April 11, 2011 (faith)

grace and power

“Faith upholds a Christian under all trials,
by assuring him that every painful dispensation
is under the direction of his Lord;
that chastisements are a token of His love;
that the season, measure,
and continuance of his sufferings,
are appointed by Infinite Wisdom,
and designed to work for his everlasting good;
and that grace and strength
shall be afforded him,
according to his need.”
- John Newton

“The deepest need that you and I have
in weakness and adversity is not quick relief,
but the well-grounded confidence
that what is happening to us is part of
the greatest purpose of God in the universe –
the glorification of the grace and power of his Son -
the grace and power that bore Him to the cross
and kept him there until the work of love was done.”
- John Piper