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.
I shall go on shining as a brilliantly meaningless figure in a meaningless world.
I suddenly understood that if every moment of a book should be taken seriously, then every moment of a life should be taken seriously as well.
Sitting in a room, alone, listening to a CD is to be lonely. Sitting in a room alone with an LP crackling away, or sitting next to the turntable listening to a song at a time via 7-inch single is enjoying the sublime state of solitude.
Religion, which never intervenes directly in the government of American society, should therefore be considered as the first of their political institutions
From being a patriotic myth, the Russian people have become an awful reality.
Jesus Christ was God - the Personal God become man. He has manifested Himself many times in different forms and these alone are what you can worship. God in His absolute nature is not to be worshipped. Worshipping such God would be nonsense. We have to worship Jesus Christ, the human manifestation, as God. You cannot worship anything higher than the manifestation of God. The sooner you give up the worship of God separate from Christ, the better for you.
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