CQOD: 05/09/06 -- Bonhoeffer: no belief without obedience

Christian Quotation of the Day

May 9, 2006Meditation:
    Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
    -- Mark 1:16-18 (ESV)

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Quotation:
    But when once Christ had called him, Peter had no alternative he must leave the ship and come to Him. In the end, the first step of obedience proves to be an act of faith in the word of Christ. But we should completely misunderstand the nature of grace if we were to suppose that there was no need to take the first-step, because faith was already there. Against that, we must boldly assert that the step of obedience must be taken before faith can be possible. Unless he obeys, a man cannot believe.
    ... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), The Cost of Discipleship [1964]

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Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I hear Your call. Grant me faith to follow you.

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See Believer's Desktop Companion 2004
    http://www.cqod.com/cqoddtcb.html

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