It ain’t that bad

Acts 9:16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

This week, last night, this morning, God is opening my eyes through my heart. It has been a tough week of closed doors and realizations. It has been a time in my life I am seeing those around me hurting. Last night in study I came to this scripture above, and the textbook listed Paul’s testimony of these sufferings for Christ. The list humbled me. I have not yet suffered for Christ; I have barely become uncomfortable. This morning in prayer that realization was even more clearly put to me. In all my trials I still have all the necessities and more luxuries than I will ever need. The luxury list has been shrinking, and with it has come a cleansing feeling of the removal of “stuff” that does not truly matter.

Saul had been persecuting Christians even unto death before his Damascus road experience. Christ had come to him in a literal blinding light; Saul could not see but knew he had seen Christ and spoken to Him. Saul had been led to town where he waited for Ananias to come as a messenger of the Lord to restore his sight. That blindness for three days was the beginning of sufferings for the soon to be renamed the great Apostle Paul. The rest of Paul’s life was solely focused on preaching Christ alone. 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The once great Saul; a great educated, wise man in all the laws of the church; had been humbled by Christ on that road. Saul had realized how small he was, and how great Christ is.

Paul’s life changed at the moment his suffering began. Paul went from being a great leader; resting on his wisdom and the power granted to him; to a person focused on the power of Christ alone. He knew his every day rested in Christ’s hands. It humbled him in this realization and he focused his ministry on Christ’s power alone. 1 Corinthians 2:3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. When we suffer as children of God, there may be an underlying purpose behind it; to point us to God. In all these trials of life, may we move to becoming focused on God; on the reward of eternity with Him. To hear what we should all strive to hear upon meeting Him. Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’