The Price of Victory
by Anonymous

The Price of Victory

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

-Romans 9:1-3

The apostle Paul had such a burden for his own people that he said he would be willing to be accursed for their sake, if that would save them. Only one man before him said a thing like that-Moses. God has not made this test too plain so that men will not dabble with it. The apostle fulfilled his own word and "laid aside every weight to run this race and win this prize." He said, "What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:7, 8, 9), and again, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" (Philippians 3:10).

-from The Intercession of Rees Howells by Doris Ruscoe