2 Timothy 2 talks about suffering like a good soldier of Jesus Christ and how we are not to get entangled in civilian affairs. As Christians we need to develop good habits like reading the word of God so that we can remain resolute for Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 5 gives us great instruction on how we should love our wife. We look to Christ who first loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that it would be holy and without blemish. We men have the responsibility to love our wife like Christ loved the church. We must study the word of God, remove any hindrances, and help our wife be conformed into the image of Christ.

In Luke 2 when Jesus's parents find him after he was "lost", they ask him where He was and Jesus responds that He must be in His Father's house. As believers, we too must remember our responsibility to be about our Father's business and we should advertise that to our kids, our neighbors, and anyone else in our influence. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are now one in Christ and we now serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

People who are in prison for their faith in Christ are actually freer than those in the world who are afraid to share what they believe. Freedom starts when we admit that we are a slave to our sin. A truly free man is moved by knowing that Jesus paid for our sin. God's word gives us courage because it actually exposes our fears.

2 Corinthians 2 tells us to spread the fragrance of Jesus everywhere we go. 1st John 1 tells us to confess our sins and when we do that God forgives us of our sins and cleanses us of all unrighteousness. Living for Christ means repenting of our sins, embracing Jesus and spreading the fragrance of Christ to others.

The Bible is full of people like Joseph and Paul who endured difficulty, suffering and isolation. They could have been crushed but they were strengthened by God and their toughness came from a continual relationship with the Lord. We look to Jesus Christ as our perfect example of how to be tough despite the circumstances.

Steve Prefontaine was a world-class runner who beat other runners with his incredible toughness. As Christians we are being beat down by the world and taking blow after blow for the sake of Christ. We are called to die daily and to be conformed into the image of Christ. We should grow in our toughness and allow trials to shape us.

The apostle Paul had a thorn in his side and he knew that Jesus's power works best in his weakness. The Holy Spirit helps train and strengthen our spiritual muscles through the trials we face. We must count the cost of following Christ and allow Him to turn our friction into traction.