SUFFER, SACRIFICE, SERVANT
My Sunday School lesson today was about the cost of discipleship. As believers, we love to hear about the blessings of God in our lives. (He really does bless us much more than we deserve!) I love to hear how God gives us victories. (Who doesn’t enjoy a mountain-top experience???) But God calls us to discipleship…and it cost us!
Philippians 1:29 says, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.” God has GRANTED us the privilege to suffer for Him! Now, I don’t enjoy suffering (that’s why I took my pain pills after surgery). But I realize that out of suffering comes an appreciation for the lack of pain and an appreciation for those who suffer! And most of all comes an appreciation for the Rescuer of the sufferer. In America, we don’t really know what it means to suffer for Christ. That’s where the sacrifice comes in…I willingly sacrifice of myself for the cause of Christ. Sacrifice means giving up of one thing for something of greater importance. ALL sacrifice is that! And when we as believers gladly suffer, and willingly sacrifice, we become a servant. “Servant” should not be classified as a noun but a verb. Servant should be an action word. Christ exampled the truest expression of a servant.
Just some quick thoughts for you. Do you have anything to add?
