OUR VALUES: #5 WE LAY HOLD OF THE GRACE OF GOD TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING

The Gospel of the kingdom bids us to come and follow the suffering servant. Yet in this, we are laying hold of a grace that is given to us by God, not glorying in our own strength.

Jesus is the One who gave up everything, who held nothing back. Any suffering we walk through He has already been there first and He goes with us. Jesus said that if we are to follow Him we must take up our cross. As Jesus was hidden, accused, mistreated, and suffered until death on a cross, so we ought to deny ourselves willingly in every way. In the process of sacrifice and suffering we also gain Christ--which IS everything.

In the light of eternity we can joyfully surrender our reputations, relationships, time, strength, and resources knowing that when Jesus is revealed then we will be revealed with Him. We are co-heirs with Christ. God is going to give Himself to us and He will give us glorified bodies to enjoy Him forever. 

Everything we give up now in this life is rubbish in comparison to the eternal beauty of relationship with God. Therefore, we lay hold of the grace of God to sacrifice now, with our eyes set on the joy before us.