God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as his chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness deepens dependence on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. To live with your โthornโ uncomplainingly โ that is, sweet, patient, and free in heart to love and help others, even though every day you feel weak โ is true sanctification. It is true healing for the spirit. It is a supreme victory of grace.
J. I. PackerTo an age which has unashamedly sold itself to the gods of greed, pride, sex, and self-will, the church mumbles on about God's kindness but says virtually nothing about his judgment... The fact is that the subject of divine wrath has become taboo in modern society, and Christians by and large have accepted the taboo and conditioned themselves never to raise the matter.
J. I. PackerGod then does not profess to answer in Scripture all the questions that we, in our boundless curiosity, would like to ask about Scripture. He tells us merely as much as He sees we need to know as a basis for our life of faith.
J. I. PackerThe incarnation is in itself an unfathomable mystery, but it makes sense of everything else that the New Testament contains.
J. I. PackerDisregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded.
J. I. Packer