Not I, But Christ (and other devotionals)

Not I, But Christ

By Frances E. Bolton

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted,
Not I, but Christ, be seen be known, be heard; 
Not I, but Christ, in every look and action,
Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord!
Oh, to be lost in Thee!
Oh, that it might be no more "I",
But Christ that lives in me!

Not I, but Christ, to gently soothe in sorrow,
Not I, but Christ, to wipe the falling tear;
Not I, but Christ, to lift the weary burden,
Not I, but Christ, to hush away all fear.

Christ, only Christ! no idle words e'er falling,
Christ, only Christ; no needless bustling sound;
Christ, only Christ; no self important bearing,
Christ, only Christ; no trace of "I" be found!

Not I, but Christ, my every need supplying,
Not I, but Christ, my strength and health to be;
Not I, but Christ, for body, soul, and spirit,
Christ, only Christ, here and eternally!

Christ, only Christ ere long will fill my vision;
Glory excelling soon, full soon I'll see
Christ, only Christ my every wish fulfilling
Christ, only Christ my all and all to be!
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“The high ground of Christ & Him crucified must be claimed in our preaching. Any other footing is a slippery slope that inevitably descends downward into vain rhetoric and mere words. To the contrary, every pulpit must present a towering vision of the unique person and saving work of Jesus Christ. All preaching must point to His sin-bearing, substitutionary death for sinners. All exposition must lift up this Sacrificial Lamb who became a sin-bearing Substitute for all who believe. Every message must exalt this Christ, who was raised from the dead, exalted to the right hand of God the Father, and entrusted with all authority in heaven and earth.” 
― Steven J. Lawson
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“The sermon has been reduced to parenthetical church remarks about newspaper events,” 
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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“They tell me that I rub the fur the wrong way. I don't; let the cat turn around.” 
― Billy Sunday
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“It matters to God what is preached. And it matters to Him how it is preached. No man is free to preach whatever and however he so chooses.” 
― Steven J. Lawson
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“A prepared heart is much better than a prepared sermon. A prepared heart will make a prepared sermon.” 
― E.M. Bounds
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“It is not opinions that man needs: it is TRUTH. It is not theology; it is God. It is not religion: it is Christ. It is not literature and science; but the knowledge of the free love of God in the gift of His only-begotten Son.” 
― Horatius Bonar
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God is not who you think He is. He is what He says He is.
~Unknown~
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Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.
~Unknown~
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Give me such love for God and man as will blot out all hatred and bitterness.
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~
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We must stop negotiating with evil. We Christians must stop apologizing for our moral position and start making our voices   heard, exposing sin for the enemy of the human race which it surely is.
~A. W. Tozer~
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Millions began their religious lives without understanding their moral duty to God. They try to believe without having first repented. They try to have faith without intending to bring their lives into moral conformity with the will of God.
~A. W. Tozer~
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A part-time Christian cannot defeat a full-time devil.
~A. W. Tozer~
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The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children is not money or other material things, but rather a legacy of character and faith.
~A. W. Tozer~
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Reduce your stress level by taking time to unplug from the world, open your Bible, and listen to what God has to tell you.
~A. W. Tozer~