Self-Sacrifice and Suffering

Mark 8:34-36

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said,
"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am.
Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how.
Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self.



Self-sacrifice is how we find out what we are made of. What part of us are we willing to lay down for others. We don't have to do a lot of sacrificing in this country. We have all that we need and most of what we want. Self-sacrifice is a choice to put others first and it is God's way.

Embrace suffering. Wow, that doesn't sound good does it? Suffering sounds hard and God wants us to embrace it. I do know that when we go through hard things God gives us victory and we then can show others how to have the same victory.

Romans 8:16-18 (New King James Version)
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
It says if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. That does sound good! Suffer in Christ today and be glorified!