Ray's Blog

Strife or revival?

“It is an instructive and solemn fact, brought out in the history of more than one revival, that when a whole neighborhood had been well watered with the showers of grace, no drop of blessing has descended there where a spirit of controversy and strife had obtained a footing. The Spirit of God hovered around, but fled from, the scene of discord as from a doomed region where his dove-like temper could find no resting-place. . . . Ever remember that ‘his work is sown in peace of them that make peace,’ and no dwelling can be more distasteful, no vessel more unsuitable to him, than a heart which delights itself with matters that provoke contention and strife. . . .

Labor with all diligence to keep your own minds in the peace of God, and in your connection with others ever to strive for ‘the things which make for peace.’”

The Revival of Religion: Addresses by Scottish Evangelical Leaders delivered in Glasgow in 1840 (Edinburgh, 1984), pages 373-374.

This post was originally published on The Gospel Coalition