My Lord is insulted and His church slighted. And believe me, under this double injury, I smart. The church has many adversaries. Can my sword sleep, then, in my hand? Never!
– Leonard Ravenhill –
Persecution
September 4, 2012
The best cure for discouragement or qualms is another daring plunge of faith.
– CT Studd –
August 9, 2012
If we suffer persecution and affliction in a right manner, we attain a larger measure of conformity to Christ, by a due improvement of one of these occasions, than we could have done merely by imitating his mercy, in abundance of good works.
– John Wesley –
August 8, 2012
How did Jesus expect His disciples to react under persecution? (In Matthew 5:12 He said), “Rejoice and be glad!” We are not to retaliate like an unbeliever, nor sulk like a child, nor lick our wound in self-pity like a dog, nor just grin a bear it like a Stoic, still less pretend we enjoy it like a masochist. What then? We are to rejoice as a Christian should and even “leap for joy” (Lk. 6:23).
– John Stott –
from The Message of the Sermon on the Mount, IVP, 1978, p. 52.
August 7, 2012
The apostles went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ, that they were graced so far as to be disgraced for the name of Christ!
– Thomas Watson –
1600s Puritan