Colossians 1:24-27 NKJV

Colossians 1:24-27 NKJV

[24] I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, [25] of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, [26] the mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. [27] To them, God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

There is a saying in the sports culture, "Pain is gain." If you train like an athlete, you will become one. The results are a byproduct of the work that is put in. I remember all the running we did to get in shape for football. I wanted to quit every day during practice, but we never lost because we were tired.

Following Jesus requires sacrifice and suffering. Sanctification is hard work. If it's done correctly, it isn't done on a whim. It requires dedication, determination, and loads of grace through the process. I keep pushing ahead because I know that one day it will all be worth it.