CMP Review 2025-07-20

“The demands of Christ are so severe; they take your life!” wrote Watchman Nee. “He says that whoever loves his father, mother, or children more than Him is not worthy to be His disciple. Neither is any worthy of Him who will not take up his cross to follow Him. Is this not asking for your life?

“The clause concerning the bearing of the cross is especially so. The modern equivalent of the cross is to take a criminal to the execution ground with his hands and feet bound and then have him dragged through the streets for public ridicule. If you cannot be like that criminal, you are not worthy to be His disciple! Is not He demanding our life?”

More than 30 years after Watchman Nee had written these words, his grandniece came to the labor camp where Nee had suffered and died for his faith. She recalled, “Before his departure, he left a piece of paper under his pillow, which had several lines of big words written in a shaking hand. He wanted to testify to the truth which he had even until his death, with his lifelong experience. That truth is—‘Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ. Watchman Nee.’”

Charlotte Mason’s “Counting the cost” gives poetic expression to this path of the cross. Read or hear it here.

@artmiddlekauff

🖼️: Christ Preaching (La Petite Tombe) by Rembrandt