Tag Archives: Christianity

Excuses Are the Devil’s Currency

Posted on by under J. C. Ryle

Reasons will never be wanting in our minds why we cannot be bright and eminent Christians just now. It is very possible to admire a high standard of spirituality in others, while we are content with very low practice ourselves. We persuade our selves there is something peculiar in our particular case which makes it almost impossible to shine…. [Excuses] are generally the Devils coinage. Let us settle it firmly in our hearts, that there are few of us indeed who cannot glorify God just where we are without any change. All our excuses are as dust in the balance when placed against that promise “my grace is sufficient for thee.” Let us not deceive ourselves. By the grace of God we may be bright saints even now.

J. C. Ryle, Consider Your Ways (London: Wertheim & Macintosh, 1849), 22.

This Do in Remembrance of Me

Posted on by under Alexander Maclaren

Remember that Christ’s commandment not to be conformed to the world is the consequence of his commandment to be conformed to himself.  ‘Thus did I not’ comes second; ‘this one thing I do’ comes first.  You will misunderstand the whole genius of the gospel if you suppose that, as a law of life, it is perpetually pulling men short up, and saying: don’t, don’t, don’t!  There is a Christianity of that sort which is mainly prohibition and restriction, but it is not Christ’s Christianity.  He begins by enjoining: ‘This do in remembrance of me,’ and the man that has accepted that commandment must necessarily say, as he looks out on the world, and its practices: ‘So did I not because of the fear of God.’

Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture: Second Kings, Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977), 369.

This One Thing I Do

Posted on by under Alexander Maclaren

Remember that Christ’s commandment no to be conformed to the world is the consequence of His commandment to be conformed to Himself.  ‘Thus did I not’ comes second; ‘this one thing I do’ comes first.  You will misunderstand the whole genius of the Gospel if you suppose that, as a law of life, it is perpetually pulling men short up, and saying: Don’t, don’t, don’t!  There is a Christianity of that sort which is mainly prohibition and restriction, but it is not Christ’s Christianity.  He begins by  enjoining: ‘This do in remembrance of me,’ and the man that has accepted that commandment must necessarily say, as he looks out on the world, and its practices: ‘So did I not because of the fear of God.’

Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture: Second Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977), 369.

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There Are No Spectators in Christ’s Kingdom

Posted on by under David W. Henderson

Anybody who thinks that Christianity is boring has not seen much of real Christianity. It is active, engaged, a laying hold of the life God offers. There can be no spectators in the kingdom. When Christ comes to us, we come alive. “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead” (Eph. 2:4-5).

David W. Henderson, Culture Shift (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998), 92.