Are You Willing to Give Up Anything?

J.C. Ryle's classic book Holiness is one of my personal favorites. The
following quotation (from his powerful chapter on Moses, drawn from Hebrews
11:24-26) is a challenge I need to hear repeatedly:

Are you making any sacrifices? Does your religion cost you anything? I put it to your conscience in all affection and tenderness. Are you, like Moses, preferring God to the world, or not? Are you willing to give up anything which keeps you back from God, or are you clinging to the Egypt of the world, and saying to yourself, "I must have it, I must have it: I cannot tear myself away"? Is there any cross in your Christianity? Are there any sharp corners in your religion, anything that ever jars and comes in collision with the earthly-mindedness around you? Or is 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 by 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, Holiness

Comments (6)

This is a reminder for me also.. It reminded me of what Spurgeon said: "If thou art wandering after the waters of Egypt, O return quickly to the one living fountain: the waters of Sihor may be sweet to the Egyptians, but they will prove only bitterness to thee."

Posted by manet | May 6, 2007 8:36 AM

My life sometimes feels like a roller coaster, each time I think I've surrendered everything to Christ and made that long trek up to the top He reminds me of yet another area and I plunge back down.

Thankfully I know he will never stop working on me and that gives great hope.

Thanks for the reminder.

Posted by ethan | May 7, 2007 12:05 PM

These are convicting words.

Posted by Ched | May 7, 2007 10:53 PM

Hi Josh,
I just found your blog and thought it was so cool that you have one. I have read "I kissed Dating Goodbye and "When boy meets girl." And loved them both. I will be stopping by often.
Ginger

Posted by Ginger | May 11, 2007 5:50 PM

Wow, I REALLY appreciate that! So very, very challenging. I had a little frustrated thought enter my mind just this morning... "Why can't I just 'fit in', why do I have to be so different?" Standing out by having standards in dress, living a pure life, and walking hand in hand with Christ makes you stick out like a sore thumb at times. But when I stop and think about it, I know I don't even *want* to fit in. The world is too cheap, too flippant and too shallow. Give me Christ any day!

Posted by BrittLeigh | May 12, 2007 12:05 PM

I realize this post is over two years old; however, it STILL hits home...especially Ryle's line: "Is there any cross in your Christianity?"

I apologize for this shameless plug, however, for those who, like Joshua Harris, appreciate J.C. Ryle and his writings, you're welcome to check out more of Ryle's Christ-centered quotes @ http://jcrylequotes.com/

Soli Deo Gloria Josh! (from Gresham, Oregon!)

- Erik

Posted by Erik | August 11, 2009 1:24 AM

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