Amazon.com: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (Audible Audio Edition): William Law, Maurice England, christianaudio.com: Audible Books & Originals

Amazon.com: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (Audible Audio Edition): William Law, Maurice England, christianaudio.com: Audible Books & Originals


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A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life Audible Audiobook – Unabridged
William Law (Author), Maurice England (Narrator), christianaudio.com (Publisher)
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William Law’s classic book, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life was a clarion call to action; to live a life worthy of one’s calling. “Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted to God.” The writings of William Law were challenging in the 18th century. Generations later the message is even more instructive and necessary.
©2014 eChristian (P)2014 eChristian



Listening Length

13 hours and 20 minutes
Author

William Law
Narrator

Maurice England
Audible release date

February 14, 2014




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Listening Length 13 hours and 20 minutes
Author William Law
Narrator Maurice England
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date February 14, 2014
Publisher christianaudio.com
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B00IGIUFWQ
Best Sellers Rank #137,518 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#3,034 in Christian Spiritual Growth (Audible Books & Originals)
#15,155 in Christian Spiritual Growth (Books)






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serious call william law holy life devout and holy church of england call to a devout although it involves spirit of love chapter 16 recommends spiritual practice biographical information work serious state religion life given devoted to god certain times addition to being ordained bibliolatry accept born educated corrupt humanity

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Kentucky Painter
1.0 out of 5 stars The first paragraph is a disclaimer that as an historic ...Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2018
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The first paragraph is a disclaimer that as an historic text an- being created using character recognition software-may have typos. What an understatement-it is virtually illegible. Returning and buying a real copy made with human eyes. Maybe this was mentioned in the description and I didn’t notice.


19 people found this helpful

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Theophilus
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for serious believersReviewed in the United States on March 6, 2015
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I was aware of this book as a young believer, but not very interested in it because I was not that interested in living a devout and holy life. I wanted to be good and serve the Lord and did seek the Lord fairly diligently, but preferred to avoid radical holiness. After going through some rather severe chastisement from the Father (see Hebrews chap. 12) I became very interested in becoming a partaker of His holiness. I strongly desired the "peaceable fruit of righteousness" promised to them that are "exercised thereby." This book is great for helping the serious reader come into a devout and holy life. I recommend it to all believers -- that they take the Lord's demands for holiness seriously. It could help you avoid some serious problems. The cited chapter in Hebrews says that all God's children are partakers of chastisement, but some is much more severe than other spankings.
And our desire for holiness should not be mainly to avoid chastisement, but to please the Lord. That is one of Mr Law's main points -- Christians are not living holy lives because they have never set their hearts to please the Lord in all things. We need to do that.

12 people found this helpful

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Bethany
4.0 out of 5 stars Very PracticalReviewed in the United States on March 12, 2019
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This is a fantastic book that illustrates what a “devoted” Christian looks like by examples: various characters are set in opposition to show what devotion to God looks like in daily life (the rich, the poor, the merchant, the clergyman, etc). The only reason I gave it 4 stars is that I agree with C.S. Lewis, in that William Law can at times lean towards legalism. I was also distracted by his constant reference to “spackling” and the horrors of makeup, but that may be my worldly vanity showing. :)

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R. Magnusson Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars A spiritual resource both logical and uplifting ... BUTReviewed in the United States on August 22, 2011
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For putting us in a fitting frame of mind, for impressing upon us the deeper things of the faith, for shaking folly off, for directing our gaze heavenward, this book is worthy of being called "a classic in the realm of Christian literature".

I first read about "Serious Call" in a biography of Samuel Johnson. That brilliant man, who gave us our first important dictionary of the English language, was deeply convicted by it. If such a clear thinker as he, an unbeliever, found it compelling, it must be good! And indeed, it is. Very good.

My "but" is that having read more of his work, I realize that Law had some strange beliefs. Therefore I cannot fully endorse him as a teacher. These beliefs are, for example, expressed in

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Tobs
1.0 out of 5 stars I learned of a book seller to avoid.Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2018
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Do not purchase. Number of typos on the book is beyond annoying. 88 pages, 3 columns per page, 10% of the text on each page is garbled or in cypher text.


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D. Keating
5.0 out of 5 stars Law makes a solid case for pious livingReviewed in the United States on February 14, 2004
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I read this book when I heard Jack Hayford mention it during one of his sermons. Given the title and era in which it was written, I expected it to contain some pretty weighty material about Christian living. I was not disappointed.
In this book, Law challenges the reader to respond to his "serious call" (and he was very serious when he wrote it) to devout living. The author makes a very solid case for this approach to Christian living for two main reasons. First, he is dead right about most topics he covers. His main point is that many Christians (I fall into this category) take for granted what God has done for us. There is no higher call than to love and serve Him. Yet we do not place as much value on spending time in devotion (prayer, reading scripture, praising, worshiping, serving) to God as we should. Instead we lived unbalanced lives in which God has a secondary role, instead being the primary focus of our existence.
Secondly, as another reviewer mentioned, his message is as relevant today, if not more so, than when it was written. We live in a day were modesty and pious living are completely ignored. It was refreshing to read a book which calls Christians to a much higher standard - we should not crave the things of this world. It is something I have struggled with, and continue to struggle with everyday that I live in overly abundant America. This book has helped me regain a more proper perspective on the importance of living for God (and what that means) versus living for the world.
I highly recommend this book to any Christian looking for a well written resource about living a life devoted to God. Law provides a lot of deep thought about the subject, and practical ways to try and live it out. At times, he goes a little bit too much into legalism for my taste, but overall he is on the mark with his approach and logic for his "serious call".

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J M WILKINSON
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2018
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Downloaded OK. Haven't had time to read it yet
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James Maccabe
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2016
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Read this book by William Law, inwardly digest it and reap the rewards. Its a classic!
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Keith C Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2016
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great
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david80
4.0 out of 5 stars Commentary on another age.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2012
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Law's 'Serious Call' , in part, is an interesting commentary on an age very different from our own. It is valuable to see what he considers to be flaws in contemporary devotional life.It is good to reflect on his views and his understanding of 'the religious life' and see what they have to say to us in Great Britain today
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Daniel Brandt

A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law | Goodreads

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A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

by
William Law
4.01 · Rating details · 564 ratings · 65 reviews
Originally published at the beginning of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, a time when rationalist criticism of religious belief was perhas at its peak, William Law's A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life succeeded in inspiring the most cynical men of the age with its arguments in favor of a spiritual life. More than simply articulating a set of rules to live by, Law's book examines what it means to lead a Christian life and criticizes the perversion of Christian tenents by the Establishment—whether secular or spiritual—whose real aim is temporal power. With a perface by the Reverend William Sloane Coffin, Jr., whose own direct engagement in social causes still finds inspiration in Law's argument, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life is a book that can still speak to our time. (less)

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Aug 15, 2018Fergus rated it it was amazing
Let people call our age irreligious and atheistic.

Cause I disagree.

We live at the dawn of a NEW world, a NEW way of life!

Let me explain...

William Law wrote this book in a jaded age when folks were just GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS of religious observance. A beginning of sharp religious decline.

The folks Law addresses didn’t even SEE they were only falsely sanctimonious and basically hypocritical, because they were only ACTING as if they were believers.

But their lives were becoming empty.

But the good thing about William Law is that he cut through their layers of illusions, and told them their lives could be MUCH, MUCH deeper and satisfying.

You see, Law was just addressing the believers.

In his day, as in ours, many of them had lost their Devotional Centre of Gravity.

You know, life without a Centre is pretty discouraging. Without a Centre, we tend to drift - not knowing where we are going.

But once we find our Centre, we’re fine again. It may take a while, but it HAPPENS. That’s what Law is trying to show us.

Now, I look around me and see a whole new generation of avid seekers who have swept the old assumptions off the table and started afresh!

