"I suppose I could bear to sweat a bit for Christ"

This was the statement of a beloved Christian sister in an online discussion on foreign missions. We were talking about the inconveniencies that would be faced by Christians serving in a preaching work in a foreign land. What would life without AC, electricity, electronics, running water, etc? Different? Yes. Worth it? Yes.

But on a more personal note, isn't that the theme of New Testament Christianity, losing all to gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8)? "Bearing the sweat" of ridicule, broken relationships, giving up pleasurable sinful living, false religion is only a small sacrifice compared the ultimate sacrifice that Christ offered at the cross (Hebrews 9:25-26). The Christian life is indeed diffficult to live (Matthew 7:13-14), but with God's help and care, it is possible (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Jesus demands that His followers be prepared to give up the "comfort zones" of life in order to serve Him. He is not pleased with a religion that does not require self-denial and sacrifice. One pre-requisite to following Christ is to deny self and take up one's cross daily (Luke 9:23-26). In the first century Roman Empire, a cross was not a symbol to wear around one's neck or an ornament to place above one's dashboard. The cross was a means of execution, a torture stake, a mark of shame. Christ bore His cross first, therefore He expects of His people to do the same.

In the garden, Christ's head shed sweat and blood as He prayed to heavenly Father. In pain and agony, He realized the price that He was about to pay for your sins and mine. Is it too much that He require that we "bear to sweat a bit for Christ"?