14 Apr 11
Saints,
Oh how beautiful it is to see God’s fingerprint on other people—especially Christ-followers throughout history. Often, God’s compelling passion leaves a tell-tale sign for people like you and me to discover and be encouraged. This is a quote from JC Ryle, a pastor/theologian from 19 century England
Please think about this quote. Does it describe you? Brothers and sisters, it can describe us—let’s ask God to make this quote true of us.
“A zealous man in religion is preeminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, wholehearted, or fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing. He cares for one thing. He lives for one thing. He is swallowed up in one thing and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies; whether he has health or whether he has sickness; whether he is rich or whether he is poor; whether he pleases man or whether he gives offense; whether he is thought wise or whether he is thought foolish; whether he gets blame or whether he gets praise; whether he gets honor or whether he gets shame; for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing and that one thing is to please God; and to advance God’s glory. If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it, he is content. He feels that like a lamp, he is made to burn, and if consumed in burning he has done the work for which God appointed him.”
I see the following verses in Ryle’s quote:
Psalms 86:11-12 (NASB)
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.
Acts 6:8 (NIV)
8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
Acts 6:10 (NIV)
10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
Acts chapter, seven
Acts 2:14 (NIV)
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live inJerusalem
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in
Mark 12:29-31 (NASB)
29 Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! the Lord our God is one Lord ;
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart , and with all your soul , and with all your mind, and with all your strength .'
31 "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself .' There is no other commandment greater than these."
29 Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! the Lord our God is one Lord ;
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart , and with all your soul , and with all your mind, and with all your strength .'
31 "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself .' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Luke 12:49 (NASB)
49 "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!
49 "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!
Father, yes, make us like the zealous man in Ryle’s quote. Please, do not hold back, whatever the cost—glorify Your name in our lives, in our families, in our churches! We ask in Jesus name. Amen
Compelled to pray and desperate for God, Steve
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