The greatest Christian

I started reading the book Fresh Faith by Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Lots of challenging ideas already about what makes a successful follower of Jesus.

"When I was growing up, I thought the greatest Christian must be the person who walks around with shoulders thrown back because of tremendous inner strength and power, quoting Scripture and letting everyone know he has arrived. I have since learned that the most mature believer is the one who is bent over, leaning most heavily on the Lord, and admitting his total inability to do anything without Christ. The greatest Christian is not the one who hasachieved the most but rather one who has received the most. God's grace, love, and mercy flow through him abundantly because he walks in total dependance." (p. 45).

"Don't give up today because you feel weak and overwhelmed--that's the very place where divine power will uphold you if you only believe and call out to the Lord in total dependance. Childlike faith in God is not only what pleases him but is also the secret of our strength and power." (p. 47).

"This is the very thing that delights the heart of God. When we run to him and throw ourselves upon him in believing prayer, he rejoices. He does not want me out on my own, trying to earn merit stars from him. He wants us, rather, to lean into him, walking with him as closely as possible. He is not so much interested in our doing as in our receiving from him. After all, what can we do or say or conquer without first receiving grace at God's throne to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16)? And all that receiving happens through faith." (pp.48-49)