Take a listen to New Christian Heavy Metal & Hip-Hop. It RIPS THE KNOB OFF your Android. Or get a load of Progressive Christian Podcasts these days… just Born Again preaching? No. This stuff MAKES YOU THINK.

We’re no longer a Nation of Churchgoers. We’re not used now to comforting words of Reassurance.

It’s an Age of Disquiet. Kids are used to VOICING THEIR CONCERNS: People are Dying everywhere.

Who’s LISTENING?

THAT - in part what what dear old William wanted to accomplish - is where we ARE. At a Crossroads.

So Where do we TURN?

Though William Law would never have gone so far as to throw the Baby out with the Bathwater, as the media would have us do, he MEANS to start us AFRESH… as these progressive Apps do.

And somehow, I don’t think the new generation RESISTS that.

The new generation, if it’s not going along with this crass modern world of appearances, has a Heart.

And what you are in your heart is what you TRULY are.

THERE you will find meaning.

Because so many young people belong to a vibrant, hopeful part of this generation that believes good things can be accomplished in a bad world, I see lots of hope for them.

But you know what? That hope, for kids, is only the first step to finding a secure refuge from the evils of this world!

Along with its friends love and faith, it is just the FOUNDATION for the ONLY kind of durable yet always-threatened peace that is remotely possible in this sorry cynical place.

But one day the hopeful kids of this world will grow up. And later see their dreams and visions threatened and perhaps even tossed into the air by the relentless, stormy gales of middle age. Happened to me…

What then?

Why, they’ll need hope in Real Goodness BEYOND the storm!

And that’s no joke. Old age sweeps aside ALL our illusions and one day we’ll ALL be there.

But it can never sweep aside the One who watches over us, and constantly calls out to us.

And saves us.

William Law is right!

REAL things are so rare, that we can’t afford to pass them by.

The important thing, as young kids now know so well, is NOT how you appear in public…

The important thing is how you appear in private… to GOD.

And THAT’s why William Law is still relevant! (less)
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Sep 12, 2012Andrea rated it it was amazing
Shelves: favorites-for-growth, christian-living
William Law's A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life is the most profoundly challenging, insightful and logical book I have ever read pertaining to my daily life as a Christian. His arguments for the purpose of and motivation for devotion to God (in its many forms) have impacted me in a way that I never would have imagined. I found myself challenged by every chapter and contemplative throughout. Law's arguments touched me intellectually, logically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is not necessarily a book of strict doctrine but it reveals to the reader the core of his or her actions, good or bad. He writes that if any part of our lives is owed to God in devotion, ALL parts are, otherwise we mistake the nature of God (or religion).

While some may feel that this book sets unattainable standards, I believe that the heart of Law's arguments should truly drive Christians to examine how they are living their lives and what that lifestyle demonstrates about the state of their hearts and minds. The magnitude of Law's "call" perhaps only seeks to accurately grasp the magnitude of a life lived fully for Christ, in which case, it is indeed unattainable without the help of the Spirit. For all of the strength and breadth of Laws's arguments, I think one would be hard pressed to deny the logic fortifying Law's conclusions or the spiritual motivation behind them.

On top of the raw challenge of what Law writes, I highly recommend reading this for the beauty in which Law communicates his "call." Written in the 1700s, this book has a unique, old-fashioned rhythm and variety of vocabulary that is unrivaled in anything I have read thus far. This work is not only a feast of content but of form as well. The artfulness of Law's writing, I feel, practically ushered in all of the hard-hitting challenges in such a way that I was constantly turning the page from both a compulsion to be encouraged spiritually and to be amazed by his literary style. I found his writing to be, at times, repetitive; but after gleaning such profound insight from a sentence or paragraph stated only slightly differently from the paragraph before, I resolved to read each section carefully for whatever nuanced morsel that I could take away. Just as I thought, after a couple pages of reading, that perhaps THIS chapter wouldn't hold as much impact as the ones before, I would be struck with a simple phrase, analogy, character story or piece of logic that made me laugh at the thought that Law's insight would run out before the pages of this book did.

I highly recommend the reading and re-reading of this book for any Christian would wants to take a serious look at their life and commit to the "serious call" that exists on that life as a follower of Christ. (less)
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Sep 14, 2012Barry rated it it was amazing
William Law's "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life" (1728), deeply influenced the chief actors in the great Evangelical revival in England, George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley. I first read it while a ministry student in college and have re-read it several times since. It is on my personal list of top 10 life-changing books. A sample of Law is the following on prayer:

"Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of him that we are capable of in this life. It is as much your duty to rise to pray as to pray when you are risen. And if you are late at your prayers you offer to God the prayers of an idle, slothful worshiper who rises to prayers as idle servants rise to their labor.
What conquest has he got over himself? What right hand has he cut off, what trials is he prepared for, what sacrifice is he ready to offer to God, who cannot be so cruel to himself as to rise to prayer at such a time as the drudging part of the world are content to rise to their labor?"
(less)
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Aug 09, 2021Barry rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: christian-living
Written in 1728, this Christian classic serves as a helpful guide for living a more God-centered life. Apparently, even Samuel Johnson found it to be convicting and life-changing.

This book often reminded me of Real Christianity by William Wilberforce (which I enjoyed more). Both books have versions that are edited and abridged for the modern reader, which is a plus.

I have to say that parts of this book strike me as a bit legalistic, focusing on works over grace, but perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised that a book written by a guy named Bill Law would tend toward legalism?

Of course that’s not to say he’s wrong in his prescriptions. Here’s one:

“Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of him that we are capable of in this life. It is as much your duty to rise to pray as to pray when you are risen. And if you are late at your prayers you offer to God the prayers of an idle, slothful worshiper who rises to prayers as idle servants rise to their labor.“

Ouch. (less)
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Jan 05, 2020B.J. Richardson rated it did not like it · review of another edition
Shelves: dnf
The Real Version:

But before I give a direct answer to this, I desire it may also be inquired, how it comes to pass that swearing is so common a vice among Christians? It is indeed not yet so common among women, as it is among men. But among men this sin is so common that perhaps there are more than two in three that are guilty of it through the whole course of their lives, swearing more or less, just as it happens, some constantly, others only now and then as it were by chance.

This version:

Before I give a direct answer to this, I want to ask why it is that profanity, including taking God's name in vain, is so common a sin among Christians. It is now just as common among women as it is among men. Some swear regularly, some let these words slip out almost as if by accident, and some have a different set of language for when they are in a church and when they are not.

The Real Version:

It is for want of this intention that you see men that profess religion, yet live in swearing and sensuality; that you see clergymen given to pride, and covetousness, and worldly enjoyments. It is for want of this intention, that you see women that profess devotion, yet living in all the folly and vanity of dress, wasting their time in idleness and pleasures, and in all such instances of state and equipage as their estates will reach. For let but a woman feel her heart full of this intention, and she will find it as impossible to patch or paint, as to curse or swear; she will no more desire to shine at balls or assemblies, or make a figure amongst those that are most finely dressed, than she will desire to dance upon a rope to please spectators: she will know, that the one is as far from the wisdom and excellency of the Christian spirit as the other.

This version:

It is for this reason you see even clergymen given to pride and covetousness and worldly enjoyments. It is for lack of this intention that you see women who profess devotion to God, yet dress in the latest fashion and styles in order to please themselves and others rather than God, who waste their time in idleness and pleasures and who prefer popularity and fashion more than holiness and modesty. If a woman's heart was full of intention to please God in all things, she would find it as impossible to swear and dress immodestly as to get drunk or steal. She would no longer desire to stand out at social events or dress in the latest and most worldly manner. She would no longer wear short skirts and dresses or tight clothing simply because others do. She will want to impress God and not others. She will be more concerned with fitting in with the Word of God than with her co-workers and friends. She will know that the one is as far from the wisdom and excellency of the Christian spirit as the other. How Christian women can dress in spandex or yoga shorts and pants and think they are pleasing God is difficult to understand. It is simply that many professing Christians do not really have the intent to please God in all that they do, say, watch, or wear.

