Humility is a strange flower; it grows best in winter weather, and under storms of affliction.
– Samuel Rutherford –
1600-1661
Trials
Don’t Flinch At Any Point – Martin Luther
If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the Word of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.
– Martin Luther –
The Modern Rendition of Carrying the Cross – Eric Ludy
It would seem that we have designed a modern-day rendition of carrying the Cross that doesn’t give us splinters, revilement, and death. We want the benefits of the Cross but we don’t want to carry it.
– Eric Ludy –
What God Can Do With A Broken Heart – Samuel Chadwick
It is wonderful what God can do with a broken heart, if He gets all the pieces.
– Samuel Chadwick –
Blessing Through Difficulty and Humility – AW Tozer
It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.
– AW Tozer –
Afflictions Prepare the Soul – Richard Sibbes
The winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory.
– Richard Sibbes –
Only Let Me Attain To Jesus Christ – Ignatius of Antioch
Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings … let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the evil torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.
– Ignatius of Antioch –
(35-107 AD)
Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church – Tertullian
The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
– Tertullian –
(160-225 AD)
What is the Life of Faith? – Watchman Nee
We should inquire once again as to what the life of faith is. It is one lived by believing in God under any circumstance: “If he slay me,” says Job, “yet would I trust in Him.” That is faith. Because I once believed, loved and trusted God I shall believe, love and trust Him wherever He may put me and however my heart and body may suffer. … Emotion begins to doubt when it senses blackness, whereas faith holds on to God even in the face of death.
– Watchman Nee –
from The Spiritual Man