It was wonderful love that Christ should die for such as we are. What are we? Not only vanity, but enmity. When we were fighting, he was dying; when we had the weapons in our hands, then he had the spear in his side (Romans 5:8).
– Thomas Watson –
from The Lords Supper, 1665
Men pray as they live, because it is the life that prays. The life that, with wholehearted devotion gives up everything for God and to God can claim everything from God.
– Andrew Murray –
from The Ministry of Intercession
We cannot have flowers without roots, or fruit without trees. We cannot have the fruit of the Spirit, without vital union with Christ, and a new creation within.
– JC Ryle –
from Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Volume 2: Luke 6:27-38), 1856
Let us beware of having our hearts too much linked to the world. The world damps zeal as earth chokes the fire.
– Thomas Watson –
from The Great Gain of Godliness, 1682
Let us discern what is good and pleasing and acceptable in the sight of the one who created us. Let us contemplate the blood of Christ and note how precious it is to his Father, because its outpouring for our salvation has brought the grace of repentance to all the world.
– Clement –
from The Wisdom of the Apostolic Fathers
“If any man will come after Me,” said Jesus, “the condition is that he must leave something behind,” that is to say, his right to himself. Is Jesus Christ worth it, or am I one of those who accept His salvation but thoroughly object to giving up my right to myself to Him?
– Oswald Chambers –
It is a pity when men only think of a dead Savior or of a baby Savior, carried in the Virgin’s arms, as the church of Rome does. It is our joy to have a living Christ, for while He lives we cannot die, and while He pleads we cannot be condemned. Thus, we are led to remember Him as a living Savior and to give Him honor.
– Charles Spurgeon –
from God Loves You
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 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 –