Many Christians have what we might call a "cultural holiness". They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be li…ke himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God. –Jerry Bridges
The following comes from Evagrius Ponticus, 4th century Desert Father; friend of
Gregory of Nazianzus and Nyssa, and disciple of Macarius the Great. (not the exact phrase but close)
The Priority of Bible Reading
“Read the Bible daily. Make it part of every day’s business to read and meditate on some portion of God’s Word. Gather your manna fresh every morning. Choose your own seasons and hours. Do not scramble over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible the best, and not the worst, part of your time. But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and the Bible every day.”~ J.C. Ryle “How Readest Thou?”, 57. (ht: JC Ryle quotes, http://bit.ly/409XkV)Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
The Mindset of a Pilgrim
“A holy man will follow after spiritual mindedness. He will endeavor to set his affections entirely on the things above, and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand. He will not neglect the business of the life now is; but the first place in his mind and thoughts will be given to the life to come. He will aim to live like one whose treasure is in heaven, and to pass through this world like a stranger and pilgrim traveling to his home.
“To commune with God in prayer, in the Bible, and in the assembly of His people – these things will be the holy man’s chiefest enjoyments. He will value every thing and place and company, just in proportion as it draws him nearer to God.”
~ J.C. Ryle (Faithfulness and Holiness: The Witness of J.C. Ryle,“Holiness”, 143.)
