No Guts...No Glory

We are a society that avoids pain--which is good!  I'm a fan of pain-less living!  I usually do not go out of my way to find pain.

However, in our spiritual lives--all advancement require pain.


  • pain of endurance
  • pain of ego
  • pain of pride
  • pain of denial
Jesus understood this and lived it!  Jesus' battle was certainly ON the cross--but a huge battle took place prior to the cross.  Jesus was walking in the perfect will of the Father--doing only those things that pleased the Father.  Jesus predicted three times in Matthew's gospel that he would be killed and rise again the third day.  The most intense battle took place in the Garden of Gethsemane where he fought for his very life.  It was there--in that garden--that the real choice was made.

  • endure pain--walking in the perfect will of the Father
  • endure pain--walking into the realm of glory












Jesus remained focused--working towards the goal:  the completion of the mission!
It was in the garden just down from the eastern gate of Jerusalem that Jesus battled through his own emotions to do the will of his Father.

The Olive Trees in the Garden of Gethsemane

Looking up towards Jerusalem--from the Garden.

Every advancement in our spiritual lives will require a garden experience where we will make a choice.  That choice will cost us some pain--some discomfort--probably the shedding of our egos and our pride.  However, there is always a choice.  When we refuse the faith position of endurance--we like the children of Israel can wander around the desert and come back to the same place again--some 40 years later!

No guts---no glory.

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