Tozer Treasures

How sad that we who are orthodox, who believe in the word, so often forget of what the word speaks. We must remember, “The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts” (Tozer, The Pursuit of God, 9).

Tozer rightly reminds us—how sad that we need reminded!—that salvation is “not an end but an inception, for now begins the glorious pursuit, the heart’s happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead” (Tozer, The Pursuit of God, 13 cf. Jn. 17:3).

“Self can fight live unrebuked at the very altar… It can fight for the faith of the Reformers and preach eloquently the creed of salvation by grace, and gain strength by its efforts. To tell all the truth, it seems actually to feed upon orthodoxy [cf. Matt. 16:6; Lk. 11:42] and is more at home in a Bible Conference than in a tavern” (Tozer, The Pursuit of God, 33). This quote should help to keep us in check. We must seek to know our own selves (Prov. 20:27; Rom. 12:3; 1 Cor. 11:28). We must use the mirror of Scripture (Heb 4;12-13; James 1:21-25) and ask God for help (Ps. 26:2; 139:23-24).

“The Christian is too sincere to play with ideas for their own sake. He takes not pleasure in the mere spinning of gossamer webs for display. All his beliefs are practical. They are all geared into his life. By them he lives or dies, stands or falls for this world and for all time to come” (Tozer, The Pursuit of God, 38).