“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb . . . and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11).
When James and John came to Jesus Christ including there mother, requesting for the best place in the kingdom, He did not refuse their request, rather asking them if they will fit in His work, drink His cup, and be baptized with His baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Do we need the challenge? The best things are constantly supported about by the hardest things, and we, as well, will discover mountains and woods and chariots of iron. Hardship is the cost of crowning celebration. Triumphal curves are not woven out of rose blooms and smooth strings, yet of hard blows and wicked scars. The very hardships that you are suffering in your life today are given by the Master for the unequivocal motivation behind empowering you to win your crown.
Try not to sit tight for some perfect circumstance, some sentimental trouble, some distant crisis; yet ascend to meet the real conditions which the Providence of God has put around you today. Your crown of wonder lies installed in the very heart of these things– those hardships and preliminaries that are squeezing you this very hour, week and month of your life. The hardest things are not those that the world is aware of. Down in your mystery soul concealed and obscure by any yet Jesus, there is a little preliminary that you would not set out to make reference to that is more enthusiastically for you to manage than affliction.
"It makes a difference not how the fight goes,
The day to what extent;
Back out not! Battle on!
Tomorrow comes the tune."
