We are all damaged goods in recovery.
If He had not known with certainty that He would be Master over sin and that out of evil would evolve the noblest display of His own glory, He would not have permitted it to enter the world.
Opposition to divine sovereignty is essentially atheism.
Let your thoughts be psalms, your prayers incense, and your breath praise.
Grace does not choose a man and leave him as he is.
You cannot be Christโs servant if you are not willing to follow him, cross and all. What do you crave? A crown? Then it must be a crown of thorns if you are to be like him. Do you want to be lifted up? So you shall, but it will be upon a cross.