There are times when other leaders’ sayings are just so rich and rewarding and relevant. I recall Bob Mumford saying, “God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way.” And I have found this to be so very true over these many years!

Here are some others. Let them bless you and encourage you.

Adversity doesn’t build character; it reveals it.

“To remain divided is sinful! Did not our Lord pray, that they may be one, even as we are one”? (John 17:22). A chorus of ecumenical voices keep harping the unity tune. What they are saying is, “Christians of all doctrinal shades and beliefs must come together in one visible organization, regardless. Unite, unite!” Such teaching is false, reckless and dangerous. Truth alone must determine our alignments. Truth comes before unity. Unity without truth is hazardous. Our Lord’s prayer in John 17 must be read in its full context. Look at verse 17: “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” Only those sanctified through the Word can be one in Christ. To teach otherwise is to betray the Gospel.” So said Charles H. Spurgeon.

“It is our solemn conviction that where there can be no real spiritual communion there should be no pretence of fellowship. Fellowship with known and vital error is participation in sin.” Another of Charles Spurgeon’s poignant sentences.

Showing mercy to the wolf is showing cruelty to the sheep.

“Knowing God without knowing our wretchedness leads to pride. Knowing our wretchedness without knowing God leads to despair. Knowing Christ gives the balance.” – Blaise Pascal

Christ always identified Himself with the least, the last, and the lost.

“When preachers do not call sin, sin, the people begin to wink at sin!” said Dr. Micheal Useph – now there’s an accurate picture of our circumstances today.

The secret of Christianity is not asking Jesus into your heart; it is Jesus’ asking us into His.

Growth is not more knowledge or increase of years; it is simply more of Him and less of me. He increases as I decrease. This is what it means to be a disciple.

Worldliness is what any particular culture does to make sin look normal and righteousness look strange. Another word that is so relevant and applicable to our current condition!

“Some say that faith is the gift of God. So is the air, but you have to breathe it; so is bread, but you have to eat it. Some are wanting some miraculous kind of feeling. That is not faith. ‘Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God’ (Romans 10:17). That is whence faith comes. It is not for me to sit down and wait for faith to come stealing over me with a strong sensation, but is for me to take God at His Word.” – D. L. Moody

“Our Faith must be tested. God builds no ships but what He sends to sea.” – D.L. Moody

Mr. Spurgeon leaning over the platform of a church where a work of grace was going on, heard a penitent below in great distress pray earnestly, ‘Lord, make a good job of me! Lord, make a good job of me!’ Do you need to breathe these words to God?

It doesn’t take an extraordinary person – just devotion to our extraordinary God – to live an extraordinary life.

These words have a challenging and comforting thought for us all.