Sin – Temptation

All Spiritual Strength Comes from the Holy Spirit – Thomas Brooks

All the spiritual might and strength that a Christian has, he has it from the Holy Spirit. Though the Spirit strengthens every Christian in the inner man, yet I do not say that the Spirit strengthens every Christian alike in the inward man. Some have stronger corruptions to subdue than others, and more violent temptations to withstand than others, and greater difficulties to wrestle with than others, and choicer mercies to improve than others, and higher and harder duties of religion to manage than others, and accordingly they are more strengthened in the inner man than others.

– Thomas Brooks –
from The Secret Key To Heaven, 1665

Christ Demands All

A young university girl said to a Christian worker in England, “I would give the world if I had the Christian testimony you have.” The dear sweet old lady said, “My dear, that’s exactly what it cost me, the world.” Christ demands all.

Self-Love is Self-Hatred – Thomas Watson

Exercise great self-denial: “Let him deny himself” (Matthew 16:24). Self-ease, self-ends, whatever comes in competition with (or stand in opposition to) Christ’s glory and interest must be denied. Self is the great snare; self-love undermines the power of godliness. The young man in the Gospel might have followed Christ, but something of self-hindered (Matthew 19:20-22). Self-love is self-hatred. The man who cannot get beyond himself will never get to heaven.

– Thomas Watson –
from The Godly Man’s Picture, 1666

A Real Salvation – Samuel Brengle

It is no little salvation that Jesus Christ came to work out for us. It is a “great salvation,” and it saves. Hallelujah! It is not a pretense. It is not a make-believe.” It is a real salvation from all sin and uncleanness; from all doubt and fear; from all guile and hypocrisy; from all malice and wrath. Bless God!

– Samuel Brengle –

Lose Your Clutch on Everything Temporal – Jim Elliot

Father, let me be weak that I might lose my clutch on everything temporal. My life, my reputation, my possessions, Lord, let me lose the tension of the grasping hand. How often I have released a grasp only to retain what I prized by “harmless” longing … Rather, open my hand to receive the nail of Calvary, as Christ’s was opened—that I, releasing all, might be released, unleashed from all that binds me now. He thought Heaven, yea, equality with God, not a thing to be clutched at. So let me release my grasp.

– Jim Elliot –

Gaze Upon Heaven in Prayer – GA Jarquin

If we would shut our eyes more often to this world in prayer to gaze upon heaven; then they would not bulge out our sockets with the lust of the eyes as we scan over earth’s treasures.

– GA Jarquin –