Worship, Praise in response to God's works

"If we consider either creation or providence, we shall find overflowing reasons for joy; but when we come to review the work of redemption, gladness knows no bounds, but feels that she must praise the Lord with all her might. There are times when in the contemplation of redeeming love we feel that if we did not sing we must die; silence would be as horrible to us as if we were gagged by inquisitors, or stifled by murderers."

- Charles Spurgeon, commenting on Psalm 92:4

Joy as a measuring stick of our spiritual condition

"Joy in the Lord is the ripest fruit of grace, all revivals and renewals lead up to it. By our possession of it we may estimate our spiritual condition, it is a sure gauge of inward prosperity."

-Charles Spurgeon, commenting on Psalm 86:5

Life - Significant

...what believers do in this life will have consequences for the life to come - figures like those of sowing and reaping, grain and ear, ripening and harvest. Paul teaches that a person may build on the foundation of faith in Christ with lasting materials like gold, silver, or precious stones, so that in the consummation his or her work may survive and he may receive a reward (1 Cor. 3:10-15). The book of Revelation speaks about the deeds which shall follow those who have died in the Lord (14:13). It is clear from passages of this sort that what Christians do for the kingdom of God in this life is of significance also for the world to come. There is continuity, in other words, between what is done for Christ now and what we shall enjoy in the hereafter - a continuity expressed in the New Testament in terms of reward or joy (1 Cor. 3:14; Matt. 25:21,23).

Anthony A. Hoekema, The Bible and the Future, p. 74

Tension

The people of God are not to be addressed as new creatures in christ. At the same time, however, it must be remembered that God's people are still imperfect, Christians should therefore deal with each other as forgiven sinners. There must always be a readiness to accept and forgive brothers who have sinned against us. Whatever correction is to be done, further, should take place in the spirit of Galatians 6:1, "Even if a man should be detected in some sin, my brothers, the spiritual ones among you should quietly set him back on the right path, not with any feeling of superiority but being yourselves on guard against temptation".

Anthony A. Hoekema, The Bible and the Future, p. 70

Martyrdom, Suffering for Christ

"Fire, and cross, and exposure to beasts, scattering of the bones, hewing of the limbs, crushing of the whole body, wicked torments of the devil, may come upon me, if they only make me partaker of Jesus Christ ... My love is crucified, and there is no fire in me, which loves earthly stuff ... I rejoice not in the food of perishableness, nor in the pleasures of this life. The bread of God would I have, which is the flesh of Christ; and for drink I wish his blood, which is imperishable love.”

- Ignatius

Humility

"It is glorious to go down in the world, in order to go up into God."

- Ignatius