“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” – John 3:36

There was a preacher who kept a painting in his study of a shipwreck. There were sailors in lifeboats reaching out their hands to people floating on debris from the ship. A little boy looked at the painting and asked his daddy, “Are those in the lifeboats trying to save those people or are they just shaking hands?”

I wonder about us. It is all right to have friends; in fact, I encourage you to do that. But are you doing more than just socializing? Wouldn’t it be a shame if all you did was shake the hands of those around you, when you could be serving and showing them the way to God through Jesus Christ?

We don’t pray, live, and witness as if people are dying and going to hell or heaven every day around us. May God have mercy on us. The need of the hour is for men and women to have a servant’s heart.–Adrian Rogers

“The early church was a lifeboat for rescuing the perishing.Today’s church is a cruise ship for pampering the prosperous”.–Leonard Ravenhill

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

You see the perfection of the Apostle’s method. In verse 8 he has dealt with the realm of thought. Ah, but the Apostle knows the subtle danger that is always confronting us . . .
the danger of being content with theoretical knowledge,
the danger of being satisfied with doctrine only,
the danger of failing to put into practice, that which we know.

You can be a great student even of the Bible–and live a life that is utterly contrary to it!

It is the masterpiece of Satan to make us put theory and practice into separate watertight compartments–to make men so interested in the Book, that they forget to apply its teaching. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me,” says Paul, “do“(put into practice)–Martyn Lloyd Jones

“If you know these things happy are ye if ye DO them.” John 13:17

“It is not the knowing, nor the talking, nor the reading man, but the doing man–who at last will be found the happiest man!” Thomas Watson

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?“–“Matthew 7:3

It is strange how oblivious we can be of our own faults and blemishes — and how clearly we can see those of other people! One old writer says: “Men are rather more apt to use a magnifying glass to behold the faults of others — than a mirror to behold their own.” A man can see a little speck of dust in his neighbor’s eye — while utterly unaware of the great plank in his own eye! He observes the most minute fault in his brother — while unconscious of his own far greater fault!

We would say that a plank in a man’s eye would so blind him — that he could not see the speck in another’s eye. As our Lord represents it, however — the man with the plank, is the very one who sees the speck and thinks himself competent to remove it!

So it is in morals. No man is so sharp at seeing a fault in another — as he who has the same or a similar fault of his own!
A vain man — is the first to detect the indications of vanity in another.
A bad-tempered person — is most apt to be censorious toward a neighbor who displays bad temper.
One with a sharp uncontrolled tongue — has the least patience with another whose speech is full of poisoned arrows.
A selfish man — discovers even specks of selfishness in others.
Rude people — are the very first to be hurt and offended by rudeness in a neighbor.

So it is always. If we are quick to perceive blemishes and faults in others — the probability is, that we have far greater blemishes and faults in ourselves! This truth ought to make us exceedingly careful in our judgments, and exceedingly modest in our expressions of censure — for we really are telling the world our own faults! It is wiser, as well as more in accordance with the spirit of Christ — for us to find lovely things in others, and to be silent regarding their faults!–J. R. Miller