Jesus may ask of you far more than you planned to give, but He can give to you infinitely more than you dared ask or think.

We must not settle for an informed mind without an engaged heart.

Religion: 'My identity is built on being a good person.' Gospel: 'My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on Christ's.'

When I forget the gospel I become dependent on the smiles and evaluation of others.

Repentance out of mere fear is really sorrow for the consequences of sin, sorrow over the danger of sin — it bends the will away from sin, but the heart still clings. But repentance out of conviction over mercy is really sorrow over sin, sorrow over the grievousness of sin — it melts the heart away from sin. It makes the sin itself disgusting to us, so it loses its attractive power over us. We say, ‘this disgusting thing is an affront to the one who died for me. I’m continuing to stab him with it!’

The essence of forgiveness is absorbing pain instead of giving it.

Faith in God's promises means not always following the expected, rational path.