Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord.
J. I. PackerRead
It is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and the Son is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy is greatest, when the cross is heaviest.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Deep joy can be found in faith, especially during difficult times.
This quote by J. I. Packer emphasizes that true Christian joy and a deep connection with God are often most profound during trials and tribulations. The 'cross' symbolizes the burdens and challenges of life, suggesting that fellowship with God becomes more vivid when one faces hardships, leading to a richer, sweeter experience of faith.
Themes
JoyFaithSufferingFellowshipChristianityStrength
In practice
Example use cases
In a church sermon, one might say, 'As J. I. Packer reminds us, our greatest joy often comes when we face the heaviest burdens.'
More from J. I. Packer
All quotes →He that has learned to feel his sins, and to trust Christ as a Saviour, has learned the two hardest and greatest lessons in Christianity.
J. I. PackerRead
We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the psalms, and that the habit of celebrating the greatness and graciousness of God yields an endless flow of thankfulness, joy, and zeal.
J. I. PackerRead
The fruit of wisdom is Christlikeness, peace, humility and love. And, the root of it is faith in Christ as the manifested wisdom of God
J. I. PackerRead
Were I asked to focus the New Testament message in three words, my proposal would be ADOPTION THROUGH PROPITIATION, and I do not expect ever to meet a richer or more pregnant summary of the gospel than that.
J. I. PackerRead
Only when it is seen that what decides each individual's destiny is whether or not God decides to save him from his sins, and that this is a decision that God need not make in any individual case, can one begin to grasp the biblical view of grace.
J. I. PackerRead
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