God must be very great to have created a world that leaves a mystery as to whether he created it.
Montefiore’s impression of Jesus was wrong. Jesus loved the Pharisees, although He denounced them publicly. And I love the Communists, as well as their tools in the Church, although I denounce them.
Our conscience illuminated by the Holy Spirit as we search the Scriptures will show us in every circumstance the right way.
The living Jesus will give you joy amid tribulation.
God will judge us not according to how much we endured, but how much we could love.
Some leaders of denominations are not of the Bride of Christ. They are leaders in a Church in which many have long since betrayed the Master. When they meet someone of the Underground Church, a martyr, they look at him strangely.
We cannot always judge man for only one part of his attitude. If we did so, we would be like the Pharisees in whose eyes Jesus was seen as bad, because He did not respect their rules about the Sabbath. They closed their eyes entirely to what would have lovable in Jesus, even in their sight.
In prayer, something like an echo takes place. When you strike a note on the piano, corresponding strings in all the other pianos in the room start to vibrate. It is just the same when we express a pure wish in our ardent prayers: all around us we mobilize angels who are inspired by the same wish.
What can we do to win these men to Christ?
He said there were two kinds of Christians: those who sincerely believe in God and those who, just as sincerely, believe that they believe. You can tell them apart by their actions in decisive moments.
Did I believe in God? Now the test had come. I was alone. There was no salary to earn, no golden opinions to consider. God offered me only suffering – would I continue to love Him?
From now on a fire burned within us, as it did in the disciples on the road to Emmaus. “Snowflakes cannot fall on a hot stove,” says an Indian proverb. The coldness of this world could no longer harm us, although we had to pass through bitter times.
To believe in Him is not such a great thing. To become like Him is truly great.
God chooses people whom the world does not hold in high esteem – simple souls who have stumbled, and who in their ignorance have become a prey to wickedness.
Are you seeking Jesus? Where have you been looking for Him? As you begin your day, think through the various places you will be and the people you will be with; and envision Jesus standing next to you in each of those places.
We can feel unworthy that the King of kings attends to such seemingly insignificant details in our lives. Read Matthew 6:25–34. As you think about your last week, thank Jesus for all the needs that He has met.
Further, churches assert their wish to save men from a future hell. Then they should prove their love toward men by helping save the world from today’s hell of illiteracy, hunger, misery, tyranny, exploitation, and war.
Luther said that every Christian is “simul justus et peccator, comprehensor et viator” – “simultaneously righteous and sinful, a man who has reached the goal and one who reaches out toward it.
There’s always a good reason to rejoice. There is a God in Heaven and in the heart. I had a piece of bread this morning. It was so good! Look now, the sun is shining! And so many here love me! Every day you do not rejoice is a day lost, my son!
Persecution has always produced a better Christian – a witnessing Christian, a soul-winning Christian. Communist persecution has backfired and produced serious, dedicated Christians such as are rarely seen in free lands. These people cannot understand how anyone can be a Christian and not want to win every soul they meet.