holiness

are you making any sacrifices? does your religion cost you anything? i put it to your consciousness in all affection and tenderness. are you, like moses, preferring God to the world? are you willing to give up anything that keeps you from God, or are you clinging to the egypt of the world and saying to yourself, "i must have it; i cannot tear myself away!" is there any cross in your christianity? are their any sharp corners in your christianity? anything that comes in collision with the earthly mindedness around you? or is it all smooth and rounded off and comfortably fitted into custom and fashion? do you know anything of the afflictions of the Gospel? is your faith and practice ever a subject of scorn and reproach? are you thought a fool of anyone because of your soul? have you left pharaoh's daughter and heartily joined the people of God? are you venturing all on Christ? search and see... -j.c. ryle