Here are some quotes and short pieces from my recent reading that made me stop and think. Perhaps something here might do the same for you.
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I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.
–John Newton
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Ponder every thought that may disturb contentment. If you have fewer comforts than you used to have, or fewer comforts than other people have, or fewer comforts than you desire, do you not still have more than you deserve?
–Charles Bridges
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Don’t just tell God what you want. Open your Bible and let God teach you what you should want.
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When you say, ‘Doctrine doesn’t matter; what matters is that you live a good life,’ that is a doctrine. It is called the doctrine of salvation by your works rather than by grace.
–Tim Keller
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It is almost universally true that people are more attracted to material things than spiritual things. A sign that says free money and free food will get a bigger crowd than one that says spiritual fulfillment and eternal life.
–David Guzik
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Having received grace, Christians have a compelling reason to be remarkably gracious, inviting, and endearing toward others, including and especially those who disagree with us… Tolerance isn’t about not having beliefs. It’s about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you… You can love without agreeing with someone. You can disagree without hating them.
–Tim Keller
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Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await him. (Hebrews 9:28) The question before us is: Are we included in the “many” whose sins he bore? And will we be saved by his coming “for salvation”? The answer of this verse is, “Yes,” if we are “eagerly awaiting him.” We can know that our sins are taken away and that we will be safe in the judgment if we trust Christ in such a way that it makes us eager for his coming. There is a weak faith that claims to believe in Christ, but has no real desire for Him. In fact, it would prefer it if Jesus did not come, so that we can have as much of this world’s pleasures as possible. This shows that a heart is not yet with Jesus, but with the world. The issue for us is: Do we eagerly long for the coming of Christ? Or do we want him to wait while our love affair with the world runs its course? That question tests our faith. Do we look forward to his appearing? Or do we love the world and hope that His appearing will not interrupt our worldly plans?
–John Piper
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A recent widower said, “In my job I had to travel all over the world and be separated from my wife for long periods of time. I used to count the days until I would see her again. Now we are separated again; not by oceans this time, but by death. But I know she still lives; and though I can’t count the days, I do know that each day brings me closer to the day that I will see her again. She is not gone any more now than when she and I were living in different countries. She still lives, though now in another part of God’s kingdom. I can’t see her for a while, but I will see her. When she was dying, I did not say ‘good-bye;’ I said, ‘I will see you later.’”
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From John Wesley’s diary, late 1700’s: Sunday a.m., MAY 5. Preached in St. Ann’s. Was asked not to come back anymore. Sunday p.m., MAY 5. Preached at St. John’s. Deacons said “Get out and stay out.” Sunday a.m., MAY 12. Preached at St. Jude’s. Can’t go back there either. Sunday p.m., MAY 12. Preached at St. George’s. Kicked out again. Sunday a.m., MAY 19. Preached at St. Somebody Else’s. Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn’t return. Sunday p.m., MAY 19. Preached on the street. Kicked off the street. Sunday a.m., MAY 26. Preached in meadow, chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during the service. Sunday a.m., JUNE 2. Preached out at the edge of town, kicked off the highway. Sunday p.m., JUNE 2, afternoon service. Preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came to hear me.
Sometimes the things we perceive as failures are actually the steps to breakthrough.
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There are two ways to look at every situation: How it will affect you, and how it will affect God’s kingdom. The apostle Paul was always concerned with how his circumstances might aid the spreading of the Gospel. When he was unjustly imprisoned, he immediately looked to see how his imprisonment might provide God’s salvation to others (Phil. 1:13; Acts 16:19-34). When he was assailed by an angry mob, he used the opportunity to preach the Gospel (Acts 22:1-22). When Paul’s criminal proceedings took him before the king, his thoughts were on sharing his faith with the king (Acts 26:1-32). Even when Paul was shipwrecked on an island, he used that opportunity to share the Gospel there (Acts 27-28). Regardless of his circumstance, Paul’s concern was how he could use his current situation to tell others of God’s good news of salvation.
Often when we encounter a new situation, our first thoughts are not about God’s kingdom. When we face a crisis, we can become angry or fearful for our own well-being, rather than looking to see what God intends to do through our circumstances. If we remain self-centered, we will miss so much of what God could do through our experiences, both for us and for those around us. Ask God to make you aware of how He could use your present circumstances to bless others.
–Henry Blackaby
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