I really like this quote that comes from a story called "On the TV" in my kids' Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories. The story is about some kids who were watching things they shouldn't on TV and the mom is telling how to determine whether something is ok to watch, listen to or do. Here's the quote passage.
"Well, how can we tell what is good and what isn't?" asked Agnes.
"There is a way," replied Mother. "Long before there was any TV or radio, John Wesley's mother told her children that if they wanted to know whether a pleasure was good or bad, they were to take this rule: 'Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things; whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin.'"
"I don't know what that means," said Hazel.
"Maybe it is rather deep for you, dear," said Mother, "but it means just this: We should never do anything, or say anything, or listen to anything that would displease Jesus or lessen our love for Him and the things that He loves..."
I like how Susanna Wesley applied this to all pleasures. Pleasures can be good, or they can be bad at times and I liked this standard for knowing the difference. May we honestly seek God in all the things we do and draw near to him. |
• Fri 9 Mar 2007 - Wow, very powerful!
I like to collect quotes, this one is a keeper.
Blessings to you today!