These two items came from the blog by Ray Ortlund:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/
“Get back to your burdens”
“Get back to your burdens” (Exodus 5:4). That’s what the Pharaoh said to God’s people as they groaned under slavery. It is the devil’s command. It is the whip he uses to keep his slaves on the plantation. It is the kingdom of oppression he is working overtime to build. It is what we used to accept. Now we fight.
Christian: “Jesus told me, ‘It is finished.’” Devil: “You believe that because you’re lazy. Get back to your burdens.”
Christian: “Jesus told me, it was for freedom that he set me free.” Devil: “That ‘freedom’ is morally unserious. Get back to your burdens.”
Christian: “Jesus told me he sympathizes with my weaknesses.” Devil: “True Christians are always victorious. Get back to your burdens.”
Christian: “Devil, you don’t sound to me like Jesus. I’m going to free my mind of every burden you impose, to the glory of my Savior. Get back to your kennel, devil.”
Forgiveness must go before sanctification
“A sense of having our sins forgiven is the mainspring and life-blood of love to Christ. . . . Would the Pharisee know why this woman showed so much love? It was because she felt much forgiven. Would he know why he himself had shown his guest so little love? It was because he felt under no obligation, had no consciousness of having obtained forgiveness, had no sense of debt to Christ. . . . The only way to make men holy is to teach and preach free and full forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The secret of being holy ourselves is to know and feel that Christ has pardoned our sins. Peace with God is the only root that will bear the fruit of holiness. Forgiveness must go before sanctification.”
J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, on Luke 7:36-50.