I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. —Philippians 3:10-11
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. —Romans 8:17
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? —Mark 8:34-36
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goalfor the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:12-14
Deny Yourself – Suffering for Victory
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. —James 1:13-15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. —Hebrews 4:15
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. —Hebrews 2:18
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered —Hebrews 5:8
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. —1 Peter 4:1-4
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. —1 Corinthians 9:24-27
What do we do?
1. Watch and pray!
2. Disciplines
Take Up Your Cross – Suffering for Another’s Victory
If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an
example, that you should follow in his steps. —1 Peter 2:20-211 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way
of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering
and sacrifice to God. —Ephesians 5:1-220 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The
life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me. —Galatians 2:208 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in
despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We
always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may
also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over
to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. —2 Corinthians 4:8-1224 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still
lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the
church. —Colossians 1:24