Sin carries in it its own misery.

We do not choose suffering simply because we are told to, but because the one who tells us to describes it as the path to everlasting joy.

We are not as Christ-centered and cross-cherishing as we should be, because we do not ponder the truth that everything good, and everything bad that God turns for the good, was purchased by the sufferings of Christ.

If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full.

We are far too easily pleased.

God's greatest interest is to glorify the wealth of His grace by making sinners happy in Him.

Suffering in the path of Christian obedience, with joy - because the steadfast love of the Lord is better than life (Psalm 63:3) - is the clearest display of the worth of God in our lives. Therefore, faith-filled suffering is essential in this world for the most intense, authentic worship. When we are most satisfied with God in suffering, he will be most glorified in us in worship. Our problem is not styles of music. Our problem is styles of life. When we embrace more affliction for the worth of Christ, there will be more fruit in the worship of Christ.