Every one of us may know what is the ruling purpose of his life; and he who knows that his ruling purpose is to trust and follow Christ knows that he is a Christian.

Washington Gladden (Writer, 1836 – 1918)

If you were good enough, there would be no need of confessing Christ at all. It is just because you are not good enough, that Christ says to you, “Follow me.” He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. It is not the perfect people whom He wants in His church, but those who have a deep sense of their own imperfection, and who believe that His strength is made perfect in weakness.

Washington Gladden (Writer, 1836 – 1918)

Christian discipleship does not involve the abandonment of any innocent enjoyment. Any diversion or amusement which we can use so as to receive pleasure and enjoyment to ourselves, and do no harm to others, we are perfectly free to use.

Washington Gladden (Writer, 1836 – 1918)

If my days were untroubled and my heart always light

Would I seek that fair land where there is no night?

If I never grew weary with the weight of my load

Would I search for God’s peace at the end of the road?

If I never knew sickness and never felt pain

Would I reach for a hand to help and sustain?

If I walked not with sorrow and lived without loss

Would my soul seek sweet solace at the foot of the cross?

If all I desired was mine day by day

Would I kneel before God and earnestly pray?

If God sent no winter to freeze me with fear

Would I yearn for the warmth of spring every year?

I ask myself this and the answer is plain-

If my life were all pleasure and I never knew pain

I’d seek God less often and need Him much less,

For God’s sought more often in times of distress.

And no one knows God or sees Him as plain

As those who have met Him on the pathway of pain.

No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief.

John Calvin (French Theologian, 1509 – 1564)

But those who wish to prove to unbelievers that Scripture is the Word of God are acting foolishly, for only by faith can this be known.

John Calvin (French Theologian, 1509 – 1564)

Men are undoubtedly more in danger from prosperity than from adversity. For when matters go smoothly, they flatter themselves, and are intoxicated by their success.

John Calvin (French Theologian, 1509 – 1564)

Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden we must lay upon God, but also because we are so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as acutely as our own. To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them.

John Calvin (French Theologian, 1509 – 1564)

We should ask God to increase our hope when it is small, awaken it when it is dormant, confirm it when it is wavering, strengthen it when it is weak, and raise it up when it is overthrown.

John Calvin (French Theologian, 1509 – 1564)

Only those who have learned well to be earnestly dissatisfied with themselves, and to be confounded with shame at their wretchedness truly understand the Christian gospel.

John Calvin (French Theologian, 1509 – 1564)