No pain, no gain

A brief thought today,
In the athletic realm, a popular statement believed by the fittest is;
"No pain no gain".
When reading the Scriptures, I am finding this to be a principle of the Christian's life and walk with Christ.
The Lord said, if you are to follow me, there is a self to deny and a cross to bear.
Paul said, if you will know him (CHRIST) the power of his resurrection, there is a fellowship of his sufferings.
J. R. Miller said, There are many blessings we will never receive until we are ready to pay the price of pain, for the path of suffering is the only way to reach them.

I walked a mile with Pleasure,
      She chattered all the way;
But left me none the wiser
      For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
      And ne'er a word said she;
But oh, the things I learned from her
      When Sorrow walked with me.
RevDN