Friday, October 31, 2008

I have much to learn...

The following quote from puritan author John Newton was very convicting. He is obviously superior in character, godliness, knowledge and every other thing and yet he still humbly sees that he "has no right" to have a lowly view of others. To ever be impatient, or angry, or bitter toward them, because he himself sees his own need of grace. Lord, give me a heart like that!

"I am not to expect others to see with my eyes! I am deeply convinced of the truth of John the Baptist's aphorism in John 3:27, "A man can receive nothing--except it be given him from Heaven." I well know, that the little measure of knowledge I have obtained in the things of God--has not been owing to my own wisdom and teachableness, but to God's goodness. Nor did I learn everything all at once--God has been pleased to exercise much patience towards me, for the past twenty-seven years--since He first gave me a desire of learning from Himself. He has graciously accommodated Himself to my weakness, borne with my mistakes, and helped me through innumerable prejudices, which, but for His mercy, would have been insuperable hindrances! I have therefore no right to be angry, impatient, or censorious to others, especially as I have still much to learn, and am so poorly influenced by what I seem to know!" - John Newton

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