Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Love must arise from sincere faith, that is, it must love God in fortune and misfortune. He who truly loves God is pleased by everything that pleases God. He who loves God must also love his cross that God gives to him. This is shown to us in the example of Christ our Lord, who took up his cross since it was the will of God. "I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I constrained until it is accomplished" (Luke 12:50). Therefore, all the holy martyrs bore their cross with joy.

Those who have deep love for God do not find it difficult to bear their cross, for their cross is the yoke of Christ (Matt 11:29). A manget draws a heavy piece of iron toward itself, and likewise a heavenly magnet, the love of God, ought to draw the burden of our cross toward itself, so that it becomes light and easy. Why then should man's heart be troubled? Sugar makes bitter foods sweet. How much then, ought the sweetness of divine love to make the bitter cross sweet? Because of this, the great patience and joy of the holy martyrs arose, for God made them drunk by his love. - Johann Ardnt, *True Christianity* Book 1, Chapter 24, section IV.