By affliction, Christ . . .
shows us our emptiness and weakness,
draws us to the throne of grace,
purifies our affections,
weans us from the world,
and makes us long for Heaven.
– JC Ryle –
Grace
2 Ways to get out of a trial – AB Simpson
There are two ways of getting out of a trial. One is to simply try to get rid of the trial, and be thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from God to claim a larger blessing than we have ever had, and to hail it with delight as an opportunity of obtaining a larger measure of Divine grace. Thus even the adversary becomes an auxiliary, and the things that seem to be against us turn out to be for the furtherance of our way. Surely, this is to be more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
– AB Simpson –
The work of grace – JC Ryle
The work of grace once begun in the soul will never stand still. It will gradually “leaven the whole lump.” Like leaven once introduced, it can never be separated from that with which it is mingled. Little by little it will influence the conscience, the affections, the mind, and the will, until the whole man is affected by its power, and a thorough conversion to God takes place.
– JC Ryle –
from Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, 1856
Jesus is here – Corrie ten Boom
Dear Jesus…how foolish of me to have called for human help when You are here.
– Corrie ten Boom –
Going willingly – Thomas Watson
Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.
– Thomas Watson –
Preaching the whole Gospel – John Wesley
Before I preach love, mercy, and grace, I must preach sin, law, and judgment.
– John Wesley –
God enables us to obey – Oswald Chambers
If Jesus ever commanded us to do something that He was unable to equip us to accomplish, He would be a liar. And if we make our own inability a stumbling block or an excuse not to be obedient, it means that we are telling God that there is something which He has not yet taken into account.
– Oswald Chambers –
The work of affliction – Thomas Watson
Affliction works out sin—and works in grace.
– Thomas Watson –
Suffered from cheap grace – Vance Havner
We have suffered from the preaching of cheap grace. Grace is free, but it is not cheap. People will take anything that is free, but they are not interested in discipleship. They will take Christ as Savior but not as Lord.
– Vance Havner –