"Now to be sure that is a dreadful thing for self-love to hear, that with all one's works a person merits nothing, that our best deeds, even if they were caused by God, are useless when we appear before his face, indeed these works come not one single time into our memory. For when the Lord will say to those on his right hand, "You have fed me, you have given me drink', they will know nothing about it. There remained with them no impression of it. Works follow along after us; therefore we do not even see them. The good that we do is not even worth a reward; because where is a single deed done for Jesus, which did not already have its reward itself?. That one may be allowed to serve him is already a reward of grace, which is accompanied with so much delight and contentment that when it is done with, one is more ashamed that he was used than that it should be attributed to Jesus. 'And if one would indeed anywhere cheer what belongs to the work of grace, then holy shame comes near, and shows us in all sorts of ways, that one thanks God, when one forgets oneself and thinks of nothing except that there is a Savior.' That is the way it is for laborers of God, his true servants have it so good. It requires nothing but determination, nothing except faithfulness and sincerity." N. L. von Zinzendorf, 1738 Berlin Speeches (translation by Rev. Gary Kinkel)
"Now to be sure that is a dreadful thing for self-love to hear, that with all one's works a person merits nothing, that our best deeds, even if they were caused by God, are useless when we appear before his face, indeed these works come not one single time into our memory. For when the Lord will say to those on his right hand, "You have fed me, you have given me drink', they will know nothing about it. There remained with them no impression of it. Works follow along after us; therefore we do not even see them. The good that we do is not even worth a reward; because where is a single deed done for Jesus, which did not already have its reward itself?. That one may be allowed to serve him is already a reward of grace, which is accompanied with so much delight and contentment that when it is done with, one is more ashamed that he was used than that it should be attributed to Jesus. 'And if one would indeed anywhere cheer what belongs to the work of grace, then holy shame comes near, and shows us in all sorts of ways, that one thanks God, when one forgets oneself and thinks of nothing except that there is a Savior.' That is the way it is for laborers of God, his true servants have it so good. It requires nothing but determination, nothing except faithfulness and sincerity." N. L. von Zinzendorf, 1738 Berlin Speeches (translation by Rev. Gary Kinkel)
Good word. Confounding, but good.
Thank you for preaching THE GOSPEL! Blessings to you and yours