Jerry Bridges (1929 – 2016) was a beloved evangelical statesman who wrote the classic book, The Pursuit of Holiness. Jerry spent over forty years working for the Navigators and penned nearly 20 books. His writings demonstrated the wisdom of a theologian and the heart of a servant.
I love what the Navigators website shared right after his death back in 2016: “Jerry received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary (Glenside, Pennsylvania) in 2005, and he received a Lifetime Influence Award from The Navigators in 2011. But in his autobiography, he said that the recognition that meant the most was the thousands of readers telling him how his books had changed their lives. He wrote, ‘When we go to be with God it is not the awards or recognition we have received, but the lives impacted for Christ that will count when each of us hope to hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’” (Matthew 25:21).”1
I pray that the following quotes by Jerry will stimulate and challenge you to live a life of holiness unto the Lord.2
“Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”
“Every day is important for us because it is a day ordained by God. If we are bored with life there is something wrong with our concept of God and His involvement in our daily lives. Even the most dull and tedious days of our lives are ordained by God and ought to be used by us to glorify Him.”
“As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us, to sit in judgment upon our character and conduct.”
“So often we try to develop Christian character and conduct without taking the time to develop God-centered devotion. We try to please God without taking the time to walk with Him and develop a relationship with Him. This is impossible to do.”
“The great antidote to anxiety is to come to God in prayer. We are to pray about everything. Nothing is too big for Him to handle, and nothing is too small to escape His attention.”
“Contentment is one of the most distinguishing traits of the godly person, because a godly person has his heart focused on God rather than on possessions or position or power.”
“Grace is never cheap. It is absolutely free to us, but infinitely expensive to God… Anyone who is prone to use grace as a license for irresponsible, sinful behavior, surely does not appreciate the infinite price God paid to give us His grace.”
“The gospel is not only the most important message in all of history; it is the only essential message in all of history.”
“The realization that my daily relationship with God is based on the infinite merit of Christ instead of on my own performance is a very freeing and joyous experience. But it is not meant to be a one-time experience; the truth needs to be reaffirmed daily.”
“Biblical love is not emotions or feelings, but attitudes and actions that seek the best interests of the other person, regardless of how we feel toward him.”
“Sin is wrong, not because of what it does to me, or my spouse, or child, or neighbor, but because it is an act of rebellion against the infinitely holy and majestic God.”
“God never allows pain without a purpose.”
“God’s sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to pray, but rather makes it possible for us to pray with confidence.”
“We’re more concerned about our own ‘victory’ over sin than we are about the fact that our sins grieve God’s heart.”
“Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.”
“Duty or guilt may motivate us for a while, but only a sense of Christ’s love for us will motivate us for a lifetime.”
“Holiness is not a series of do’s and don’ts but conformity to the character of God and obedience to the will of God.”
“God is worthy of my loving obedience because of who He is, not because of what he does.”
“We ought to be as earnest and frequent in our prayers of thanksgiving when the cupboard is full as we would be in our prayers of supplication if the cupboards were bare.”
“True joy comes only from God and He shares this joy with those who walk in fellowship with Him.”
“Not only has the debt (of our sins) been fully paid, there is no possibility of ever going into debt again.”
“The purpose of God’s discipline is not to punish us but to transform us.”
1 Jerry Bridges Remembered: A Humble Man in Pursuit of Holiness | The Navigators
2 All of these quotes are from the following website:
TOP 25 QUOTES BY JERRY BRIDGES (of 178) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)