JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

There is no use to try to live a Jesus-life without a Jesus-heart. To make New Year's resolutions and try to be good without having God fix the heart is like tying a different kind of fruit on the same old tree and claiming that the crab apple tree is now a Stark's Delicious. To expect to conquer sin and failure and frustration in one's life without a cure for the heart is like a wolf putting on a sheepskin and claiming to be a sheep. - John R. Rice

The poor, dissatisfied woman of Samaria at the well in Sychar had found no satisfaction in her five husbands and then in an affair with a man to whom she was not married. Whoever drinks of that water, like the water of Jacob's well, will thirst again. So, although the apostles could not understand why Jesus would talk to this shabby Samaritan woman, His heart saw her, convicted her, led her to see her sin and her need, and saved her. The compassionate Saviour is always seeking the heart that wants forgiveness and the man who wants a new heart and a new life. - John R. Rice

This is the richest meat of the Bible, the greatest fact in the Word of God, the sweetest note in the song of angels, the dearest hope of any sinner, the eternal rejoicing of the saints! Christ died for sinners. - John R. Rice

Guilty of treason! The self-wickedness, the rebellion of a heart that will not have God's way, will not have the right way! That is the trouble with every sinner in the world. You wicked rebel against the God who has given you every breath! You ingrate who does not thank the God who has given you every bite of food, who has kept your heart beating-- the One to whom you owe everything! You are a rebel, a spoiled brat who wants his own way! If you are not a Christian that is what is wrong with you. - John R. Rice

One of the first duties of a Christian is to set out day by day to be conscious of God's presence. I would seek it as I read in the Bible. I would open my heart for Him to speak to me. I would take every burden to the Lord. I would confess every known sin. I would draw nigh to God and find how He will draw nigh to you. Every day, "Seek ye the Lord." - John R. Rice

Back when my six daughters were at home, I told them again and again, "If you forget everything else, remember this that your dad said: if there ever comes a time of trouble or heartbreak or when you don't know what to do, call on the Lord." God hears prayer. He hears those in trouble. He hears the orphan. he hears the widow. he hears the oppressed. he hears the poor, the lame, and the blind. - John R. Rice

"Let the wicked forsake his way." That means, forsake your whole outlook. "And the unrighteous man his thoughts." Let the unrighteous man forsake his attitude of mind. Repentance is a translation in the Bible of a little Greek word, metanoia, meaning "a change of mind." It means this: A fellow says, "I was wrong to go away from God, so I will seek Him." He sees that sin is bad, hurtful, and so determines to turn his back on it. That means that I have no right to go on without repenting and so delay my salvation. Repentance is a change of mind - let us say, a change of heart attitude. And so, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts." - John R. Rice