Knowing God: What He Has Done

“A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies - whether he has health, or whether he has sickness - whether he is rich, or whether he is poor - whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offence - whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish - whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise - whether he gets honour, or whether he gets shame - for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing, and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory.” J. C. Ryle


“God’s generosity in bestowing natural blessings is acclaimed in Psalm 145:9 ‘The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.’ The psalmist’s point is that, since God controls all that happens in his world, every meal, every pleasure, every possession, every bit of sun, every night’s sleep, every moment of health and safety, everything else that sustains and enriches life, is a divine gift. And how abundant these gifts are! ‘Count your blessings, name them one by one,’ urges the children’s chorus, and anyone who seriously begins to list his natural blessings alone will soon feel the force of the next line - ‘and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.’ But the mercies of God on the natural level, however abundant, are overshadowed by the greater mercies of spiritual redemption.”

Adapted from J. I. Packer's Knowing God

I have been so blessed in the reading of this book for the Lent season. Stay tuned in here for more excerpts from this great book, or follow me on Twitter for daily quotes about God! Follow #KnowingGod to catch every one.