--- My review ---

I had suspicions that this book had been radically altered with a lot more than just updated language throughout the first chapter. So when I saw "spandex and yoga pants" early in chapter two, I had to step back and check this. Fortunately, there are plenty of places that offer the complete text of A Serious Call online. In even a cursory glance it became immediately clear that pretty much every paragraph was not just slightly changed to reflect a change in language but drastically altered. Some times those changes are small and would barely be noticed. For example, in the second paragraph of the second chapter "not yet so common among women" has been changed to "just as common among women". Other changes are ridiculously obvious. Paul Miller throws in entire new paragraphs and goes on rants that do not exist in the original. Finally, PM seems to have excised everything William Law wrote on mysticism in this book.

So if you are here because you picked up it was free for kindle... delete it. There are plenty of copies you can get for free online. Or, if you must read it on kindle, then splurge on the $0.99 version. Even such a short way into this, it is clear that PM is drastically changing the meaning and intent of the original work. Also, I suspect he is a misogynist. Also, the language of the original is not nearly so difficult as to require a "revised and updated" version. It isn't Chaucer. (less)
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Oct 06, 2011Kim rated it it was amazing
Shelves: 2011-books, religious-thought, kindle-edition, 25-books-every-christian-should-rea
Simple but so profound!! It definitely stepped on my toes numerous times because it put so many things into true perspective. Our purpose is to live for the glory of God and that requires a constant spirit of devotion. It requires charity to those that we don't think deserve it (because we don't deserve the charity that God shows us). It requires not neglecting our Christian calling, a calling that all receive, regardless of occupation. Clergy are not to be considered more pious or righteous than we are as God holds us all to the same expectations of devotion. He speaks of humility, Divine love, and respect for God's creation and children (we are contrary to Christ if we despise anything that He loves).

There were just so many great statements in this that I was glad I had the Kindle version where I could highlight points that I want to easily refer back to. As an example, "If man will boast of anything as his own, he must boast of his misery and sin; for there is nothing else but this that is his own property." Christians have no problem stating that everything good that we have comes from God, but seldom do we think that all we truly have that is not from God is our own misery. It was statements like this that really made me think of many things in a new light.

At times, the book was difficult to get through. It was written in the 18th century so occasionally I got bogged down in his wording of things, and sometimes Law simply repeats the same thought in multiple chapters. However, he creates "characters" to serve as examples, and I liked how he did that. Those portions were much easier to read and understand his point. For anyone that desires to grow into a deeper understanding of his/her relationship with God, I highly recommend attempting to tackle this one. (less)
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Mar 07, 2014Jocelyn rated it it was ok
Shelves: religion
A diatribe against nominal Christians. Even though I sympathize with much of what Law says, I find his way of saying it a bit tiresome. I was about to quit reading it and return it to the library but then I came across this line: "[The impious Christian] will sometimes read a book of piety, if it is a short one, if it is much commended for style and language, and she can tell where to borrow it." After that, I had to soldier on for 295 more pages. (less)
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Dec 03, 2010Daniel Beasley rated it really liked it
As a 17 year old new Christ follower I was blessed to have a pastor who wasn't afraid to encourage me jumping in at the deep end. If memory serves, this was the third book he loaned to me and it helped set a fearless course out into learning from 2000 years of Christian wrestling with God. (less)
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Oct 31, 2009Pam rated it it was amazing
One of my favorite books of all time. I reread portions frequently!
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Feb 07, 2011Mark Thomas rated it it was amazing
Excellent book that is contemporary 200+ years after it was written...
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Jul 11, 2009Glen Grunau rated it really liked it · review of another edition
There is probably no one author that has had greater influence over my Christian journey than Dallas Willard. From Willard I learned that the Christian life could not be well lived out of willpower. An inner transformation was required to change my heart and my inner desires before my behaviour could be reliably altered. I always appreciated Willard’s humility, as evident by his frequent claims that his ideas were not original but were found in the writings of numerous ancient historical figures, encouraging us to check it out for ourselves. It was Willard who introduced me to William Law and particularly to the book for which he is most well-known: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. One of the chief delights for me in reading this book has been the frequent reminders of so many of Willard’s ideas that had such a great influence on my mind and heart. Law frequently appeals to reason in stating his case for the many benefits and virtues of living a life devoted to God. Although he was not a philosopher like Willard, it is easy to see the appeal in Law’s book for a brilliant philosopher like Willard.
It was necessary for me to periodically remind myself that this book was written in a different era. Law was born in 1686 and the first edition of this book was published in 1729. At times, Law’s writing came across to me as rather harsh and severe, highlighting some of what I have found aversive in the legalistic, often shame-based Evangelicalism in which I was raised. One of the gifts to me of a contemplative life has been the extolling of willingness over wilfulness and the invitation to rest in the initiative of God for a life of devotion rather propelling myself forward on my own initiative. I sensed from Law a bit of this forceful, determined approach to living a devout life that rang of legalism at times. Law seemed prone to dualistic, black-and-white thinking – so inconsistent with contemplative spirituality. Yet there was also a strong sense of mysticism in Law's writings. Apparently, he was significantly impacted by the mystics, with a Kempis and Ruysbroek listed among his favourites (Soulstream’s Jeff Imbach emphasized Ruysbroek’s ideas when he wrote The River Within and The Recovery of Love). I was happy to overlook some of Law’s severity in light of his frequent consistencies with a contemplative, mystical Christian life. There were times when I also appreciated Law’s intensity. In pointing to the straight and narrow path of a devout life, he spoke frequently of the importance of developing and adhering to a “rule of life” that focused on prayer as the primary means of inner transformation. In this respect, his teaching parallels the important contribution of Benedictine spirituality to the contemplative life.
I was convicted to reassess some of my common excuses for neglecting the poor and imprisoned in our society on the basis of their lack of merit, i.e. they deserve their plight because of their irresponsible wastefulness or horrific crimes. Here I was revealed as the severe legalist and Law as the essence of love and compassion when he writes: “You will perhaps say that by this means (charity) I encourage people to be beggars. But the same thoughtless objection may be made against all kinds of charities, for they may encourage people to depend upon them. The same may be said against forgiving our enemies, for it may encourage people to do us hurt. The same may be said even against the goodness of God, that by pouring His blessings on the evil and on the good, and the same may be said against clothing the naked, or giving medicines to the sick; for that may encourage people to neglect themselves, and be careless of their health. But when the love of God dwelleth in you, when it has enlarged your heart, and filled you with bowels of mercy and compassion, you will make no more such objections as these . . . it may be . . . that I may often give to those that do not deserve it, or that will make an ill use of my alms. But what then? Is not this the very method of Divine goodness? Does not God make "His sun to rise on the evil and on the good"?
As severely as Law scolds those Christians who are unable to rise at an early hour to pray, I had to laugh at his obvious intolerance for such slothfulness (maybe I am laughing at myself at the same time): “For if he is to be blamed as a slothful drone, that rather chooses the lazy indulgence of sleep . . . how much more is he to be reproached, that would rather lie folded up in a bed, than by raising up his heart to God in acts of praise and adoration! . . . Sleep is such a dull, stupid state of existence, that even amongst mere animals, we despise them most which are most drowsy (actually, I have developed a great admiration and respect for my “slothful” cat who can rest away the hours of the day in such peace and tranquility!)”.
I was particularly impacted by his pervasive teaching on the dangers of pride (he makes 100 uses of the word pride in his book) and the virtues of humility. In the conservative evangelicals church today, so much emphasis is placed on the sins of the body, to the complete neglect of the more important sins of the heart (chief among them pride) that Jesus so frequently emphasized in his teaching (which makes me wonder if we are all following the same Jesus). Law’s interpretation of I John 2:15 "All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" is particularly striking. He suggests that the “world” that we are to fear in this regard is not the “heathen world” that we normally think of when we read this verse, but the “Christian world” that has such an alarming tolerance for pride in its midst! He concludes that “there is nothing, therefore, that a good Christian ought to be more suspicious of, or more constantly guard against, than the authority of the Christian world”.
Law goes on to blame our education system for instilling such pride and vainglory in our citizens, with its high regard for competitive achievement in which “we stir them (our students) up to action from principles of strife and ambition, from glory, envy, and a desire of distinction, that they may excel others, and shine in the eyes of the world . . . how dry and poor must the doctrine of humility sound to a youth, that has been spurred up to all his industry by ambition, envy, emulation, and a desire of glory and distinction!”
Law asserts with confidence that pride is such a pervasive motive in every one of us that we can virtually be certain that when it comes time to repent of our sins before God, we can be almost certain that pride is chief among our sins in need of repentance: “For there is no one vice that is more deeply rooted in our nature, or that receives such constant nourishment from almost everything that we think or do: there being hardly anything in the world that we want or use, or any action or duty of life, but pride finds some means or other to take hold of it. So that at what time soever we begin to offer ourselves to God, we can hardly be surer of anything, than that we have a great deal of pride to repent of”.
I have been reminded through the reading of this important book that I do not necessarily have to agree with everything that an author says in order to benefit greatly from being exposed to him whatever truth may be offered. Law offers so much! I can appreciate why this particular book was recently included in the “Hall of Fame” 25 books that every Christian should read, noting that both Dallas Willard and Richard Rohr, my two favourite authors, were on the committee that selected these books. (less)
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Jul 04, 2020B.J. Richardson rated it really liked it
In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commands us, "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect."

