To see lonely, selfish, empty individuals transformed slowly but surely into warm, loving, wholesome, and happy people is to become aware of why Paul describes Christ as “unsearchable riches.”
Sanctification
Soren Kierkegaard
God creates out of nothing. Wonderful, you say. Yes, to be sure, but He does what is still more wonderful: He makes saints out of sinners.
W. Ian Thomas
Walking in the spirit is a continuous process, one step at a time. It means that for every new situation into which every new step brings you, you must we reckon positively with the Holy Spirit, to keep the flesh in the place of death. I want to emphasize the need to reckon positively… The surest way of reckoning yourself to be dead to sin (that old Adamic nature), is to reckon yourself alive in Jesus Christ and be utterly dependent on him. He then will take care of the consequences.
Francois Fenelon
The Great Physician, who sees in us what we cannot see, knows exactly where to place the knife. He cuts away that which we are most reluctant to give up. And how it hurts! But we must remember that the pain is only felt where there is life, and where there is life is just the place where death is needed. Our Father wastes no time by cutting into parts that are already dead. Do not misunderstand me; He wants you to live abundantly, but this can only be accomplished by allowing Him to cut into that flesh part of you that is still stubbornly clinging to life.
Frederick Temple
This one thing we can give, and this is what He asks, hearts that shall never cease from this day forward, till we reach the grave, to strive to be more like Him; to come nearer to Him; to root out from within us the sin that keeps us from Him. To such a battle, brethren, I call you in His name.
W. Ian Thomas
To be in Christ that is redemption; but for Christ to be in you that is sanctification! To be in Christ that makes you fit for heaven; but for Christ to be in you that makes you fit for earth! To be in Christ that changes your destination; but for Christ to be in you that changes your destiny! The one makes heaven your home the other makes this world His workshop.
Cyril Brooks
In radio or TV terms we are receivers. If we do occasionally transmit signals, we transmit only what we have first received. Everything has been given to us from life in the womb to life in the Spirit. We are beneficiaries, totally blessed because totally loved by God. Sanctity after all is only letting the love of God loose, letting him rampage through our lives.
Alan Redpath
Give up the struggle and the fight; relax in the omnipotence of the Lord Jesus; look up into His lovely face and as you behold Him, He will transform you into His likeness. You do the beholding – He does the transforming. There is no short-cut to holiness.
John Ortberg
Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be.
John Wesley
Every one, though born of God in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees.