The Grace of God only acts in us, renews us, and saves us, when, on our part, saving zeal is brought to light, without which the Grace-filled fire does not become inflamed within us nor act in us with its revivifying force. After all, the Grace-filled fire was as present in the foolish virgins as it was in the wise ones. But the former, instead of zeal, had a lackadaisical attitude, and the fir of their oil lamps went out, and along with it they were deprives of an inheritance in the Heavenly Kingdom of Christ. (cf. Matt 25:1-13) For this reason, the Apostle Paul, in his First Epistle to Saint Timothy, warns us against a lackadaisical attitude when he says, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." (1 Tim 4:14).
+St. Seraphim (Sobolev), from St. Seraphim of Sofia, His Life, Teachings, Miracles, and Glorification. Part II, The Archpastoral Ideal
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