His disciple Peter echoes this command when he writes "Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do."

A Serious Call is William Law's 18th-century version answer to how these two commands can be lived out. Is this an impossible goal? Of course, it is! But just because perfection is unattainable does not mean we shouldn't strive for it.

From start to finish in this book, three different thoughts or emotions came bubbling to the surface for me. The first of these was the passion I noticed in William Law. There is no question that he desires to do good, to live right, to be holy. But he desires these not as ends in and of themselves but because of his love for God. The second was how challenged I frequently was in this book. First and foremost, his own passion challenged me to rekindle that same fire in my own life. I want to want God more after reading this. Beyond that, I was challenged to devote greater effort to living out the "Devout and Holy Life" that Law is writing about.

The third thing that I kept thinking was that Law skirts too closely the line between devotion and legalism. I don't believe Law was intentionally being legalistic, but when someone is imposing their extra-biblical devotional practices on to others, the opportunity for legalism does arise. It can be very easy for someone to pick up this book, read it and think, "Now I have to go out and do this and that just as Law says." Living a devout and holy life so that we might draw closer to God is a very good thing. Living that same life as an end unto itself is most certainly not.

So in all, even though this is clearly a book of its time, there is plenty to recommend it to anyone who desired to draw closer to God in our day as well. Just please make sure you are reading the actual book and not the "Updated and Annotated" version you can get for free at Amazon. That travesty is a butchery of this book. If you want it for free, use this link instead:
http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/ted_h... (less)
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Jun 16, 2009Michelle added it
Shelves: christian
Humbling and practical. Reminded me what frivolous and vain thoughts sometimes consume me!
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Jun 03, 2021Justine Olawsky rated it it was ok · review of another edition
Probably more of a 2.5 for me.

The best part of this book was the Foreword by Elton Trueblood wherein he recounted how this abridged, modern language edition of an 18th century religious exhortation came into being.

As for the actual William Law-ish parts of the book ... it was fine. Nothing to object to, really. It did not rock my world, and I'm not sure how long most of it will stay with me. Basically, living in a debauched age - which is essentially every age - of those who profess the Christian faith but don't trouble themselves much about living up to its precepts, William Law decided to call his fellow believers to a devout and holy life. And this was not just any sort of casual or light-hearted call. No sir. This was a serious call. Totes serious, guys.

He calls his readers through a combination of passionate exhortation and stylized character vignettes to illustrate how one is either living according to the faith or just dancing upon the edges. Unfortunately, to my mind, neither the right-living Christians nor the marginal ones seem very attractive under Law's labored pen, so, for me at least, this device sort of falls flat. Centuries later, C.S. Lewis would show us how this is done - creating characters who live and breathe and also happen to illustrate broader moral themes. Thinking here, especially, of The Great Divorce, though much of Lewis's nonfiction is peppered through with such juicy character sketches as well.

The second half of the book was better than the first. Here he tries to give a structure to daily prayer by delineating particular themes for each of five hours. Two particular points of enjoyment and edification come to mind:

1. His chapter on singing the psalms as a preparation for prayer charmed me, especially his assurances that one's own doubt about his qualities as a singer ought not to dissuade him from singing out praise to God, writing, "It is singing and not artful or fine singing that is a required way of praising God ... When [one's] heart feels a true joy in God, when it has a full relish of what is expressed in the psalms, he will find it very pleasant to make the motions of his voice express the motions of his heart" (99).

2. His chapters on intercessory prayer as an act of universal love were heart-filling. It is easy to forget that prayer is the best we can offer and the foundation of all our good, charitable works - and by God's mysterious workings through our intercessory prayers, He fills the gaps between what we can do for our neighbour and what we wish to do. Law writes:

You cannot heal all the sick or relieve all the poor. You cannot comfort all in distress nor be a father to all the fatherless. You cannot, it may be, deliver many from their misfortunes or teach them to find comfort in God. But if there is a love and a tenderness in your heart that delights in these good works and excites you to do all that you can—if your love has no bounds but continually wishes and prays for the relief and happiness of all who are in distress—you will be received by God as a benefactor to those who have had nothing from you but your good will and tender affections. (131)
A solid read for anyone in need of a spiritual kick in the pants. Less insufferable than St. John of the Cross. This edition is mercifully abridged. (less)
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Aug 05, 2015Aaron Downs rated it really liked it
Summary:

William Law’s A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life urges believers to consider pursuing piously as a comprehensive life task. His influential work specifically explains and describes devotion, especially in regards to times of prayer. He defines a devout man as one “who lives no longer to his own will, or the way and spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God, who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes all the parts of his common life parts of piety, by doing everything in the Name of God, and under such rules as are conformable to His glory” (7). This definition, he argues, “signifies a life given, or devoted, to God” (7).

Throughout the book, Law argues that devoted and holy living is all encompassing and does not apply only to regularly scheduled worship times, nor does it apply only to members of the clergy. Law offers a holistic approach to life, “As a good Christian should consider every place as holy, because God is there, so he should loo upon every part of his life as a matter of holiness, because it is offered unto God” (34). He makes clear argumentation that all Christians ought to pursue holiness and devout living. This distinction eliminates a separating the “sacred” and the “secular.” In combining the secular elements of life and the sacred elements of life into an all-sacred category before God, he urges Christians to consider why piety is so rare among believers.

Some Christians may be tempted to give push back to Law on this argument, perhaps saying that it is impractical for a non-clergy member to pursue a life as devout and holy as a clergy member, or, that those who are not ordained ministers have more license for pursuing things of this world than those who are ordained ministers. Law responds to such thinking by saying that there is no other kind of devotion that God desires from man than “living devoted to God in the common business of our lives” (41).

He continually compares the contemporary believers of his day to the primitive Christians of the early church; in his comparison he concludes that the difference in lifestyles finds it’s root in a difference of intentionality.

