Suffering is the stripping of our hope in finite things, therefore we do not put our ultimate hope in anything finite.

If we give God things in hope that they'll earn us blessings, we're really not doing anything for him. It's for ourselves.

...the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.

The image of God carries with it the right not to be mistreated or harmed.... Regardless of their record or character, all human beings have an irreducible glory and significance to them, because God loves them.... So we must treasure each and every human being as a way of showing due respect for the majesty of their owner and Creator.

For indeed, grace is the key to it all. It is not our lavish good deeds that procure salvation, but God's lavish love and mercy. That is why the poor are as acceptable before God as the rich. It is the generosity of God, the freeness of his salvation, that lays the foundation for the society of justice for all. Even in the seemingly boring rules and regulations of tabernacle rituals, we see that God cares about the poor, that his laws make provision for the disadvantaged. God's concern for justice permeated every part of Israel's life. It should also permeate our lives.

Proper wedding vows are more a promise of mutually binding future love than a declaration of your present love.

Accepted in Christ, we now run the race 'for the joy that is set before us' rather than 'for fear that comes behind us'.