Daily Devotional for Monday, December 19

Faithfulness Through Persecution

As Paul corresponded with the saints at Philippi, they were grieved for the suffering Paul had faced due to intense persecution. Philippian Christians were heartbroken over Paul’s pain and longed to bring him relief. Paul hardly minimized his sufferings when he wrote of them. However, he did place his sufferings in an eternal context for us to understand that not all suffering is meaningless.
Paul declared that his current sufferings were amplifying the message of the gospel to those he had preached to, thus, his persecutions held great value. He also testified that his faithfulness through these sufferings were causing believers everywhere to be encouraged and emboldened in their lives.
As Christians, we may live our lives with a desire for comfort and ease while fleeing from any pain or discomfort that may come our way. Yet, God has shown us in His Word that He has never used someone greatly for His kingdom unless He has first humbled him through personal suffering. God allows trials to purify His children and glorify Himself through them. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3-5).

REFLECTION: Remain faithful to God through the trials of life. Your sufferings are working an eternal weight of glory to God and for the furtherance of the gospel.

Steven Ridings