「就我而論，除了我們主耶穌基督的十字架，別無可誇；藉著祂，就我而論，世界已經釘了十字架；就世界而論，我也已經釘了十字架。」－加拉太書6:14
- 他們不惜一切代價地，向主求一個憂傷痛悔的靈，於是主聽了他們的禱告，將憂傷賜給他們；
- 他們祈求一顆純淨清潔的心，於是主使他們錐心刺骨；
- 他們祈望謙讓宜人，主便破碎了他們原先完整的心；
- 他們祈盼心能向著世界死去，於是主止住了他們一切的想願；
- 他們願意像主一樣，主就把他們放置在烈火的爐中，「如煉淨銀子的」守在一邊，直到他們能返照出主的形象；
- 他們禱告能緊緊握住十架，主就伸出祂十架的一角讓他們觸碰，他們卻割得血跡班班。
若知道路徑漫長，他們未必願意緊靠著主，踏上這趟無涯路程。
他們看見這路程的剎那，那般的驚恐畏懼，彷彿雅各在伯特利、以利法在夜裡見到的異象、門徒看見水面行走的耶穌一樣。他們幾乎求主離開他們，求主隱藏祂的可畏。
他們發現，順服易於受苦、實行易於捨棄，背負十架易於被釘十架。
但這時已經來不及了，因為他們離十架太近了；十字架的功效已經深深扎進他們心裡，主正要成就祂的應許：「我若從地上被舉起來，就要吸引萬人來歸我」（約翰福音12:32）。
如果他們能夠重新來過，必然會改變選擇，因為他們覺得似乎地上的榮耀，遠比神國度裡的榮耀耀眼多了。然而若讓他們選擇，他們會做出羅得的決定，而不是亞伯拉罕的。倘若神就此收回祂手，任憑他們偏行己路，那他們在復活裡的損失將會是何其的大呢？
總算，神沒有鬆開祂的手！好幾次他們的腳險些滑跌，但神的憐憫總是扶助了他們。
總算，他們在今世明白了神的心意，他們明白了如今的受苦，是為了將來與主的同王；如今的十架，是為了將來天上的冠冕。
這並非他們的初衷，這乃是神的心意成就在他們身上。
－無名氏
"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14).They were living to themselves; self with its hopes, and promises and dreams, still had hold of them; but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for contrition, and had surrendered for it to be given them at any cost, and He sent them sorrow; they had asked for purity, and He sent them thrilling anguish; they had asked to be meek, and He had broken their hearts; they had asked to be dead to the world, and He slew all their living hopes; they had asked to be made like unto Him, and He placed them in the furnace, sitting by "as a refiner and purifier of silver," until they should reflect His image; they had asked to lay hold of His cross, and when He had reached it to them it lacerated their hands.
They had asked they knew not what, nor how, but He had taken them at their word, and granted them all their petitions. They were hardly willing to follow Him so far, or to draw so nigh to Him. They had upon them an awe and fear, as Jacob at Bethel, or Eliphaz in the night visions, or as the apostles when they thought that they had seen a spirit, and knew not that it was Jesus. They could almost pray Him to depart from them, or to hide His awfulness. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to do than to give up, to bear the cross than to hang upon it. But they cannot go back, for they have come too near the unseen cross, and its virtues have pierced too deeply within them. He is fulfilling to them His promise, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32).
But now at last their turn has come. Before, they had only heard of the mystery, but now they feel it. He has fastened on them His look of love, as He did on Mary and Peter, and they can but choose to follow.
Little by little, from time to time, by flitting gleams, the mystery of His cross shines out upon them. They behold Him lifted up, they gaze on the glory which rays from the wounds of His holy passion; and as they gaze they advance, and are changed into His likeness, and His name shines out through them, for He dwells in them. They live alone with Him above, in unspeakable fellowship; willing to lack what others own and what they might have had., and to be unlike all, so that they are only like Him.
Such, are they in all ages, "who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."
Had they chosen for themselves, or their friends chosen for them, they would have chosen otherwise. They would have been brighter here, but less glorious in His Kingdom. They would have had Lot's portion, not Abraham's. If they had halted anywhere--if God had taken off His hand and let them stray back--what would they not have lost? What forfeits in the resurrection?
But He stayed them up, even against themselves. Many a time their foot had well nigh slipped; but He in mercy held them up. Now, even in this life, they know that all He did was done well. It was good to suffer here, that they might reign hereafter; to bear the cross below, for they shall wear the crown above; and that not their will but His was done on them and in them.
--Anonymous.
