Daily Devotional for Saturday, February 22

Paul's suffering for Christ's Sake

"Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;' 2 Corinthians 11:24-26.

It has been said that nothing is worth living for if it is not worth dying for. I so appreciate the total commitment of our military and law enforcement personnel who place no limits on the price they are willing to pay to perform their sworn duty.

If you study the life and ministry of Paul, you will find that his philosophy was simple: it did not matter what happened to him, so long as the gospel was preached, and God was glorified. Paul's life mirrored Jesus' teaching on discipleship, ''And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). In his pre-conversion life, Paul had achieved success and status, but to follow Christ, Paul gladly suffered the loss of it all, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8).

Suffering has always been a purifying agent in the Lord's churches. In every generation, those who are fair-weather disciples will find the exits when the fires of persecution heat up. Most Christians are not willing to suffer for Christ. Believers who serve under the yoke of persecution are the ones who are committed. Paul was committed and his suffering demonstrated it.

REFLECTION

Have you resolved in your heart the price you are willing to pay to serve Jesus?

John Nations