Without Divisions

"Father Abraham," cried Whitefield. "Whom have you in Heaven? Any Episcopalians?"
"No!"
"Any Presbyterians?"
"No!"
"Any Independents or Seceders, New Sides or Old Sides, any Methodists?"
"No! No! No!"
"Whom do you have there, then, Father Abraham?"
"We don't know those names here! All who are here are Christians–believers in Christ, men who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony."
"Oh is this the case?" Then God help me, God help us all, to forget having names and to become Christians in deed and in truth."

George Whitefield and the Great Awakening, John Pollock, p118

The Importance of Joy and a Cheerful Soul

On George Whitefield...

"At Basingstoke, as in Georgia, friends were astonished at his cheerfulness when sick and vomiting. He explained: 'The comforts I enjoy within are inexpressible. They have a great effect upon my outward man and make me of a cheerful countenance, which,' he added, spitting some remaining gall out of his mouth, 'recommends my Master's service very much. Oh, free grace in Christ Jesus!' He lay back exhausted on the pillows."

George Whitefield and the Great Awakening, John Pollock, p79

Evangelism – Chain Connections

I've been musing over the nature of evangelism, and how one life inevitably rubs up against another. We have some sort of an effect on everyone we meet, for better or for worse. It's said that through the people we know, we're only six connections away from every person on earth.

If we are used instrumentally by God to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and these new believers are used likewise, there's a massive chain reaction that eventually unfolds. We could eventually influence thousands of lives for Christ. It may be hard to underestimate the impact our lives can have. Whether we like it or not, we're either pointing people to Christ or diverting them away on a scale that's both large and out of sight.

Attainment

"There is no such thing as attainment in this life; as soon as one arrives at a long-coveted position he only jacks up his desire another notch or so and looks for higher achievement – a process which is ultimately suspended by the intervention of death. Life is truly likened to a rising vapor, coiling, evanescent, shifting. May the Lord teach us what it means to live in terms of the end."
Jim Elliot, Through Gates Of Splendor, p8