God is well pleased when all our actions proceed from love, love to Himself, and love to immortal souls.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that true actions should stem from love for God and for others.
George Whitefield's quote reflects the view that the ultimate motivation for our actions should be love, both for the divine and for fellow human beings. It suggests that when our deeds are rooted in love, they align with a higher purpose and contribute to a meaningful existence.
In practice
During a sermon on community service, one could use this quote to inspire action based on love.
And now let me address all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, to accept of mercy and grace while it is offered to you; Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation; and will you not accept it, now it is offered unto you?
If your souls were not immortal, and you in danger of losing them, I would not thus speak unto you; but the love of your souls constrains me to speak: methinks this would constrain me to speak unto you forever.
Whoever reads the gospel with a single eye, and sincere intentions, will find, that our blessed Lord took all opportunities of reminding his disciples that His Kingdom was not of this world; that His doctrine was a doctrine of the Cross; and that their professing themselves to be His followers, would call them to a constant state of voluntary suffering and self-denial.
The Christian world is in a deep sleep; nothing but a loud shout can awaken them out of it!
What could the Lord Jesus Christ have done for you more than he has? Then do not abuse his mercy, but let your time be spent in thinking and talking of the love of Jesus, who was incarnate for us, who was born of a woman, and made under the law, to redeem us from the wrath to come.
I got more true knowledge from reading the Book of God in one month, than I could ever have acquired from all the writings of men.
I believe that she has the kind of magic that causes revolutions and promotes great discoveries. Thereβs nothing I enjoy more than to observe Gabriela in the midst of a group of people. Do you know what she reminds me of? A fragrant rose in a bouquet of artificial flowers.
I had a feeling that Pandora's box contained the mysteries of woman's sensuality, so different from a man's and for which man's language was so inadequate. The language of sex had yet to be invented. The language of the senses was yet to be explored.
My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, That I must love a loathed enemy.
But since he had The genius to be loved, why let him have The justice to be honoured in his grave.
How easy love makes fools of us.
Without you the instruments would die. One sits close beside you. Another takes a long kiss. The tambourine begs, Touch my skin so I can be myself. Let me feel you enter each limb bone by bone, that what died last night can be whole today. Why live some soberer way, and feel you ebbing out? I won't do it. Either give me enough wine or leave me alone, now that I know how it is to be with you in constant conversation.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.