“If you follow hard after Me, you will be perceived as a fool by those who cannot understand. At times, you will look as if you have no answers. Other times, you will look as if you have lost a war, or even lost everything. Many of My loving children have been laughed at, scorned, imprisoned, tortured, and even killed. They have willingly placed themselves in the league of fools as far as the world is concerned.

"As far as I am concerned, however, they have placed themselves near and dear to My heart. Jesus looked as if He had failed. His friends looked as if they had lost. Countless marvelous hearts since then have been placed in the league of fools with them by actual fools. You come near to My heart. Follow the ways of Jesus. Have no concern over what others think of you. What I think of you is what really matters.”

 Matt. 5:11-12 NIV

11) “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12) Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 11:12 NIV

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”

Matthew 16:24-25 AMP 

24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

25) For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].”

2 Cor. 12:15 AMP

But I will most gladly spend [myself] and be utterly spent for your souls...

Gal. 4:19 NIV

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you...

Sensitivity toward the heart of God is the inward desire of the compassionate heart. This heart cannot be satisfied until God’s heart is satisfied upon the completion of all things. It drives a person to whatever end will satisfy Father God’s heart and allow others to see Him. Those with a compassionate spirit unconditionally surrender all control of their lives to the Lordship of Jesus and joyfully embrace a life of self-denial.

I choose to be close to Your heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett