In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus not only teaches us to help people in need; more deeply, he teaches us that we cannot identify who โhas itโ, who is โinโ with God, who is โblessedโ, by looking at exteriors of any sort. That is a matter of the heart. There alone the kingdom of the heavens and human kingdoms great and small are knit together. Draw any cultural or social line you wish, and God will find his way beyond it.
Dallas WillardOne of the hardest things in the world is to be right and not hurt other people with it.
Dallas WillardWe renovate the heart by, of course, changing it, but we can't do that, really, without changing the other essential parts of the human personality.
Dallas WillardNo one need worry about our getting the best of God in some bargain with him, or that we might somehow succeed in using him for our purposes. Anyone who thinks this is a problem has seriously underestimated the intelligence and agility of our Father in the heavens. He will not be tricked or cheated.
Dallas WillardThe spirit is the part that is supposed to consciously direct everything in the person, including the soul.
Dallas WillardImagine that you had discovered gold or oil on a certain property, and no one else knew about it. Can you see yourself being sad and feeling deprived for having to gather all your resources and sacrifice them in order to buy that property? Hardly. Now you know what it is like to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.
Dallas Willard