Christ is our best friend our only true friend. Oh, that with all my heart, I may be weary of everything else but converse and communion with Him.
The duties which God requires of us, are not in proportion to the strength we possess in ourselves. Rather, they are proportionate to the resources available to us in Christ. We do not have the ability in ourselves, to accomplish the least of God's tasks. When we recognize it is impossible for us to perform a single duty in our own strength we will discover the secret of its accomplishment: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) This is the law of grace.
Men think all things would be better done if they might be done according to their mind. "Should it be according to your mind?" (Job 34:33)
The beauty of the person of Christ, as represented in the Scripture, consists in things invisible unto the eyes of flesh. They are such as no hand of man can write, or tongue explain. It is the eye of faith alone, which can see this King in His beauty. What else can contemplate on the uncreated glories of Christ's divine nature?
When the Holy Spirit saves people, He puts into their minds, wills and hearts a gracious, supernatural principle which fills them with a holy desire to live to God. The whole life and being of holiness lie in this.
When sin lets us alone, we may let sin alone. But sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet. As sin's waters are for the most part deep when they are still so ought our contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion.
Spiritual wisdom consists in finding out the subtleties, policies, and depths of any indwelling sin to trace this serpent in all its turnings and windings to be able to say, at its most secret actings: "This is your old way and course I am aware of your evil devices!"
If we do not abide in prayer we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled in any sin." When this is true in our lives a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage.
He who would mortify any disquieting lust let him take care to be equally diligent in all parts of obedience, and know that every lust, every omission of duty, is burdensome to God though only one is burdensome to him.
The pretended desires of many to behold the glory of Christ in Heaven, who have no view of it by faith while they are here in this world are nothing but self-deceiving imaginations. No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ by sight hereafter who does not in some measure behold it here by faith.
Because God is an infinitely glorious, good, wise, holy, powerful, righteous, self-subsisting, self-sufficient, and all-sufficient being; the fountain and author of all being and good; the first cause, the last end, and the sovereign Lord of all therefore, he is to be worshiped. Therefore, we are to admire, adore, and love Him to praise, to trust and to fear Him!
No heart can conceive that treasury of mercies which lies in this one privilege in having liberty and ability to approach unto God at all times at His throne of grace.
The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay on the father. The greatest unkindness you can do to Him is not to believe that He loves you.
Labor to grow better under all your afflictions lest your afflictions grow worse and God mingles them with more darkness, bitterness and terror.
Before the work of grace, the heart is 'stony.' It can do no more than a stone can do to please God.
Temptations and trials put nothing into a man but only draw out what was in him before.
We are only servants and disciples of Christ when we do what is commanded us, and because it is commanded us.
What then is holiness? Holiness is nothing but the implanting, writing and living out of the gospel in our souls and lives!
In this would I live and upon this would I dwell in my thoughts and affections: to the withering and consumption of all the painted beauties of this world, to the crucifying all things here below until they become to me a dead and deformed thing, no way suitable for affectionate embraces.
Rivers, the nearer they come to the ocean where they tend the more, they increase their waters and speed their streams. In the same way, will grace flow more fully and freely in its near approaches to the ocean of glory!
There is no true gospel fruit without faith and repentance.
[John Owen]
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