09 December 2011

He Does Not Run From Our Smelliness

Jack Miller, to a discouraged missionary, directing the dear man's eyes and heart to Jesus--
He is life from the dead. When the tomb was opened, the smell of Lazarus' sin and death came forth. The Lord must have felt like running away, since He hates evil in all its forms. But He stayed there.

He does not run from us in our state of decay and smelliness. I tell you, when Jesus deals with us He does not pretend that we are lovely and odorless, but it is in the midst of our smelly death that Jesus draws near with tears and power and love and called the dead and rotting into new life. . . .

I know of no one else who can help the heart in its deepest needs, who can comfort the soul.
--The Heart of a Servant Leader: Letters from Jack Miller (P&R, 2004), 183

2 comments:

Eric said...

Dane, who is Jack Miller? These are some great quotes! Who was he? Can you tell us more about him?

Dane Ortlund said...

Hi Eric, he was a PCA pastor in Philadelphia and taught PT at Westminster. Also the father of the Sonship movement, and World Harvest Mission. Reminds me a lot of Schaeffer. His letters exude gospel-centeredness that avoids being formulaic but is wonderfully warm. Also a lot of Granddad I think.