We didn’t ruin God’s plan; we are His plan, His eternal plan to love the undeserving, for the display of His glory alone.

— Ray Ortlund, “The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ”

Of all plans of ensuring success, the most certain is Christ’s own – becoming a corn of wheat, falling into the ground and dying … “… if it dies it brings forth much fruit.”

— Amy Carmichael, “Gold Cord”

Our salvation is thus divided between the death and resurrection of Christ. Sin and death were wiped out by the former and righteousness and life were restored by the latter. We must remember that when in Scripture Christ’s death alone is mentioned, everything to do with the resurrection is included. In the same way, when the resurrection alone is mentioned, everything to do with Christ’s death is included.

— John Calvin, “The Institutes of Christian Religion”

Jesus was an initiator in relationships. He acted immediately to welcome whoever crossed his path.

— Gerald Sittser, “Love One Another”

(quoting Jim Elliot): “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”

— Elisabeth Elliot, “Keep A Quiet Heart”

This divine restoration of the created order, foreseen by the prophets, is not completely ahead of us. The promised future landed in this world two thousand years ago, when Jesus announced that He was starting to fulfil the old prophecies (Lk 4:16-21). This is why Jesus healed people. His healings weren’t stunts. They were a preview of coming attractions.

— Ray Ortlund, “The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ”

God hold us to that which drew us first, when the Cross was the attraction, and we wanted nothing else.

— Amy Carmichael, “Gold Cord”

Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy.

— Elisabeth Elliot, “Keep A Quiet Heart”

We might look at our unholiness and think: “I’m no good at this. I will only fail and fail and fail. Therefore, holiness doesn’t matter.” But the gospel teaches us to think: “I’m no good at this. I do fail and fail and fail. Therefore, the promise of Christ is what matters. He will make me holy as He is holy, for His own glory. I will believe the gospel. I will put my trust in the mighty love of Christ.”

— Ray Ortlund, “The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ”

Don’t stop because of the rubbish; get on with the building.

— Amy Carmichael, “Gold Cord”