Okay, Ever read Galatians 2:20? "For I am crucified with Christ..." so on and so forth? well, ever though about that concept? well??? I mean come on, I know that we died spiritually, but what if this is more, God being the amazing guiy he is often throws more information into the scriptures than most people can catch(another reason why we should study scripture together. ;)), what if this is a warning that people are going to perseute you, and while they may not kill you physically, but they surely will try to kill you socially, and that is the challenge, can you live, after your social life has been killed. Think about your author, Paul, formerly Saul, his change of heart and mind caused him to be beaten, imprisoned, and eventually killed. who better to teach us about sacrifice than someone who gave his life for the ministry of Christ. Just a neat thought.
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"You have no idea what it's like to have done the things that I've done... and to care." ~Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
We're told to pick up perhaps the most brutal implement of execution ever invented, place it upon our tired and raw backs, and dirrectly follow Christ. You cannot call yourself a true Christian (remember, the term litterally means "little Christ") without sharing in his crucifixition.
Now, I'm not saying you ought to self-flagilate of something like that. God will choose the times of your appointed pains, it ain't you. However, Jesus never promises that following him will ever be easy, simple, or safe. Good, yes, but not comfortable. Paul was content in all things. That's hardly the same thing as having everything all okay all the time, or even most of the time. Fundamentally, the earth is a massive, wild, and fierce land upon which THE WAR is being waged, and has been since, oh, about as long as our grandparents got kicked out of Eden. We're currently the grunts, the frontline ground-pounders...or more accurately, the flashing, gleaming first knights of the charge in this war raging through time. Don't expect to not see the flaming arrows of Satan coming at you.
The cool thing is though, we're going to be walking daily with Christ is his sufferings...but unlike what he had to endure, we shall never be alone. Heck, if we were alone, we wouldn't be able to keep going. Jesus will be right next to you in every step, he will be beside you with every wound...and remember, this uniqueness of Christianity: Jesus Himself endured mortality too.
Now, this shouldn't be a depressing thought. Yeah, I'm following the Man of Sorrows. But I'm also following the one who lets us, wierdly enough, experience joy even in the pains. God cheats Satan even here, for the trueness of joy is often found most fully in the dark times...as long as God is near. It's totally insane to the worldly way of thinking...but hey, God promised that too. Jesus led a good life. I mean, look...his first miracle is turning water into wine at a wedding party. He had a reputation for his parties with the undesirables (no, not those kinds of parties...but think a good home meal, with excellent food and laugher and friends, and you have a picture of his "outreach" times). Yeah, I'm not heading towards a life that is either comfortable or rich...but it is good. That too should be kept in mind as we follow.