Intentionality, Law argues, is what is lacking. He says that if an individual lacks piety, the person lack piety “neither through ignorance nor inability, but purely because you never thoroughly intended it” (17). He goes on to explain that unless Christians intend daily living as a duty of devotion to God, their daily living will be devoid of devotion to God. He does not say this as though the power for holy living is found in effort alone, because he concedes that people will fall short of the perfection of the Gospel; however, he points out that the average Christian does not come as near to the perfection of the Gospel as he or she could had the person only had sincere intention and careful diligence in daily living.

Daily living, without intentional devotion to God, results in living that cannot make true progress in religion. Law argues that most Christians aren’t living debauched lives that are keeping them from holiness and devotion, but that most Christians simply don’t include holiness and devotion into their lives. “More people are kept from a true sense and taste of religion,” Law writes,” by a regular kind of sensuality and indulgence, than by gross drunkenness” (67). He is writing in this book not to those who take interest in pursuing the “gross and notorious sins” (67), but those who have failed to “put the most common and allowed actions of life under the rules of discretion and piety” (67). Christians don’t miss devotion and holiness because they are drunk or living as a prostitute, but because they do not intentionally pursue the virtues of the Christian life.

Christians often devote much time and energy pursuing hobbies, or studying the details of their vocation, but never put the same amount of effort into studying the details of the Christian faith. Law argues that intentionality requires Christians to study the Christian faith with even more diligence than any studies in occupations or hobbies. Instead, Christians are to give themselves to their vocations only inasmuch as is necessary to glorify God in their work; the Christian’s passions should be devoted to pursing holiness in Christ.

After Law describes the intensity with which Christians ought to devote themselves to holy and devout living, he prescribes the primary method for that living: daily prayer—prayer at formal times during the day and continuous prayer throughout the day. He explains that Christians must prayer in all circumstances, primarily because the act of prayer cultivates affections toward God. This high duty requires that prayer “ought to have a great share in the forming and composing” (153) of private devotions. Prayer, however, takes time. And many Christians do not think that prayer is worth the time that it takes—at least the unhurried, contemplative, intentional prayers that Law prescribes.

Although prayer is time consuming, Law does not give any indication that people who are unusually busy are exempt from lengthy times of prayer. He does indicate that those who are free from the obligations to work for a living should devote themselves to prayer all the more. He explains, “Now though people of leisure seem called more particularly to this study of devotion, yet persons of much business or labour must not think themselves excused from this, or some better method of improving their devotion” (154). Prayer and meditation are those methods of improving devotion that all Christians are responsible to faithfully and thoughtfully pursue.

Law follows these methods of piety by explaining that without humility, they are useless. He teaches that the most difficult part of being humble is that the world teaches the exact opposite of humility, and because people are afraid of what others think about them, humility is hindered by fear. He persuades Christians to stop being afraid what unbelievers will think if they demonstrate true, Christ-like humility. “Will you let the fear of a false world, that has no love for you, keep you from the feat of that God, who has only created you that He may love you and bless you to all eternity?” (189) Christians can rejoice in God’s love and blessing when they cast off fear of man in favor of humble devotion to God.

Finally, Law concludes that devoted, holy living takes into consideration other people. He spends the majority of the book focusing on personal love toward God, but he argues that love toward God alone does not fulfill God’s requirements, “that no love is holy or religious, till it becomes universal” (241).

This book calls Christians to radically holy living, and it has made this call for centuries. I was surprised to read that this book affected John Newton. I was also surprised to read elsewhere that George Whitfield wrote in his journal about thanking God based on Law’s criteria. There were points in my reading that I felt that Law was developing a plan for holy living that is impossible to pursue, and without the energies of Christ, it is impossible to pursue. However, his explanations and illustrations helped me greatly. I especially appreciated the fictional characters he utilized to serve as examples throughout the book.
William Law taught me, “Devotion is nothing else but right apprehensions and right affections towards God” (158). His teaching makes me want to perceive God more biblically and respond to the perception more deeply.
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Aug 17, 2017Tyler Eason rated it really liked it
This is a helpful and convicting book. While he writes from a unique and often aberrant theological perspective (Christian perfectionism), Law gives practical steps to take on the path of holiness that are relevant for believers in every walk of life.
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Jan 08, 2015Nemo added it
Shelves: christianity
William Law in this work reminds me of Leo Tolstoy in his late writings. Both of them write with a limpid style, both make moral arguments that are undeniably logical and rational, both make severe and incisive criticisms of Christendom, and not surprisingly, both were excommunicated.

If a Christian reader tries to see things through Law's eyes, he would find himself in a dream world, where people, himself included, live in a way that defies logic and reason, either sleepwalking through the day never knowing where they were going, or habitually engaging in various kinds of activities that are beneficial to none but harmful to all.

The reader is then perhaps confronted with an uncomfortable choice: Either Law is a crackbrained writer, or something is seriously wrong with my way of life. If that is the case, the condescending and sarcastic, though urbanely controlled, tone in the introduction written by the Reverend Charles Bigg, DD is quite understandable.

(To judge for yourself, read an excerpt of "Serious Call"at Nemo's Library. It is representative of Law's writing and ideas.) (less)
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Oct 22, 2012Gregory rated it it was amazing
Recommends it for: Christians
Recommended to Gregory by: Discovered it in the Classics
Shelves: favorites
A must read classic.The author has a passion for Christ that is most uncommon for this modern age. With line upon line and precept upon precept, he lays down a solid, biblical foundation for understanding the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Once you take the time to carefully read this book, you will see that the work of sanctification in the believer belongs alone to the person of the Holy Spirit.

More emphasis is placed on the power of the finished work of Christ than on the struggling Christian's own will power to persevere. There is a call to come to God for holiness, and complete conformity to Christ. Yet the author never loses site of the yielded life and complete cooperation that must be given daily, even hourly, so that God may make the believer a true partaker of the divine nature of Christ. Receiving the Holy Spirit and coming under his complete control is to William Law, the true interpretation of authentic & genuine Christianity. (less)
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Apr 08, 2011Garland Vance rated it liked it
Shelves: christian-living, kindle, ministry
The first several chapters of this book were excellent--worth 6 stars! Law's challenges to Christians centuries ago reads as if he understands current believers. He says that most believers think that the only change in their lives are that they need to introduce devotional practices of prayer & Bible study. Law says that the problem is that we do not desire to please God in all decisions as the best & happiest thing in the world. The next few chapters unpack this & these chapters are outstanding.
About 1/3 of the way thru the book, I found Law going on beyond what was necessary. Most of the chapters are too long, and I found myself getting bored with it.
In spite of my dislike of the last 2/3 of the book, the first few chapters were WELL worth the cost of the book. (less)
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Sep 14, 2007Lacy rated it liked it
I don't claim to have read this cover to cover, but taken in small chunks it's a really interesting study of very dated moral behavior.
Law really hates people who gad away their time visiting friends in the countryside on Sundays, for instance. And women who care far too much about their own finery and silk dresses.
However, among all the leisure class admonishments are some really good, substantial beliefs about the importance of upholding morality for its own sake, not just for show - which probably was kind of an issue among mid 19th-century British society.
Anyway, definitely an interesting read, even if the language is fairly thick. (less)
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Nov 08, 2011Dad Bowers rated it liked it
Shelves: devotional
It was worth reading. Law has a dated 1700's style, for sure, but he expresses well our serious need for a devotional life and he gives lots of practical tips and reasons for this. I probably won't follow his method of dividing the day into various hours of prayer. He seeks that we each remain devoted to Jesus Christ all our days: a most worthy goal in life. (less)
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Sep 27, 2009Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Theh title of this encompasses the content of this book, with an emphasis on serious. My conscience was certainly piqued at times. This book was written in the early 1700s, so some of the examples seem trite for our modern age. But his chapters on prayer and worship are worth the read.
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Apr 30, 2009Richard Gray rated it it was amazing
who I am and who I am not in the greater scheme.
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Apr 05, 2012Ircolle Colle rated it it was amazing
Excellent read for Lent. Short chapters (~5 pages each) make for a great daily devotion. Extremely rich, challenging, and thought provoking.
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알라딘: 윌리암 로오, 내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력 2008

알라딘: 내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력

내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력  

윌리암 로오 (지은이),정은영 (옮긴이)브니엘출판사2008-02-26

원제 : God's Power in You

책소개

요한 웨슬리, 조지 휘트필드, C. S. 루이스 등에게 상당한 영향을 끼친 것으로 알려진 윌리엄 로우의 대표작.

