June 21, 2023
Now as ever you desire to get out of Satan’s bondage, have a care of all these; harden thyself against the entreaties of carnal friends and relations. Resolve, that if thy children should hang about thy knees to keep thee from Christ, thou wilt throw them away; resolve, if thy father and mother should lie prostrate at thy foot, rather than not go to Christ, to go over their very backs to him.
William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour
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This quote may sound harsh and extreme, but it’s true. Many of us speak of the hierarchy of God, spouse, children, and friends, but here, Mr. Gurnall forces you to think about what a serious oath that is. It brings to mind Pilgrim’s Progress, where Christian leaves his wife and children to walk the path alone because he can’t convince them to join him. Are we willing to do the same, if necessary? Especially with the company we voluntarily choose, our friends? They say you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. If those five people aren’t aiding your walk with Christ, they are a stumbling block. Good company makes all the difference on a difficult journey.