My Disciple
by C. T. Studd

Christ declared plainly, "If any many cometh unto Me, and hateth not his own father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." "Whosoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple." "So, therefore, whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26, 27, 33).

Joy unspeakable and eternal is the fruit of obedience to these Christ’s words. A gloomy, namby-pamby, and impotent religiosity is the product of disobedience. To such words there can be but two replies. Our refusal of His offer of discipleship, and so our denial of the Lordship of Jesus Christ through unbelief; or the Laugh of Faith as we promptly accept His Invitation.

Faith laughs at the folly of any other answer, Faith laughs at the idea of the entrance fee being too heavy. Faith laughs at the thought of there not being bread enough and to spare in the Father’s army, seeing the earth and the fulness thereof are His…

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" laughs Faith. Is it possible for God to lie? Does he mean His commands to be obeyed? Will Christ keep His promises? "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" "Can He give bread also?" "Will He provide flesh for His people?" Is Jesus Christ the Great Physician? Is it true that the silver and the gold are His, and the cattle upon a thousand hills? "Man may fail or turn tail, I know," cries Faith, "but Jesus never, and He is the only one that really counts."

–From "The Laugh of Faith"