"What then is this killing of sin? It is the constant battle against sin which we fight daily – the refusal to allow the eye to wander, the mind to contemplate, the affections to run after anything which will draw us from Christ. It is the deliberate rejection of any sinful thought, suggestion, desire, aspiration, deed, circumstance or provocation at the moment we become conscious of its existence. It is the consistent endeavor to do all in our powers to weaken the grip which sin in general, and its manifestations in our own lives in particular, has. It is not accomplished only by saying 'no' to what is wrong, but by a determined acceptance of all the good and spiritually-nourishing disciplines of the gospel. It is by resolutely weeding the garden of the heart, and also by planting, watering and nurturing Christian graces there, that putting sin to death will take place. Not only must we slay the noxious weeds of sin, but we must see that flowers of grace are sucking up the nourishment of the Spirit's presence in our hearts. Only when those hearts are so full of grace will less room exist for sin to breathe and flourish." (p.162)
~Sinclair Ferguson, The Christian Life
My Bookbag This Week:
Devotional: Job with a commentary: Job: The Wisdom of the Cross (Ash)
Theological or Christian Living: The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction (Ferguson)
AO Book Discussion Group: On Break for the Summer
AO Book Discussion Group: On Break for the Summer
On Education: How to Read a Book (Adler), When Children Love to Learn (Cooper)
Topic of Special Interest: Galileo's Daughter (Sobel)
Novel/Biography/Memoir: The Heart of the Family (Goudge)
Read-Alouds with the Children: The Wheel on the School (De Jong), Pilgrim's Progress (Bunyan)
Click Here for more Words
I've been thinking about CM's motto which ends "I will choose the right" and putting off the old man ... this goes perfectly. Thank you!
ReplyDelete