EagleChicken–or eagle?

By J.R. Miller

“Things That Endure”

A man had an eagle which had grown up among the barnyard hens. For a time the bird seemed content to be only a chicken. But one day it looked up into the sky, and something within the eagle, sleeping until now, awoke. Flapping its wings, it soared away toward the sun and never returned. 

Just so, too many Christians, meant for the eagle-life—content themselves with a barnyard existence. Now and then they feel something stirring within them—but they are too indolent to make the effort necessary to take their place in the upper air and among the mountain crags. So they spend all their days down in the dust, among earthly things, never waking up to their God-given potentials.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ” Colossians 3:1-2

Three looks at Jesus!

J.C. Ryle

Reader, remember these three looks at Jesus: backward, upward, forward; and make use of them every day.

The first is the secret of peace of conscience: no peace unless we look backward at the cross of Christ!

The second is the secret of real daily strength and comfort in our walk with God: little solid comfort unless we look upward to Christ’s intercession!

The third is the secret of bright and cheerful hope in a dark world: no bright prospect unless we look forward to Christ coming again!

Backward, upward, forward–these are the three ways in which we should look at Jesus. 
The person that looks at the cross is a wise person; 
the person that looks at the cross and the intercession also, is wiser still; 
but those who look at all three, the cross, the intercession, and the coming of Jesus—they are wisest of all.

 Posted by on 08/10/2012 Illustrations, Ministry , , ,  No Responses »