'예배 받기에 합당하신 하나님이 우리를 부르신 이유는 하나님 안에서 풍성한 삶을 누리도록 하는 데 있다.'고 강조하는 지은이는 새로운 도출 방식으로 하나님의 창조 계획과 피조물을 향한 크신 사랑을 이야기한다.

목차

역자 서문

1부 사랑의 영

1. 사랑의 영이란 무엇인가?

2. 사랑에 영에 필요한 반응

3. 인간의 본성과 하나님의 선

4. 지속적인 인도하심이 필요하다

5. 우리 안에 있는 천국의 씨앗

6. 주님만이 우리의 구원이시다

7. 두 번째 아담, 그리스도

8. 아는 것, 그 이상이 필요하다

9. 사랑의 영이 우리를 구원한다

10. 절대적인 믿음이 필요하다

11. 진정한 내려놓음

2부 영원의 영

12. 죄악이 세상으로 들어가는 입구

13. 새롭게 태어나야 한다

14. 우리 안에 있는 그리스도의 생명

15. 영원한 진주

16. 구원에 이르는 유일한 길

접기

책속에서

땅에 뿌려진 씨앗은 불,빛,대기의 축복으로 죽음을 뚫고 생명을 얻어 마침내 향긋하고 아름다운 꽃으로 완성된다. 우리의 영혼도 마찬가지다. 다른 방법으로 온전해 질 수 있다는 생각은 뭘 모르고 하는 것이다. 꽃을 피우는 그날까지 처음의 모습에서 더 높은 차원으로 변화되어 나갈 때, 인간의 마음은 온전해진다.-p29 중에서

태양의 속성은 하나뿐이며 그래서 오직 축복의 빛을 발한다. 하나님 역시 마찬가지다. 삼위일체의 거룩한 주님은 하나의 본성으로 온 만물을 바라보신다. 그리고 각자의 분량과 능력에 맞게 풍성한 기쁨과 거룩함과 온전함을 부어주신다.-p155 중에서  접기

저자 및 역자소개

윌리암 로오 (William Law) (지은이) 

저자파일

 

신간알리미 신청

“세상이 오직 그분만을 위해 창조되었듯이 모든 사람은 자신을 하나님의 특별한 섭리의 대상으로, 그분의 동일한 보살핌과 보호 아래 있는 존재로 여겨야 한다. 어느 한 사람이 특정한 시기에 특정한 부모에게서 특정한 장소와 환경에서 태어나는 것은 결코 우연이 아니다. 모든 영혼은 하나님이 정하신 때와 정하신 환경에서 그분의 뜻에 따라 특별한 목적을 위해 육신을 입는다”고 말하는 윌리엄 로우는 요한 웨슬리, 조지 휘트필드, C. S. 루이스 등 거장들의 신앙생활에 지대한 영향을 끼친 영성의 대가이다. 특히 그의 논문 '경건하고 거룩한 삶을 위한 진지한 부르심'은 요한 웨슬리의 사상에 많은 영향을 주었다.

접기

최근작 : <내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력>,<경건한 삶을 위한 부르심> … 총 799종 (모두보기)

정은영 (옮긴이) 

저자파일

 

신간알리미 신청

서울여자대학교 영어영문학과와 성균관대학교 번역대학원을 졸업했다. 뛰어난 통찰력과 재치가 넘치는 문장으로 원작의 느낌을 잘 살려 내고 있는 번역가이다. 현재 번역 에이전시 베네트랜스에서 전문 번역가로 활동 중이다. 주요 역서로는 《다섯 씨앗》 《내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력》 《아이엠 에스더》 《본회퍼의 삶과 신학》 《넌센스: 하나님에 대한 13가지 오해》 등이 있다.

최근작 : <어린이 천로역정> … 총 11종 (모두보기)

윌리암 로오(지은이)의 말

사실 많은 사람들은 사랑을 좋아하면서도 사랑으루 하지 못한다. 또한 본성적으로 사랑과 반대된 것을 완전히 극복하지 못해 자기가 할 수 있는 것만 할지도 모른다. 그래서 인간은 스스로 지켜낼 수 없는 것, 바로 사랑의 찬미자가 될 수밖에 없다.

출판사 제공 책소개

“거룩한 삶을 위한 하나님의 부르심!”

요한 웨슬리, 조지 휘트필드, C. S. 루이스 등

거장들의 영적 스승인 윌리엄 로우의 대표작.

예배 받기에 합당하신 하나님이 우리를 부르신 이유는

하나님 안에서 풍성한 삶을 누리도록 하는 데 있다.

하나님은 그 아들 예수 그리스도를 통해 인간을 구원하셨다. 인류의 구원은 아담이 창조되기 이전부터 하나님의 사랑으로 계획되었던 일이다. 그 결과 아담의 원죄로 하나님과 멀어졌던 인류는 그리스도의 구원으로 다시금 하나님 앞에 서게 되었다. 윌리엄 로우는 새로운 도출 방식으로 하나님의 놀라운 창조 계획과 피조물을 향한 하나님의 크신 사랑을 이야기한다.

이제 여러분은 이 책을 통해 다음과 같은 사실을 발견하게 될 것이다.

- 우리를 향한 하나님의 크신 사랑

- 우리 마음속에 임하시는 하나님의 성령

- 하나님께로 가는 유일하고 확실한 방법

- 하나님과 영원히 함께하는 풍성한 삶

- 하나님의 임재를 체험하는 방법

이 책을 통해 당신은 영적 생활에서 결코 놓쳐서는 안 될 아주 중요한 진리들을 발견하게 될 것이다. 그리고 인간 본연의 악행, 불행, 죽음으로부터 자유를 얻고, 처음의 거룩한 삶을 회복하며, 우리를 향한 하나님의 예비하심과 풍성한 사랑을 경험하게 될 것이다. 접기

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내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력

신앙인이라면 늘 자신에게 하나님의 능력이 함께 하길 바라고 원하며 살아갈 것이다

이 책의 저자인 윌리암 로우의 신학적인 스승이란 말을 보며 난 이 책을

더 자세히 또박또박 읽어보았다

나 또한 그렇게 생각한것 처럼 언제나 기도하는 자가 되고 싶기 때문이다

내 안에 존재하는 하나님의 능력이 나의 기도를 통해서 이루어지고 또

좋은 일에 쓰여지길 소망하고 원하기 때문이기도 하다

신앙인이기에 더 소중한 책이 아닐까 생각한다

언제나 많은 사람들에게 신앙의 힘을 지켜주고 도움이 되는 책이 되길 바라는 마음이다

 

[내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력]을 보면 사랑의 영에대해 자세한 설명과 함께

하나님의 형상대로 창조된 인간이 죄악된 삶을 살다가 예수의 보혈의 공로로 새롭게 태어남과

내 안에 그리스도의 새영이 살아있음을 알고 깨닫게 해줍니다

믿음을 통한 하나님의 인도함을 받기위해 어떤 삶의 자세가 필요한지

천국의 씨앗이 우리 믿음안에서 잘 자라게 하려면 어떤 길을 선택하고 걸어야 하는지

그러기 위해서 필요한 무한한 예수의 사랑에 대한 절대적 믿음이 중요함을 깨닫게 해주네요

 

분명 알고는 있지만 믿음이 부족하고 깨닫지 못하는

한 순간 한 순간을 다시 생각하며 깨우치고 뉘우치며 절대적인 믿음을 키우는 좋은 책이에요

오늘도 책 한권을 통해 나의 믿음에 대한 반성을 하며

하나님의 능력과 무한한 사랑을 확인하고 앞으로 더욱더 깊은 믿음을 키워야겠다

하는 생각을 하며. 무한한 가르침을 배우고 기도하는 소중한 시간을 가지게 되었답니다

행복한 즐거운 믿음의 시간 감사합니다

- 접기

깜장땅콩 2008-04-17 공감(1) 댓글(0)

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공감

     

내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력 새창으로 보기

 

[내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력]

 

'우리 안에 하나님의 능력이 있는 것도 바로 그 분의 본질과 모습 때문이다.'

