CS Lewis on Church Services

"Good reading becomes possible when you need not consciously think about eyes, or light, or print, or spelling.  The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God."

In Whatsoever State I am...

Matthew Henry on Habakkuk 3:17-19

But those who, when they were full, enjoyed God in all, when they are emptied and impoverished can enjoy all in God.

--Matthew Henry

To the Glory of God

If a rose grew in the middle of the dense forest, where no man ever set eyes on it, would it glorify God?

Should men's eyes be the measure of God's glory?

Suppose I had two children, and one excelled at everything - music, academics, athletics, the arts - and the other had no distinguishing talent, should I lament the giftings, or lack thereof, in this second child?  Will he glorify God less because he is praised of men less?

"God, Who seeth in secret..."

"...for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

"...base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence."

Because we see nothing, does that mean God has seen nothing?  Because we see nothing of value, does that mean that God has seen no value?

What does God value?  We know He values good fruit.  It glorifies Him.  If we do not see this fruit ourselves, does this mean God is not glorified?

Jesus did say, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
But He made it quite clear that that light is not to be our achievements or good deeds.  "[Let] thine alms may be in secret:and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."

Which child would you be concerned about?

Matthew Henry on Duty

Many will consult God about their safety that would never consult Him about their duty.

–Matthew Henry

Thanks to Life in a Shoe for the pic.

The Fine Line

If we find ourselves justifying the harmlessness of a thing, then perhaps we should question the holiness of that thing.

Perhaps we should be less concerned with what God allows and more with what He prefers.

Captain Marryat on Wives

"...a wife with a smile always
upon her lips is a treasure."

--The Settlers in Canada
Something to work on!