Christ Patiently Endured The Cross For The Joy That Was Set Before Him

  The Cross is before the crown, and earthy pain and human sorrow precedes our heavenly reward and eternal joy. Christ Patiently Endured The Cross For The Joy That Was Set Before Him, and likewise His disciples must follow in their Master's footsteps. Since Christ suffered in the flesh, we should also be ready to arm ourselves with the same determined purpose as our Lord - and for His glory.
 Christ suffered unjustly with much patience and we are to apply this same principle of patient endurance in the midst of unfair treatment and discriminatory practices that we may receive in our own Christian walk. We who have been bought with the precious blood of Christ Jesus our Lord, should arm ourselves with the same courage and determination and to accept suffering in this life for the sake of our God and Savior.
 We can live in the world and permit worldly philosophies to infect our lives and tarnish our witness or we can be in the world but not become part of the world. We can adopt the ways of the world which discredit our Savior or we can swim against the tide of hatred and animosity in a world that is at enmity with God and in conflict with His children.
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.

Our United Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful example of Christ Jesus our Lord Who came to earth to identify with our sins and suffered in the flesh on our account so that we might be saved by faith in His sacrificial work on the Cross. We pray that we may develop the same resolve to live holy unto the Lord, knowing that He has not only paid for our sins, but has also broken the power of sin in our lives. Praise His holy name. Thank You in Jesus' name, AMEN.