The conduct of the wise men is a splendid example of spiritual diligence. What trouble it must have cost them to travel from their homes to the place where Jesus was born! How many weary miles they must have journeyed! The fatigues of an Eastern traveler are far greater than we today can at all understand. The time that such a journey would occupy must necessarily have been very great. The dangers to be encountered were neither few nor small. But none of these things moved them. They had set their hearts on seeing Him ‘who was born King of the Jews’ and they never rested until they saw Him. They prove to us the truth of the old saying, ‘Where there is a will there is a way.’
It would be well for all professing Christians if they were more ready to follow the wise men’s example. Where is our self-denial? What pains do we take about our souls? What diligence do we show about following Christ? What does our religion cost us? These are serious questions. They deserve serious consideration.
~ J.C. Ryle
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986], 10.
From the series The Humble Example of the Wise Men
On this day...
- Job 1 - 2023
- Nehemiah 5 - 2023
- Two things are absolutely necessary for salvation. We must repent, and we must believe the Gospel - 2011
- It is when I turn to Christ, when I give myself up to His Personality, that I first begin to have a personality of my own - 2011
- "We please God most, not by frantically trying to make ourselves good, but by throwing ourselves into His arms. - 2011
- This is certain- that God, who was formerly invisible, has now appeared in Christ - 2011
- WHEREVER you are, wherever you go, you are miserable unless you turn to God. - 2011
- I must deliberately step out, placing my faith in God and in His truth - 2011
- I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him. - 2011
- Blessed be His name, he at last gave us the effectual blow of grace - 2011
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