Changi Chapel

What are your motives for being a disciple of Christ?

If you are a believer, you must reckon on having your share of sickness and pain, of sorrow and tears, of losses and crosses, of deaths and bereavements, of partings and separations, of vexations and disappointments, so long as you are in the body.  Christ never undertakes that you shall get to heaven without these.

He has undertaken that all who come to Him shall have all things pertaining to life and godliness.  But He has never undertaken that He will make them prosperous, rich, or healthy, and that death shall never come to their family.

I have the privilege of being one of Christ’s ambassadors.  In His name I can offer eternal life to any man, woman, or child, who is willing to have it.  In His name I do offer pardon, peace, grace, glory, to any son or daughter of Adam who reads this. 

But I dare not offer that person worldly prosperity as a part and parcel of their Gospel.  I dare not offer him long life, an increased income, and freedom from pain. 

I dare not promise the man who takes up the cross and follows Christ, that in the following he shall never meet with a storm.

I know well that many do not like these terms.  They would prefer having Christ and good health,—Christ and plenty of money,—Christ and no deaths in their family,—Christ and no wearing cares,—Christ and a perpetual morning without clouds. 

But they do not like Christ and the cross,—Christ and tribulation,—Christ and the conflict,—Christ and the howling wind,—Christ and the storm.

How should we know who are true Christians if following Christ was the way to be free from trouble?  How should we discern the wheat from the chaff if it were not for the winnowing of trial? 

How should we know whether men served Christ for His own sake or from selfish motives, if His service brought health and wealth with it as a matter of course? 

Will you love God for what He gives – or for who He is?

J. C Ryle (1816-1900)
Bishop of Liverpool
Pastor/Preacher/Prophet

Your comments, thoughts or suggestions are welcome. The body text is by the author, the header and the words in italics are mine – John B. Samuel