Thursday, March 26, 2015

Quotes from the Cloud #12

This year, I hope share weekly posts of quotes. These quotes are from authors I'm reading and enjoying from the Clouds of Witnesses Reading Challenge

For fellow participants, what I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see is for people to share quotes from what they're reading. I'd love for you to share quotes occasionally with your readers and let me know about it. If you don't have a blog, you could always leave quotes in the comments here.
Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least. By degrees men get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning, March 11
If you are Christ's let me advise you to do four things. You belong to Jesus--obey him; let his word be your law; let his wish be your will. You belong to the Beloved, then love him; let your heart embrace him; let your whole soul be filled with him. You belong to the Son of God, then trust him; rest nowhere but on him. You belong to the King of kings, then be decided for him. Thus, without your being branded upon the brow, all will know to whom you belong. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Evening, March 12
Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand his previous glory in its height of majesty, and his incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame. But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When he was enthroned in the highest heavens he was very God of very God; by him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of his throne: he reigned supreme above all his creatures, God over all, blessed forever. Who can tell his height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low he descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony--to endure a death of shame and desertion by his Father, this is a depth of condescending love which the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. Herein is love! and truly it is love that "passeth knowledge." O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to practical manifestations of its power. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Evening, March 27
Take care that you never doubt your acceptance in Jesus. You cannot be accepted without Christ; but, when you have received his merit, you cannot be unaccepted. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Evening, March 28
God’s laws are like a finger that points to the right road. Fingers are a useful part of the body. However, if you don’t also have feet to take you there, a wagon to ride in, or even a horse to ride on, you’ll never be able to get to the right road. A finger can point you in the right direction, but it can’t get you there. In a similar way, God’s laws tell you what God wants done and how he wants things to be done. They show you that you are unable to obey them. God’s laws show you what human nature is really like—what it can do and what it can’t do. God’s laws were given to you in order to reveal your sins, but they don’t have the power to free you from sin or help you get rid of it. God’s laws hold a mirror in front of you. When you look at God’s laws, you become aware that you don’t have life or God’s approval. What you see in the mirror forces you to cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus Christ, help me and give me your grace so that I can do what your laws demand!” ~ Martin Luther, Faith Alone, March 30

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

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