MORNINGTIME 2518
by Benjamin Munsell on August 31, 2017MORNINGTIME 2518
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather UNTO THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL; Philippians 1:12. If any man ever had the right to complain about all the trials, troubles, and tribulations that he went through, it would have been this man, Paul. Other than Christ, who was beat up, tortured, and suffered more than any man ever, the Apostle Paul came in a close second. "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 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; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness". 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. Paul didn't need to go looking for trouble, as a Christian, troubles came looking for him. Yet he NEVER complained about any of it. Everything he went through furthered the expansion of the Gospel. Let's look at it this way, he took lemons and made lemonade. He never questioned God, "Why have You done this to me"? He always attributed these things TOWARDS HIS GROWTH IN CHRIST. His attitude was, "Thank You Lord, grow me some more". Paul never asked the Lord to deliver him FROM these things, but asked the Lord to help him GO THROUGH these things and to be made more CHRISTLIKE coming out the other side. Christ, and Paul, have shown us what the Christian Walk can easily look like. When ANY of these things happen to you, do you complain, or can you say, "Thank You Lord, I am Greatly Blessed, and will continue to, Be Blessed.
backBut I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather UNTO THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL; Philippians 1:12. If any man ever had the right to complain about all the trials, troubles, and tribulations that he went through, it would have been this man, Paul. Other than Christ, who was beat up, tortured, and suffered more than any man ever, the Apostle Paul came in a close second. "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 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; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness". 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. Paul didn't need to go looking for trouble, as a Christian, troubles came looking for him. Yet he NEVER complained about any of it. Everything he went through furthered the expansion of the Gospel. Let's look at it this way, he took lemons and made lemonade. He never questioned God, "Why have You done this to me"? He always attributed these things TOWARDS HIS GROWTH IN CHRIST. His attitude was, "Thank You Lord, grow me some more". Paul never asked the Lord to deliver him FROM these things, but asked the Lord to help him GO THROUGH these things and to be made more CHRISTLIKE coming out the other side. Christ, and Paul, have shown us what the Christian Walk can easily look like. When ANY of these things happen to you, do you complain, or can you say, "Thank You Lord, I am Greatly Blessed, and will continue to, Be Blessed.
