Page 7 - FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS HONOR

involve themselves in many religious and church-

related activities as a substitute for godly living

and true spirituality. Religious and humanitarian

activities are usually highly esteemed among men

(Luke 16:15), but a person who desires to live a

godly life will be ridiculed and persecuted, not only

by the unbelieving world but also by many

professing Christians.

As I look back on my Christian life, although some

of my suffering has been as a result of God’s loving

chastisement in my life because of my own

disobedience, most of my suffering, both on a

personal level and also regarding church life, has

been as a result of my love for and my commitment

to God’s Word and God’s honor. But in spite of

the suffering, my love for Christ continues to be

greater than my desire to be accepted and approved

of by people, even if those people are my own

iv