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viltglance007
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But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man (referring to Paul) is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." (Acts 9:15-16)
Paul did indeed suffer greatly for Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of his many sufferings in the 2nd letter he wrote to the Christians in Corinth. "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one (39 lashes are the most a person could be whipped w/out dying). Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked." (2 Corinthians 11:23-27)
In John 10:10 Jesus states, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Wait a second, where was this verse when Paul could have really used it? As a matter of fact we know from history that Paul was eventually imprisoned for 2 years in Rome and then beheaded. It seems like Paul missed out on living the nice happy comfortable Christian life. Or did he?
Paul say's, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him." (Philippians 3:7-8)
In the midst of his incredible suffering how was Paul able to say these things? Jesus states, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26) Paul believed it! Paul states, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
Christian, please know today that you are expendable. You are no longer the 'looking out for #1' person you were before trusting Jesus as your savior. Let the desire of God's maximum glory so fully consume you that you don't have time nor desire to seek your own personal glory. If God says secretly that you must suffer for His name will you accept it? Will you thank God for giving you cancer so a close relative can see how you cling to God through a painful debilitating disease? What if God takes your child's life in order that people may see the strength God provides amidst tragedy? God had Paul suffer mightily for His name and Paul embraced it! Paul wasn't a sick-o who got a thrill out of pain, however he got fired up whenever God received tons of glory. Don't forget Christian we are just passing through here. Our focus is different, our future is different, and our lives need to be distinctly different. Hold onto the things of this world very loosely, and let Jesus grip you very tightly!
Paul did indeed suffer greatly for Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of his many sufferings in the 2nd letter he wrote to the Christians in Corinth. "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one (39 lashes are the most a person could be whipped w/out dying). Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked." (2 Corinthians 11:23-27)
In John 10:10 Jesus states, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Wait a second, where was this verse when Paul could have really used it? As a matter of fact we know from history that Paul was eventually imprisoned for 2 years in Rome and then beheaded. It seems like Paul missed out on living the nice happy comfortable Christian life. Or did he?
Paul say's, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him." (Philippians 3:7-8)
In the midst of his incredible suffering how was Paul able to say these things? Jesus states, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26) Paul believed it! Paul states, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
Christian, please know today that you are expendable. You are no longer the 'looking out for #1' person you were before trusting Jesus as your savior. Let the desire of God's maximum glory so fully consume you that you don't have time nor desire to seek your own personal glory. If God says secretly that you must suffer for His name will you accept it? Will you thank God for giving you cancer so a close relative can see how you cling to God through a painful debilitating disease? What if God takes your child's life in order that people may see the strength God provides amidst tragedy? God had Paul suffer mightily for His name and Paul embraced it! Paul wasn't a sick-o who got a thrill out of pain, however he got fired up whenever God received tons of glory. Don't forget Christian we are just passing through here. Our focus is different, our future is different, and our lives need to be distinctly different. Hold onto the things of this world very loosely, and let Jesus grip you very tightly!
