Choosing the Path of Failure

[S] Matthew 17:12 --
12  but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."

[O] In light of the Passion week followed by the Resurrection Sunday we just celebrated last week, Jesus' remark about how John the Baptist came and suffered and murdered and fully knowing how He still came to us despite the suffering He will face is truly the message as a follower of Christ must hold dear to our hearts.  How many of us will take the path when it's been proven to fail for sure?  Not that many.  However Jesus did just that by taking the path of His coming to us.

[A] Rising above the circumstances to carry out God's will is to say the least challenging.  I must partake in His ministry with such an attitude also:  Instead of having a goal of succeeding in ministry (however that is defined), I need to do it for the sake of turning more people's hearts toward God even at the cost of sacrifice leading to suffering.  This world is not conditioned to welcome Jesus' disciples.

[P] Dear Father, please seal in my heart on how to do Your ministry with the right frame of mind.  This isn't some luxurious task I am doing to succeed but to follow the footsteps of my Lord Jesus' whom, fully knowing, took the path of suffering in order to provide a way out for us from eternal condemnation.  I pray in Your name.  Amen.