 

저자인 윌리엄 로우는 하나님의 놀라운 창조계획과 조물주에 의하여 만들어진 모든

것에 향한 과정이나  결론을 통해 하나님의 크신 사랑을 말씀을 전하고 있다.

그러한 데다가 더한 영적 생활을 함에 있어 놓쳐서는 아니 될 중요한 참된 이치를

깨닫게 됨과 동시에 구원의 기본적이면서도  핵심적인 진리를 명확하게 제시해 주고 있다.

읽다 손에서 내려놓기를 여러차례,그것은 내 안에 하나님의 능력이 살아 역사하시도록

내 자신을 온전히 내려놓고 하나님을 의지하고 있는가에 아무런 의심이나 사심이

없어야 함인데 나는 내게 되묻고야 말았다.

지금 내 두 아이들에 비하면 나의 신앙은 저 땅끝 어둠속에 잠자고 있는 하찮은

믿음으로 부끄러워 고개조차  들지 못할 정도이니 신앙서적을 읽을때 내 가슴 끝에서

치밀어 오르는 그 구원의 손길은 내게 큰 사랑을 경험하게  해 주고 있으며 내 믿음에

한결같은 하나님의 섭리를 작용하게 해 주고 있으며 오릇이 구원은 하나님께 속하는

것임을 알고 있기에.

각 1.2부로 나뉘어 사랑의 영과 영원의 영인 삶으로  전자는 본성적인 삶을  후자는

그 안에 하나님이 명확하게  역사하는 삶을 뜻하기도 한다.

사실 내겐 하나님과의 만남을 늘상 갖고 있다 생각했는데  또  한편으로는 사탄으로부터의

유혹에서  과감히 벗어나지 못하고 있는 나를 적잖이 발견하곤 한다.

저자가 말하듯 분노란 사탄의 본성이라 한다.

그 본성은 인간이 그리스도를 잃지 않았다면 분노가 우리 안에 시작될 수도 그 힘을

발휘할 수 도 없다 한다.

이 문구를 읽다 내 안의 그리스도를 잃어가고 있는 것을 깨닫고 온전하게 내 안에 그

리스도를 구주로 영접하려 한다.

그리할때 비로소 내 안에 하나님의 성령과  하나님과 영원히 함께하는 풍성한 삶이

시작되리라 믿는다.

사랑의 영은 오직 선을 바라는 하나님의 영에서 시작되고 본래 선하고 모든 선이

하나님에게서 시작되는 것이다.

이어 거룩한 사랑은 그 자체로 선하며 가진 모든 것이 선하다.

그리하여 오직 거룩한 사랑과 그 사랑의 나눔만이 선할 수 있음과 곧 하나님은 사랑이시다.

그래서 하나님 안에 거하는 자는 사랑 안에 거한다.(요일4:16)

 

인간은 하나님이 기꺼이 주시려는 모든 것을 소망할때 온전해 질 수 있다.

태양은 자신을 향해 피어난 봉우리를 하나님 반만큼도 확실히 충족시킬 수 없다.

모든 선의 원천이신 주님은 자신과 함께하고자  바라는 영혼과 친히 말씀하시는

분이기 때문이다.(142P)

 

이제 내게도 기도의 영이 함께 존재하고 기도의 영을 통해서 선과 하나가 되어

내 마음 속에 천국과  하나님의 나라가 펼쳐지기를 바라는 믿음으로 온전히 성장하는

나이길 바라며.

- 접기

기린초 2008-03-04 공감(0) 댓글(0)

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공감

     

[서평] 내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력 새창으로 보기

낮아짐

당신 이웃들의 모든 연약함과 결점에 대하여 자기 자신을 낮추고 겸손한

태도를 취하라. 그들의 과실을 덮어주고 그들의 좋은 점을 사랑하고 그들의

미덕을 격려하고 그들의 부족한 것을 도와주고, 그들의 번영을 기뻐하고,

그들의 빈곤을 동정하며, 그들의 우호를 받아들이고, 그들의 불친절을 묵과하고,

그들의 악의를 용서하라. 그리고 스스로를 낮추어서 가장 낮은 사람들을 위한

가장 낮은 직무를 수행하라.

 

책 뒷부분에 실린 <윌리엄 로우의 영적 잠언>의 일부분이다.

이외에도

감사, 기도의 언어,하나님의 섭리,구원,헌신,천국의 상급,행위와 내적 상태,

아침에 일찍 일어남,겸허해짐에 대한 잠언이 실려 있다.

 

이 책에는 하나님의 본질과 인간의 본성, 그리고 그리스도가 구원자가 되시는

확실한 이유를 자세하게 설명해 주고 있다.

하나님은 사랑이시고, 절대 선하신 분이시다.

그리고 인간은 하나님의 형상대로 창조되었으므로 거룩한 상태였다.

하지만 아담의 죄로 인해 거룩한 삶이 사라져 버렸고, 인간의 마음속에는

타락하고 세상적인 삶만이 남게 되었다.

하지만 사랑의 하나님은 거룩을 회복할 수 있는 한가지 방법을 주셨다.

그 길은 오직 예수그리스도를 통해서만 가능하다.

 

동정녀 마리아의 몸을 빌어 육신을 입고 이 땅에 오신 예수님,

첫 번째 아담으로 인해 인류가 상실했던 거룩한 생명을 소생 시켜 주실

두 번째 아담이 예수님이시다.

우리 마음속에 그리스도의 씨앗, 천국의 씨앗(거룩한 생명)이 숨겨져 있다면

그리스도로 인해 거룩해 질 수 있는 것이다.

 

구원을 이루기 위해 우리가 해야할일, 구해야 할 곳, 구원에 이르는 방법까지

상세하게 설명되어져 있다.

구원에 이르는 길을 발견하고 그 길을 따라가면 마음속의 모든 죄악을 물리 칠 수

있으며 하나님의 새로운 자녀로 다시 태어나게 되는 것이다.

즉 하나님의 나라가 다시 임한다는 말이다.

 

성경속에는 우리에게 죄와 은혜, 생명과 죽음, 천국와 지옥, 새 사람과 속사람,

하나님의 빛과 영에 대해 가르쳐 주는데 이모든 것이 하나님의 사랑의 기록이다.

그 하나님이 인간의 마음속에 풍성한 영광을 전하고 능력을 부어 주신다.

그로 인해 옛사람을 벗어 버리고 새사람으로 다시 태어 날 수 있는 것이다.

하나님의 인도하심에 마음과 눈과 귀를 열어서 집중한다면 하나님의 역사 하심을

느낄 수 있을 것이며 그 인도하심에 복종하며 하나님을 절대적으로 의지해야

할 것이다. 그렇게 한다면 우리들 마음속에 하나님이 살아계셔서 일 하시므로

내 안에서 하나님의 능력이 나타날 수 있다는 것이다.

