How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
Thomas A KempisRead
As iron cast into fire loses its rust and becomes glowing white, so he who turns completely to God is stripped of his sluggishness and changed into a new man.
Interpretation
Turning to God can bring about transformation and renewal in one's life.
This quote by Thomas A Kempis illustrates the powerful metaphor of iron being purified in fire to reflect a spiritual transformation. Just as iron sheds its rust when subjected to intense heat and becomes a glowing white metal, a person who fully embraces faith in God undergoes a profound change, shedding laziness and becoming rejuvenated, embodying a new and improved version of themselves.
In practice
In a sermon about personal growth, one could use this quote to inspire congregation members to embrace faith.
How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.
Trust not to your feelings for whatever they might be now, they will quickly be changed towards some other thing.
Jesus has many who love the kingdom of God, but few who bear a cross. He has many who desire His comfort, but few who desire His suffering. All want to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for Him. He writes; there are many who admire his miracles, but there are few who follow in the humiliation of the cross.
Anyone who thinks hard work will never hurt you has never had to pay to have it done. Jesus now has many lovers of his Heavenly Kingdom, but few bearers of his cross.
He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.
We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.
Resolve to be a master of change rather than a victim of change.
You need not be sorry for her. She was one of the kind that likes to grow up. In the end she grew up of her own free will a day quicker than the other girls.
Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.
Life is known only by those who have found a way to be comfortable with change and the unknown. Given the nature of life, there may be no security, but only adventure.
On the day I started college in 1979, no woman had ever been on the United States Supreme Court or served as the Speaker of the House. None had been an astronaut or the solo anchor of a network evening news broadcast. Not one had been president of an Ivy League college or run a serious campaign for president.
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