Title

The Great Suffer

Scripture
I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.
(Philippians 1:12)
Devotional
Consider the apostle Paul's résumé: “Five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers… in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily.”[1] And he furthermore said, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”[2] Kind of puts our troubles in a little different perspective, doesn’t it? Listen to the apostle again, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”[3] As we suffer in this life, and we will, consider the chronicles of the apostle Paul.

[1] 2 Corinthians 11:24-28
[2] Romans 8:28
[3] Romans 8:18