Has there not been, sometimes, this temptation to do a great deal for Christ, but not to live a great deal with Christ?
Interpretation
The quote highlights the importance of genuine connection with Christ over merely performing actions for Him.
Charles Spurgeon emphasizes that it is easy to be tempted to engage in many activities or works for Christ; however, the true essence of faith lies in cultivating a deep and meaningful relationship with Him. This quote reminds us that actions alone, without a personal and living relationship, may not truly fulfill the spiritual intent of our faith.
In practice
In a sermon about faith and action, this quote could inspire the congregation to reflect on their personal relationship with Christ.
Amusement should be used to do us good “like a medicine”: it must never be used as the food of the man...Many have had all holy thoughts and gracious resolutions stamped out by perpetual trifling. Pleasure so called is the murderer of thought. This is the age of excessive amusement: everybody craves for it, like a babe for its rattle.
When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle.
It is far easier to fight with sin in public than to pray against it in private.
You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.
After faith comes repentance, or, rather, repentance is faith's twin brother and is born at the same time.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
I verily believe that her not remembering and not minding in the least, made me cry again, inwardly - and that is the sharpest crying of all.
If our sex life were determined by our first youthful experiments, most of the world would be doomed to celibacy. In no area of human experience are human beings more convinced that something better can be had only if they persevere.
It is only in marriage with the world that our ideals can bear fruit; divorced from it, they remain barren.
Better friends than lovers. Sugar can't you see? You need you and I really need me.
We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.
Veterans report that service dogs help break their isolation. People will often avert their eyes when they see a wounded veteran. But when the veteran has a dog, the same people will come up and say, 'Hi' to pet the dog and then strike up a conversation.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.