SUFFERING FOR CHRIST - Devotional

 

PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY - MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT.

May 23rd, 2025

SUFFERING FOR CHRIST.
Apostle Paul catalogue his sufferings for Christ as follows: "Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked." (2 Cor.11.23-27.NIV)

Why did Paul suffer so much?
He was bold, courageous, fierce in his approach to preaching the gospel. He was engaging and challenging irrespective of who? He was educated and knowledgeable. He had no boundaries. He was sent to the Gentiles to provoke the jealousy of the Jews. He suffered so much because of his ministry type - the Gentiles predominantly the Romans.

Can any of us suffer as much as Paul for the sake of the Gospel?
It is a question for each person to answer honesty. But in this age of maximum comfort/enjoyment, it is likely not as much as Paul suffered! "when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." (Deu.8.12-14.NIV). Our faith!!! "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

(Luk.18.8.NIV)

We preach from the head not from the heart. We say what the people want to hear rather than what the Spirit is says. Lord have mercy.

THE WORD: “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
(1 Cor.2.12.NIV)

KBA Tracts


Follow KBA Tracts on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/19kNSm3rt7/

www.kbatracts.com.ng