Those who believe they have pleased God by the quality of their devotion and moral goodness naturally feel that they and their group deserve deference and power over others. The God of Jesus and the prophets, however, saves completely by grace. He cannot be manipulated by religious and moral performance--he can only be reached through repentance, through the giving up of power. If we are saved by sheer grace we can only become grateful, willing servants of God and of everyone around us.

When Jesus looked down from the cross, he didn't think “I am giving myself to you because you are so attractive to me.” No, he was in agony, and he looked down at us - denying him, abandoning him, and betraying him - and in the greatest act of love in history, he STAYED. He said, “Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing.” He loved us, not because we were lovely to him, but to make us lovely.

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

God's grace and forgiveness, while free to the recipient, are always costly for the giver.

Without the gospel we hate ourselves instead of our sin.

People are messy; therefore, relationships will be messy. Don't be surprised by messiness.

You are under-qualified for the job of God.