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Authors: Gerard and Bernie Robinson, from Charis in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he writes, “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 Corinthians 11:24-27)

Has anything inopportune or bad ever happened to you, making you ask the question “why me?” Our experiences of suffering probably pale in insignificance beside the list we heard in today’s scripture. And don’t forget to add to Paul’s list about five years of various sorts of imprisonment and eventually being beheaded by the Romans. But Paul wasn’t just an unfortunate person to whom lots of random bad things happened. His decision to give his life to the Lord Jesus that day on the road to Damascus totally changed his perspective on life and motivated him to want to share the truth that he now knew and had experienced with others.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul says: “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” (Phillippians 3:8-9) All that mattered to Paul was knowing Christ personally, serving Him fully, bringing others to know Him, and living as a pilgrim journeying to his true and eternal home in heaven. And the Holy Spirit empowered him to put up with all things with joy and thankfulness to God.

What challenging things are going on in your life today? Ask God for the grace to see beyond them to the bigger picture of who you are in Christ and where He is leading you. Ask for the gifts of thankfulness and joy in all your circumstances.

Scripture quotations from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.