If you would test the character of anything, you only need to enquire whether that thing leads you to God or away from God.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of understanding the nature of things based on their relationship to God.
This quote by Watchman Nee suggests that the true essence of anything can be judged by its effect on our spiritual direction. If something draws us closer to God, it holds positive character, whereas if it pulls us away, it indicates a negative or flawed nature. This perspective invites us to evaluate experiences, relationships, and beliefs in terms of their alignment with spiritual growth.
In practice
This quote can be used in a sermon to encourage a congregation to assess their lives and choices in light of their relationship with God.
To remove warfare from a spiritual life is to render it unspiritual. Life in the spirit is a suffering way, filled with watching and laboring, burdened by weariness and trial, punctuated by heartbreak and conflict. It is a life utterly outpoured for the kingdom of God and lived in complete disregard for one's personal happiness.
Outside of Christ, I am only a sinner, but in Christ, I am saved. Outside of Christ, I am empty; in Christ, I am full. Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able. Outside of Christ, I have been defeated; in Christ, I am already victorious. How meaningful are the words, "in Christ."
Overcoming sin, blessed though it surely is, is but the bare minimum of a believers experience. There is nothing astonishing in it. Not to overcome sin is what ought to astonish us.
Doesn't our knowledge of death make life more precious?' What good is a preciousness based on fear and anxiety? It's an anxious quivering thing
I am sitting with a philosopher in the garden; he says again and again 'I know that that’s a tree', pointing to a tree that is near us. Someone else arrives and hears this, and I tell him: 'This fellow isn’t insane. We are only doing philosophy.
Mountains make poor receptacles for dreams.
The spiritual life is part of the human essence. It is a defining characteristic of human nature, without which human nature is not fully human.
Who are you?" "I am Death," said the creature. "I thought that was obvious." "But you're so small!" "Only because you are small. You are young and far from your Death, September, so I seem as anything would seem if you saw it from a long way off-very small, very harmless. But I am always closer than I appear. As you grow, I shall grow with you, until at the end, I shall loom huge and dark over your bed, and you will shut your eyes so as not to see me.
How does a man decide in what order to abandon his life?
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