Against the persecution of a tyrant the godly have no remedy but prayer.
I gave up all for Christ, and what have I found? Everything in Christ.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker emphasizes that sacrificing everything for a belief in Christ leads to finding ultimate fulfillment in Him.
In this quote by John Calvin, the speaker reflects on the profound realization that by surrendering all worldly pursuits and desires for the sake of faith in Christ, they have gained a deeper, more meaningful existence that encompasses all that is truly valuable. This statement captures the essence of spiritual fulfillment, suggesting that true abundance is found not in material possessions or personal achievements, but in a relationship with Christ, where everything else pales in comparison.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a church sermon discussing the importance of faith.
More from John Calvin
All quotes βThe pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both.
Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God's majesty.
Whomever the Lord has adopted and deemed worthy of His fellowship ought to prepare themselves for a hard, toilsome, and unquiet life, crammed with very many and various kinds of evil.
For as the aged, or those whose sight is defective, when any book, however fair, is set before them, though they perceive that there is something written, are scarcely able to make out two consecutive words, but, when aided by glasses, begin to read distinctly, so Scripture, gathering together the impressions of Deity, which, till then, lay confused in our minds, dissipates the darkness, and shows us the true God clearly.
When God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers.
Similar quotes
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God will not protect you from anything that will make you more like Jesus.
There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him.
It is not great faith, but true faith, that saves; and the salvation lies not in the faith, but in the Christ in whom faith trusts...It is not the measure of faith, but the sincerity of faith, which is the point to be considered.
...I don't have to worry about not meeting His expectations. God will ensure my success in accordance with His plan, not mine.
Hope is like an anchor. Our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life, but unlike an anchor, it does not hold us back.