Christian Life

The Joy of Trials and Struggles – John Flavel

Have we not with joy observed how those very things that sense and reason tell us are opposite to our happiness have been the most blessed instruments to promote it! How has God blessed crosses to mortify corruption, wants to kill our wantonness, disappointments to wean us from the world! O we little think how comfortable those things will be in the review, which are so burdensome to present sense!

– John Flavel –
from The Mystery of Providence, 1678

Fear of God is Wisdom – Thomas Watson

The fear of God is wisdom in that it makes us consider: “I considered my ways” (Psalm 119:59). A great part of wisdom lies in consideration. He who fears God considers how vain the world is, and therefore dares not love it; how short time is, and therefore dares not lose it; how precious salvation is, and therefore dares not neglect it. 

– Thomas Watson –
from The Great Gain of Godliness, 1682

True Pleasure in True Religion – Matthew Henry

There is true pleasure in true religion. … You startle at it, and start from it as a hard saying, like Nathaniel, when he said, ‘Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?’ (John 1.46). So you are ready to say, can there be any pleasure in religion? Believe it, sirs, there can be, there cannot but be pleasure in it. 

– Matthew Henry – 
from The Pleasantness of a Religious Life, 1714

Jesus Must Be Your First Love – Leslie Ludy

Until Jesus Christ is the obsession of your heart, you’ll always be looking to mere men to meet your needs that only Him can fill. Only when you make Jesus Christ your first love, will you be ready for a love story that reflects His glory.

– Leslie Ludy –