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「但我斷不以別的誇口，只誇我們主耶穌基督的十字架。因這十字架，就我而論，世界已經釘在十字架上。就世界而論，我已經釘在十字架上。」 （聖經加拉太書第六章第十四節）
有一些信徒，本來是為自己活著的。他們有自己的盼望，有自己的夢想。但是他們在禱告中求了一些自己不明白的東西，主就開始成就他們的禱告。
他們求痛悔的心，願意出任何代價得到它，主就給他們悲哀。
他們求聖潔，主就給他們劇烈的痛苦。
他們求謙和，主就打碎他們的心。
他們求對著世界的「死」，主就消滅他們一切的盼望。
他們求像主，主就放他們在爐中，「坐下如煉淨銀子的」，直到他們反照出主的模樣。
他們求主的十字架，主就給他們十字架。
他們所求的，自己並不明白，但是主就照他們所求的應許他們。其實他們未必願意跟主走得這麼遠，與主接觸得這麼近。他們的心充滿了懼怕， 好像雅各在伯特利一般，又像門徒看見耶穌在海面上行走，以為是鬼怪一樣。他們幾乎求主離開他們。他們覺得順服比受苦容易，做比放容易，背十字架比掛十字架容易。但是當他們想退回去，已經不可能了，因為已經走得太近了，十字架的功效在他們裡面已經刺得太深了。主向他們成就了他的應許，「我若從地上被舉起來，就要吸引萬人來歸我」（約翰福音第十二章第三十二節）。
主已經把他可愛的面容深刻在他們心上，好像刻在馬利亞和彼得的心上一般。他們現在已經作了愛的奴隸，不能不跟隨他了。
漸漸地看見十字架的奧祕一天一天光照他們。他們看見祂被高舉，祂得榮耀。他們看見一點，前進一點，最後他們竟變成了祂的模樣。從他們身上世人看見了祂，因為祂住在他們裡面。他們與祂發生了難以形容的交情，甘心捨棄別人所寶貴的合法權利，為要見證他們不像別人，只像他們的主 。
這就是歷代「羔羊無論往哪裡去，他們都跟隨祂」的那一批人。
如果讓他們自己選擇，或者讓朋友替他們選擇的話，他們肯定不會這樣選擇。他們會在這個世界上多得一點榮耀，在神國裡少得一點榮耀。他們會得到羅得的命運，不會得到亞伯拉罕的命運。如果他們在半途上停住了，如果主放手讓他們退回去，他們有什麼不會失去呢？在復活的時候要受到何等大的損失呢！
但是主保守他們，甚至違反他們的本性來保守他們。多少時候他們的腳滑跌了，但是主用祂的慈愛扶他們起來。讓他們知道：在這個世界受苦，會使他們在神國裡掌權，在地上背十字架，會使他們在天上戴冠冕。
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"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 five 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 them selves. 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.
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