Last year I made a hard and fast New Year's Resolution. I resolved to read a chapter of a Gospel each day and make observations. I read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and made observations that ranged from rudimentary to near sermon outlines.
I highly recommend that resolution as it gave me lots of time with my Savior learning from and observing his life, death and resurrection. I could have written a lot on this blog in 2023, but you can see that I did not do that. But don't let that make you think that it was not a great year in the Gospels. Instead, you should think that I was a mixture of busy and lazy when it came to my writing.
That said, I'm not doing that resolution this year. In fact, I'm barely resolving. This year I'm making a loose resolution simply to read more books. So far, so good. I have read one of my favorite books again, The Screwtape Letters, and Basic Christianity by John Stott. I want to share some of my favorite quotes from the latter and recommend that especially a new Christian read it.
Christianity is not just what we believe; it's also about how we behave. p. 15
We must trust in Him as our Savior and submit to Him as our Lord; and then go on to take our place as loyal members of the church and responsible citizens in the community. p. 15
John tells us that the stone water jars stood ready for "ceremonial washing." What we might pass over as merely an incidental reference turns out to be the clue we are seeking. The water stood for the old religion. The wine stood for the religion of Jesus. Just as He changed the water into wine, so His Gospel would supersede the law." p. 42
... the combination of the self-centeredness of His teaching and the unself-centeredness of His behavior. In thought He put Himself first; in deed last." p. 54
The essence of love is self-sacrifice. p. 55
To call God "Lord" and disobey Him is to take His name in vain. To call God "Father" and be filled with anxiety and doubt is to deny His name. p. 81
Love ever gives,
Forgives, outlives,
And ever stands with open hands,
And while it lives it gives.
For this is love's prerogative,
To give and give and give. p 96-97
Through Jesus Christ the Savior we can be brought out of exile and put right with God; we can be born again, receive a new nature and be set free from moral bondage; and we can have the old discords replaced by a harmony of love. Christ made the first aspect of salvation possible by His suffering and death, the second by the gift of His Spirit and the third by the building of His church. p. 101-102
We are not to think of Jesus Christ as a third party wresting salvation for us from a God who is unwilling to save. No. The initiative lay with God Himself. "God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ." p. 114
Jesus never concealed the fact that His religion included a demand as well as an offer. Indeed, the demand was as total as the offer was free. p. 131
The best contribution anyone can make to putting the world to rights is to live a Christian life, build a Christian home and radiate the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. p. 143
Relationship depends on birth; fellowship depends on behavior. p. 160
If you're interested in this book you can find a copy on this link today.
No comments:
Post a Comment