Counting the Cost by C.S. Lewis Doodle (BBC Talk 24A, Mere Christianity, Bk 4, Chapter 9)

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to re-build that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He’s doing. He’s getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and which doesn’t seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of...” (C.S. Lewis).

(3:51) "That no keeping but a perfect one will satisfy God, I hold with all my heart and strength; but that there is none else He cares for, is one of the lies of the enemy. What father is not pleased with the first tottering attempt of his little one to walk? What father would be satisfied with anything but the manly step of the full-grown son?" (George MacDonald, 'The Way', in 'A Sermon in Unspoken Sermons, Series II').

(4:26) "God is very easy to please, but very hard to satisfy. If you will but let Him in, and you have not much to put on the table. You cannot share much of life because you have not got it, He will be so pleased, if it be but a cup of cold water that you can give him. Let it be something genuine, something real” (George MacDonald - “The Father’s Appeal”, preached in Westminster Chapel).

Other uses and contexts: Matt. 20.16, Matt. 19.30, Mark.10.31 & Mark 9.35.

(9:30) "Too eager I must not be to understand.
How should the work the Master goes about
Fit the vague sketch my compasses have planned?
I am His house - for Him to go in and out.
He builds me now - and if I cannot see
At any time what He is doing with me,
'Tis that He makes the house for me too grand.

The house is not for me - it is for Him.
His royal thoughts require many a stair,
Many a tower, many an outlook fair,
Of which I have no thought, and need no care.
Where I am most perplexed, it may be there
Thou mak'st a secret chamber, holy-dim,
Where thou wilt come to help my deepest prayer."

-- George MacDonald

(9:35) The idea that God comes to dwell in the human heart is found in the scripture mentioned in Isa. 66.2, but also 1 Cor. 3 “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building”, and 1 Cor. 6 "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?".

See also the famous Charles Wesley hymn from Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral:
'Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.'

(10:48) The remarkable thing is that Satan bribed man with the idea of “being like God”, and yet God Himself had a kind of divinity planned for us already, the Christ-self, that continually pours out God to others (see comments section below).

The original broadcast had the following words italicised which add to understanding (shown in CAPS): “without getting something MORE I did not want”, “every father is PLEASED at the baby’s first attempt", "no father would be SATISFIED with anything less than a firm, free, manly walk”, “OF COURSE we never wanted”, “How should WE know what He means us to be like?”, “He means to get us AS FAR AS POSSIBLE before death”, “but why NOW?”, “but He is building a PALACE”, “that CAN obey”, “for we CAN prevent Him” and “which reflects back to God PERFECTLY (though, of course, on a smaller scale)”.

[Taka-ixvc]

" i will not rest until my father can say i am well pleased with you, the way he was well pleased of me" wow

[ShockinglyToTheMax]

I'm getting married in a few weeks at 32 years old and the relatively minor job of moving the last pieces of possessions the week before the wedding, combined with my own insecurities, and seeing how organized my civil wife is with our place already, has me in tears. I've obviously got some suppressed guilt over my lifestyle.
My dear one said, "You're doing good, Pete. And Jesus and I are here for you." Writing this out again has me in tears.
Writing in my journal, I'm chalking this all up to my own idea of my value. Does what I have matter? Do I matter?
It hurts to be seen as vulnerable. But this chapter of CS Lewis Doodle on Mere Christianity was a perfect reminder that this will be for my maturing and perfecting.
Its kind of funny, we're not living together yet, but I'm already being affected by our differences and the inevitable change all this will bring. Thanks.

[jnwaasdorp]

I've listened to CS Lewis' Mear Christianity on Audible a few times but never understood it as well as with this Doodle effect. Thank you so much for producing it.

[CSLewisDoodle]

(11:06) "He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow… " — John 7:38.
'Jesus did not say, “He who believes in Me will realize all the blessings of the fullness of God, ” but, in essence, “He who believes in Me will have everything he receives escape out of him.” Our Lord’s teaching was always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a person— His purpose is to make a person exactly like Himself, and the Son of God is characterized by self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but what He pours through us that really counts. God’s purpose is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us. Our spiritual life cannot be measured by success as the world measures it, but only by what God pours through us— and we cannot measure that at all.


“He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”— and hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed. Now is the time for us to break “the flask” of our lives, to stop seeking our own satisfaction, and to pour out our lives before Him. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?' (Oswald Chambers, 'My Utmost of His Highest', 1 September, 'A Life of Pure and Holy Sacrifice').

[repentant]

I think it would do my character, very much good to watch this often.
Like over and over again.
Thank you so much

[lovepurpose]

You thought you were going to be made into a pretty little cottage, but he was building a palace. And he intends to come live in it Himself 🥰

[WalterOlsss]

I’ve listened to the audiobook a couple times. This was so easy to follow and so well done. Thinking I can get my kids to happily watch this with me. Bravo.

[tylerburns]

A poignant and timely message for me at this time, thank you.

[shinigamimiroku]

It's funny you post this now; I've been facing the reality that, even with how far God has brought me, He is nowhere near finished with molding me. I've been far too complacent, and need to continue to submit to His plan for the sort of person I need to be.

[drealjackjohnson]

wow well animated and at a beautiful pace just like c.s lewis was reading and explaining his ideas.thank you Mr CSLewisDoodle.

[devonbeede]

This was spectacular—quite a Godsend. Thank you thank you thank you thank you.

This really got me visually thinking.

[flickernose]

Thank you so much for illustrating and bringing new life to Cs Lewis’ words again

[JonnyC-zmgr]

So easily understood this way thank you so much what a blessing. Absolutely amazing

[matthew-jyjp]

I love C.S. Lewis. He has helped bring me closer to God through all his writing

[rosezingleman]

This is a good kick in the pants, and much needed.
Thanks.

[CSLewisDoodle]

(11:06) Check out the Oswald Chambers's daily readings below that shows the nature of Satan's false offer of divinity in the garden, and the divinity planned by God for us in Christ.

“Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all sinned...” Romans 5.12

[Adigulyas]

Thank you for your excellent work dear Sir. It gladdens my heart time and time again.

[Hitlerstopjew]

This is one of my favorite passages that CS Lewis has to offer. I share this all the time.

[iya]

definition of a Godsend for me right now

[charlescharliejpeg]

May I say that I always find a new song to worship God to on your channel! ❤