Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
(2 Corinthians 11:24-29 ESV)
Paul knew what it was to suffer for the cause of Christ. Besides physical and emotional persecution, he bore the burden of the many churches God had used him to establish. He felt responsible for every believer in those churches. When they were attacked, he felt attacked. Yet, he would rightly and willingly admit that what he faced was nothing compared to what Christ faced on our behalf, for our sin. How little true suffering we face for our faith. Many across the globe are facing mistreatment which approaches Paul's level; we endure little. May we be ready to speak, stand, suffer that others know what He has done for them.
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