How Do We Get It?

Jesus says to you and me, 'I want to share with you what I have achieved. I want to live in you. I want to share my risen life with you.' How do we get it? We cannot buy it, cannot earn it, cannot work for it-no matter how hard we try. In fact the harder we try, the less likely we are of getting it, because the point is that it is a free gift! We can only accept it free! We can only receive it! We don't get it by being good! We get it by grace, i.e. Jesus Christ living in us. (Brooks)

A Request

To me it is nothing when I am applauded and well spoken of. There is only one thing I ask of you-to prove your approval of me through your works. That is how you can speak well of me, and that is what is going to do you good. This, to me, is the greatest honor. I prefer it to a material crown. I do not desire applause and being well spoken of. I have one request to make-for you to listen to me in quiet attentiveness and to put my advice into practice. This is not a theatre. You don't sit here in order to admire actors and to applaud them. This is a place where you must learn the things of God.

(John Chrysostom)

Hearts Set Toward Christ

Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life. (A. W. Tozer)