Daily Devotional for Saturday, May 6

Willingly Suffer for Christ

“Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not,”
2 Corinthians 11:28-31.

A teenager lost a contact lens while playing basketball in his driveway. After a fruitless search, he told his mother the lens was nowhere to be found. Undaunted, she went outside, and in a few minutes, returned with the lens in her hand. “I really looked hard for that, Mom,” said the youth. “How’d you manage to find it?” “We weren’t looking for the same thing,” she replied. “You were looking for a small piece of plastic. I was looking for $150.” (Source Unknown.)
As Paul testified of his life before and after Christ, he made a pivotal statement that gave a glimpse into his deep conviction and motivation. He was motivated to preach the gospel and care for the churches. This was the motivation that kept him pressing forward through hardship and persecution.
Paul knew that on the other side of a shipwreck there was a town filled with people who needed the gospel. Paul understood that if he endured a scourging or stoning, he could travel to one of the churches he planted and strengthen them with the Word. Paul was moved by the great need to reach people with the gospel before they faced judgment. He was motivated not to give up after he faced persecution because there was a church that needed to be corrected or encouraged.

THOUGHT:If we keep our focus on what Christ has done for us and what He will do through us, we can endure any hardship and remain faithful to Him.

Steven Ridings