Let it be a settled principle in our minds that the true Christian must always enter the kingdom of God "through much tribulation" (Acts 14:22). His best things are yet to come. This world is not our home. If we are faithful and decided servants of Christ, the world will certainly hate us, as it hated our Master. In one way or another grace will always be persecuted. No consistency of conduct, however faultless, no kindness and amiability of character, however striking, will exempt a believer from the world's dislike, so long as he lives. It is foolish to be surprised at this. It is mere waste of time to murmur at it. It is a part of the cross, and we must bear it patiently. The children of Cain will hate the children of Abel, as long as the earth continues. "Marvel not, my brethren," says John, "if the world hates you." "If you were of the world," says our Lord, "the world would love his own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (1 John 3:13;John 15:18,19)~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke volume 2 , [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1998], 363. {Luke 21:10-19}

In one sense it is possible “to be so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good.” But in a much deeper sense, it is impossible to be of any real earthly good unless we are heavenly minded. Only the heavenly minded will have the patience to continue faithful in God’s work when it becomes hard, unappreciated and seeming unending. There is no greater cure for discouragement, fatigue or self-pity than to think of being in the presence of the Lord one day and of spending eternity with Him. We should make no apology for being heavenly minded.-John MacArthur,Hebrews Commentary, Moody, 1983, p. 331.

The church is to judge whether a man is a Christian on the

basis of his doctrine, the propositional content of his faith,

and then his credible profession of faith. When a man comes

before a local church that is doing its job, he will be quizzed

on the content of what he believes. If, for example, a church

is conducting a heresy trial (the New Testament indicates there

are to be heresy trials in the church of Christ), the question

of heresy will turn on the content of the man's doctrine. The

church has a right to judge, in fact it is commanded to judge,

a man on the content of what he believes and teaches.- Francis A. Schaeffer

(1912-1984), The Mark of the Christian, Inter-Varsity Press, 1976, p. 16

Christianity may not always offer supernatural deliverance from earth’s problems, but it always offers supernatural use for them. It is likely that Peter, who was delivered from prison, learned less than Paul, who stayed there.-L. Thomas Holdcroft