 

기독교의 핵심인 구원의 진리를 너무도 자세하고 알기 쉽게 알려 주는 책이다.

이 책을 통해 하나님의 본질과 인간의 본성과 그리스도의 위대한 구원의 역사를

확실하게 알게 되었다.

변함이 없으신 하나님은 지금도 우리를 사랑하시고 그 능력을 내 안에 부어 주시고

자 하신다. 자....그렇다면

하나님의 능력이 살아 역사하시도록 나를 부인하고 내려놓고 하나님의 능력과 사랑을

온전히 의지하며 온유와 겸손과 인내로 말씀 순종하는 길이 최선임을 깨닫는다.

 

- 접기

수선화 2008-03-03 공감(0) 댓글(0)

Thanks to

 

공감

     

내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력^^ 새창으로 보기

이 책의 저자 윌리엄 로우는 존 웨슬리, 조지 휘트필드, C. S. 루이스 등

교회사에 지대한 영향을 남긴 영적 거장들의 신앙생활에

지대한 영향을 끼친 분이라고 소개합니다^^

그런데 솔직히 저는 이분의 존함은 처음 들어봅니다^^

하지만 이 분이 얼마나 거룩한 영적 위인 이었는지는

이 책을 통해서 충분히 보여주고 있는 것 같습니다^^

 

우선, 이 책은 읽기가 쉽지 않습니다^^

그 이유는......^^

 

1. 빨리 읽어야 할 책이 있고 천천히 반복하여 읽을 책이 있습니다^^

   이 책은 그런면에서 후자에 속합니다^^

   한문장 한문장의 글귀가 가슴 깊이 여운이 남기 때문입니다^^

   그래서 급하게 읽으려 하다가는 체하게 될 것 같습니다^^

   이 책을 통해 받아야 할 영적인 은혜들을 놓치지 않으려면

   반드시 그래야 한다고 생각합니다^^

   시간의 여유를 가지시고 천천히 곱씹으면서 읽으면

   너무나 유익한 책인 것 같아요^^

 

2. 고전이라서 그런지는 몰라도 언어의 표현이

    현대적인 언어들과는 조금 차이가 느껴집니다~^^

    (-약간 어렵다고 해야하나? 번역이 어색한 감이 느껴진다고 해야하나?^^)

    그래도 천천히 읽으신다면 충분한 영적 자양분을 공급받으시리라 생각합니다^^

    그리고 감수할만한 가치가 있기에 이 정도는 가볍게 봐주고 넘어갈 수 있습니다^^

 

제가 가장 선호하는 책, 최고로 인정하는 책들은

하나님과의 친밀함, 관계의 회복들에 대해 도움을 주는 책입니다^^

이 책은 무엇보다 영적우선순위인

우리 안에 계신 성령님의 내주하심과 인도하심,

그리고 하나님과의 친밀함에 대해 집중하도록 도와줍니다^^

그래서 저는 이 책을 높이 평가합니다^^

 

나아가 영적우선순위를 지키는 삶에 방해가 되는 장애물들을

제거하고 자신을 잘 관리할 수 있도록 가르쳐 주고 있는 것 같습니다^^

 

부디 많은 분들이 이 책을 통해

하나님과의 관계가 회복되는 데에 큰 도움을 받으시기를 소망하며

그래서 하나님의 통로로

놀랍게 쓰임 받으시기를 기도드립니다^^

샬롬~!^^*

- 접기

Israel 2008-03-07 공감(0) 댓글(0)

Thanks to

 

공감

     

내안에 있는 하나님의 능력 서평 새창으로 보기

 

내안에 있는 하나님의 능력(God's Power in you by William Law)

                                               윌리엄 로우 作

1부 사랑의 영

2부 영원의 영

성경의 내용을 알고 있는 사람들에게는 좀더 구체적이고 명확한 공부가

될 것 같다. 깔끔한 내용 정리와 깊이 있는 내용들이 생각를 깊이 있게

한다. 

또한 기독교에 관심을 갖고 책을 든 독자들이라면 아마 이책을 다 읽고

난 뒤에는 성경을 읽고 싶은 충동이 생기지 않을까 한다. 쉽게 정리된

내용에 교인이 아니라도 한 번 들었을 법한 예화들을 통해서 하나님을

생각하고 이해하는 시간이 될 것이다.

이 책을 통해서 나의 영적인 상태를 파악하는 계기가 된 것에 감사하며

바쁘고 힘들게 살아가는 이 시대의 갈급한 영혼들에게 단비가 되어줄

귀한 책이 되기를 소망한다.

간략한 내용 발췌

chapter 2  사랑의 영에 필요한 반응

온전한 삶은 마치 활짝 핀 꽃과 같아서 씨앗이 뿌리를 내리고 꽃을 피우기

까지 겪는 수많은 변화가 필요하다. 오직 뿌린 씨앗을 통해 피어날 수 있는

꽃이기 때문이다. 이처럼 씨앗이 변하여 뿌리를 내리듯 우리의 마음역시 더

고차원적으로 변화되어야 한다. 천국을 향해 나아가는 영혼은 반드시 죽음을

통과하고 생명에 이르러 하늘의 영, 불, 빛으로 축복받게 될 것이다.

하나님 안에서 생명에 이르는 유일한 방법은 자기를 죽이는 것이다. 어둠이

스스로 빛을 낼 수 없듯, 본성은 악을 선으로 바꿀 수도 없다. 따라서 진정한

도덕성을 발휘할 수 있는 것은 오직 십자가의 가르침뿐이다.

삶은 두가지 상태로 존재한다. 하나는 본성적인 삶이며 다른 하나는 그 안에

하나님이 명확하게 드러나는 삶이다. 말하자면, 마음속에 두 가지가 모두 존재

하기 때문에 그 중 하나를 선택해야 한다.

chapter 3 인간의 본성과 하나님의 선

인류 최초의 아버지, 아담의 타락으로 인간은 거룩한 삶에서 분리 되었다.

하지만 하나님은 그런 인간이 주님을 향한 마음에서 믿음과 소망, 갈급함과

목마름에 눈 뜨도록 도우신다.

chapter 5 우리안에 있는 천국의 씨앗

인간의 본성은 갖가지 덮개로 덮여 있다. 하지만 이 같은 생각은 무지하며

자기기만에 불과하다.

만약 마음속에 그리스도의 삶이 회복된다면, 무슨 일이든 또한 어떤 경우라도

주님과 동일한 삶이 회복되고 나타날 것이다. 그때는 뺨을 맞고도 순순히 다른 쪽

뺨을 내밀 수 있다. 인간의 마음가운데 하나님의 나라가 임재해야 하며 그렇지 않으면

천국을 결코 소유할 수 없다는 것이다. 또한 이처럼 마음속에 하나님이 살아 역사하며

보이시는 놀라운 능력을 광신도들의 열광의 대상으로 취급하는 것 역시 엄청난 실수

이다. 생각하고 간절히 바라며 소망하면 자기 것이 된다는 말이 있다.

마음속이 천국의 능력으로 존재할 때 인간은 그것을 소유할 수 있을 것이다.

내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력을 생각하며 지금 내가 무엇에 초점을 맞추고 살아야

하는지 하늘에서 이루어 진것 같이 땅에 서도 이루어 지기 위해 어떤 기도를 해야

하는지 어떤 나눔을 하고 살아야 하는지 깨닫는 삶이 되기를 간절이 소망합니다.

교만한 마음으로 이성적으로 객관적으로 생각하고 판단하는 삶이 하나님 보시기에는

가슴 아픈 삶이 될 수 있다는 것을 가슴으로 느끼는 시간이 되시길 기도합니다.

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jisuria 2008-03-13 공감(0) 댓글(0)

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