“This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.”
2 Timothy 2:11-14 NLT
A Gospel centered ministry brings about hardship, ridicule and persecution. This is the other side of the earthly fruit of following Christ. Their is to be an anticipation of this fact. For some, there has even been a longing for it. But along with these things, it also produces the fruit of the spirit, radical transformation in dead things, and a network of brothers and sisters that ever expands. This is a promise. During times of trials, this promise must be remembered. Beyond this, we must remember that in these trials, we will not only be followed by those we love, and can help them as they face these things in the pursuit of being better image bearers and a meaningful relationship with their creator, but also that we are not the first. Christ beckons us through the thick of things in to his kingdom. He knows our pain, and he waits for us to know his joy.
JOSH McGARY. COM 