The Cross

The Memory of Christ’s Suffering – Thomas Watson

If the manna was to be kept in the ark, that the memory of it should be preserved, how should the death and suffering of Christ be kept in our minds as a memorial?

– Thomas Watson –
from The Lords Supper, 1665

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 –

Mistaken – Warren Barfield

Oh I want all I am to die
So all He is can come alive

Until everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
Until everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be mistaken

– Warren Barfield –

No Fishing For Sin – Corrie ten Boom

When the Lord takes your sins, you never see them again. He casts them into the depths of the sea, forgiven and forgotten. I even believe that He places a sign over them that reads: ““No fishing allowed”.”

– Corrie ten Boom –

Fix Your Mind On Above – Henry Scougal

Let us often withdraw our thoughts from this earth, this scene of misery, and folly, and sin, and raise them toward that more vast and glorious world, whose innocent and blessed inhabitants solace themselves eternally in the divine presence, and know no other passion but an unmixed joy, and an unbound love.

– Henry Scougal –
from The Life of God in the Soul of Man