matthew meade: 1661

The efficacy of the Word does not depend upon the authority of him who speaks it but upon the authority of God who blesses it.

Alert: This was a humbling quote to read. It made me realize that I often become a critic of performance in the preacher/ing and sadly I forget that this is God's Word that I'm listening to. I get caught up in how eloquent a preacher said something or even how long and maybe boring a certain point was. I just really need to look beyond style and points and see the glorious God who is trying to get my attention. Because God is really the one who is speaking to me. And He deserves all of my mind. And God can use anyone or anything to teach me. And in the end, it's not really about the vehicle or the style. It's the God who is behind the voice. And it's Him who causes the growth in all of us! Father, help me to not make much of man or myself - but You and You alone!

"A man may edify another by his gifts—and yet be unedified himself; he may be profitable to another—and yet unprofitable to himself.

The raven was an unclean bird: God makes use of her to feed Elijah; though she was not good meat, yet it was good meat she brought. A lame man may with his crutch point to the right way—and yet not be able to walk in it himself. A deformed tailor may make a suit to fit a straight body, though it does not fit him who made it, because of his deformity. The church (Christ's garden enclosed) may be watered through a wooden gutter; the sun may give light through a dusky window; and the field may be well sowed with a dirty hand.

The efficacy of the Word does not depend upon the authority of him who speaks it—but upon the authority of God who blesses it. So that another may be converted by my preaching—and yet I may be cast away notwithstanding... God may use a man's gifts to bring another to Christ, when he himself, whose gifts God uses, may be a stranger unto Christ.

One man may confirm another in the faith—and yet himself may be a stranger to the faith... Thus the candle may burn bright to light others in their work—and yet afterwards go out in a stink."

-- Matthew Meade, The Almost Christian (1661)

HT: http://www.9marks.org/blog/dont-go-out-stink