Home Voices 20 Truths From ‘God Shines Forth’

20 Truths From ‘God Shines Forth’

“Given all we have seen, it is no wonder that our culture is overrun with issues surrounding identity. Since the garden, we do not participate in the fullness of God’s life, his image in us has been vandalized, and we are consumed with self-love. Sinners do not know who, why, or what they are.” (p. 83)

“’You do you,’ says the world. This self-assertion is a kind of mission, but one driven by the empty self and not by the glorious God of heaven. It reaches out into the world not to give but to take.” (p. 84)

The church alone can see  that the city built on love of self is the city divided against itself that  cannot stand (Matt. 12:25). The church alone can show the world where real fullness, happiness, and life are to be found.” (p. 86)

“Christ cam to remake us after his image. This is where our mission began. For this renewal of human beings is not only the birth of Christians but the birth of missionaries, as we who once were darkness become ‘light in the Lord’ (Eph. 5:8).” (p. 87)

The Christian life in the Spirit is a cruciform life, preferring others over ourselves (Rom. 12:10), giving over and above what is asked of us (Matt. 5:40), laying down our own lives for the sake of others (1 John 3:16).” (p. 100)

“When Christians are not filled to overflowing with the glorious goodness of God, mission is not a natural or comfortable thing, and we will have to find other motivations to drive them.” (p. 106)

“If we are not captured specifically by the glory of God in Christ and  propelled outward in happy proclamation of the one who has freely given himself to us, then it will be no surprise when our message quickly has little to do with him. If it is not him we are enjoying, it will not be him we convey to others.” (p. 110)

“The foundation of all our mission is our knowledge and enjoyment of God.” (p. 125)

“Wounded soldiers, struggling saints, and stumbling preachers are not dismissed from the Lord’s army, because they are not expected to be full in and of themselves. In our suffer ing, our battle with sin, and our lack of experience or boldness or eloquence, we are nonetheless invited to delight ourselves in the Lord and find fullness in him.” (p. 132)

“That God should meet our sin and hard-heartedness with forgiveness is one thing; that he should flood the world with his own blessed life and joy is another. That he should do so by pouring out his own blood is beyond our comprehension (Acts 20:28).” (p. 147)

“The future we have to offer to our friends and neighbors is a world of unshakeable, unquenchable love. Can you imagine a life where you know, without any creeping anxiety, that you are perfectly and totally loved by God?” (p. 155)