Tag: dangers
The Reality of following Jesus
Scripture reading for August 12: 2 Corinthians 11
“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.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-28
Often in today’s world, we seek to win people to follow Christ by telling them how God wants them to be rich, happy, and blessed. But Paul described in detail the suffering he had endured in following Jesus’ command to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. He wasn’t seeking sympathy or trying to warn those he had shared the Gospel with by reciting his troubles. He was really ‘boasting’ in his weakness and proclaiming how Christ’s power and presence had brought him through all these difficulties. (2 Corinthians 11:30)
The false apostles had pointed to these things in Paul’s life as a sign that God was not with Paul. People had sometimes misunderstood him and his life of suffering. Paul was a Jew, but suffered beatings from the hands of his own people as he shared Christ’s love and desire for their salvation with them. In following God, Paul was shipwrecked three times and almost lost his life. He had a right to be supported by the believers, but he worked with his own hands to support himself and his ministry team. He was sometimes hungry and thirsty and without proper shelter. But behind all this, Paul walked in faith that Jesus was with him in his assignment to care for the churches he had helped found. In his weakness, Paul found the strength of Jesus sufficient for every hardship.
Have you ever had to suffer as a result of living for Jesus or preaching the Gospel? How does this account of Paul’s suffering change your world view of being a Christ follower? Is your weakness something you have ever ‘boasted’ about?
Prayer: Father God, I find it hard to think about my weakness. I have been taught to be strong and our culture rewards strength. Thank You for sustaining Your people in times of persecution, through life’s shipwrecks, beatings, hunger and thirst. I am weak and need Your daily supply. Amen.
Sunday Rest and Reflection:Missionaries
Dear Friends,
Greetings on this Sabbath day of rest! We can rest today because “It is finished!” was the victory cry of Jesus Christ from the cross as He gave up His Spirit and breathed His last! (John 19:30) We can rest today because on the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the dead, as the first-fruit from death! (Mark 16:6) We can rest today because He is seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us! (Romans 8:34) We can rest today, because we are seated with Him! (Ephesians 2:6) We can rest today because He promised to come back for His followers and take them to be with Him! (John 14:3)
Out of this place of rest, we are commanded to go and preach the Good News to all nations and make disciples of all peoples. Missionaries are those who are called and willingly go. Missionaries are some of my favorite people! They have caught the Spirit of Christ and have a passion that inspires. Reading about the early missionaries and their exciting adventures makes me want to experience that for myself. There are three observations about missionaries I want to share with you today.
“And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:52)
First, missionaries must have the power of the Holy Spirit! We see them preaching, praying for the sick and casting out demons. We observe them following the directions of the Holy Spirit about where to go and when. We see them knowing how to address different cultures and effectively reach souls. We have read about some who suffered persecution and beatings and others who gave their lives sharing the Gospel.
Second, there is no joy like being in the will of God. Missionaries find great joy in preaching the Gospel. Even when run out of town or beaten for preaching, they counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ! When souls were saved, great joy filled the people. Paul and Silas rejoiced to see the Philippian jailer and his whole household come to Christ and rejoice! (Acts 16:31-34)
The third observation: “This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) Missionaries are hastening the coming of Christ! Let’s either go ourselves or send them!
In His Love, Pastor John