Christ suffered for us here on earth. Now you must be ready to suffer as He did, because suffering shows that you have stopped living by your own desires. You want to obey God for the rest of your life. You are no longer a sinner. You are now a saint. You have an exceptional degree of holiness, righteousness, and likeness. You are now close to God (1 Peter 4:1).
What dose that mean to suffer for Christ?
1) It means to take joy in the God of your salvation.
“I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation,” Habakkuk 3:18.
It’s to enjoy your now life in Christ even if you have to enjoy it alone. I will declare my joy in the Lord.
2) Suffering is yielding to God, even if their is persecution. I will yield to God and His holy word.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 5:10.
If the world doesn’t like you, so what? You live on, and keep in mind that it hated Jesus first (John 15:18).
Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. The world will say, you think your better than me, but it’s not about you. It’s about Christ. It’s about living this life for real (2 Timothy 3:12).
Jesus made it clear that whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Him. For whosoever wants to save their life [for the life of this world] will lose it, but whosoever will lose their life for Him will save it. What good is it for you to gain the whole world, and lose your very life [soul]? What can you give in exchange for your life [soul]? (Luke 9:23-25).
So if you think you you already have everything you need, your riches, your job, your car, and your home without God—you are wrong. Paul said, I wish you did reign, that we all might reign [rule, be in power, have great things] with you.
Get to know the real you!
1) Be quiet. You cannot and will not be able to discover yourself until you take the time to be still.
2) Realize who you truly are, not who you want to be.
3) Find what you are good at, and what you are not good at. Don’t waste your time doing something your not good at. Find the ‘it’ and come away from the ‘at.’ Waste no time on the at, when you can do the it. I’m doing it, not wasting time doing the at.
4) Be persistent and continue firmly in the course of action in spite of difficulties or the opposition. Be tireless, unwavering, relentless and diligent. Never quit, never give up. Keep going and keep trying.
5) Be passionate and pay attention to the task that involves you. When you understand yourself and all that involves you and focus more on passion not position, you can make a better impact. Passion produces effort, and continuous effort produces results—which produce a deeper discovery of your true self.
6) Work on your weaknesses, and turned them into strengths. Working on your weaknesses will help you know your strengths.
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ,” 1 Corinthians 2:16.
To comprehend God, you must have the mind of God. As believers, we are to have the mind of God for insight into God’s plans. We are to know His thoughts, and actions. With insight, we have the mind of God by the Holy Spirit. What do you have?
