot receive the glory that comes from God. Pride renders faith impossible. Salvation comes through a cross and a crucified Christ. Salvation is the fellowship with the crucified Christ in the Spirit of His cross. Salvation is union with and delight in, salvation is participation in, the humility of Jesus. Is it wonder that our faith is so feeble when pride still reigns so much, and we have scarce learnt even to long or pray for humility as the most needful and blessed part of salvation?
– Andrew Murray –
from Humility and Faith
The Glory of God – AW Tozer
The glory of God is the health of the universe. And where God is not glorified that place is sick.
– AW Tozer –
The History of God’s Specific Movements – T. Austin-Sparks
The history of God’s specific movements with the Church is not the history of His adding something, but of His bringing back to the primal fullness with which He filled His Son.
– T. Austin-Sparks –
May Jesus Always Be in the Thoughts – Henry Scougal
Oh! that the holy life of the blessed Jesus may be always in my thoughts, and before mine eyes, till I receive a deep sense and impression of those excellent graces that shined so eminently in him; and let me never cease my endeavours, till that new and divine nature prevail in my soul, and Christ be formed within me.
– Henry Scougal –
from The Life of God in the Soul of Man