July 6, 2026
— Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity · Source: BDCC, "Dyer Ball" by David M. Stowe (bdcconline.net); see also Wikipedia, "Dyer Ball"
Matthew 10:36-38 A man’s enemies are his own householders. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, nor his son or daughter more than me, nor anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
The witness of early missionaries such as the elder Dyer Ball and the commandments of Jesus serve as a mirror. Nineteenth-century Chinese believers sacrificed ancestral rites, clan ties, and even their lives to follow the Lord—a price paid in blood. In today's relatively comfortable environment for faith, our challenges have become invisible idols: worldly acceptance, comfort zones, and a refined self-interest that refuses to suffer. Do we often treat Christ as an ornament, rather than the Lord of our lives? True following often means willingly choosing the narrower path when values clash with the world.
Graceful Lord, thank You for awakening my soul again through the testimonies of the sages and Your Word. Grant me the pure and strong faith of the missionaries and early believers. In this world, facing temptations and invisible pressures, I ask the Holy Spirit to reign fully in my life, helping me to remove the hidden idols within my heart. Lord, I am willing to take up my cross and follow You, not caring about circumstances, not seeking human glory, but only asking that Your grace be sufficient for me, enabling me to bear a beautiful testimony for You throughout my life. Amen.