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God’s Plan for Paul…
Read 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 and Philippians 1:12-14, 19-21
2 Corinthians 11:24-28 ‘Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have travelled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.’
Philippians 1:12-14 ‘And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear… And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.’
God’s plan for the Apostle Paul didn’t end up being that free of harm. He spent his life as a Christian beat up and whipped, stoned (with rocks, not the herb), in and out of prison for his faith, and ultimately executed. Where was God’s plan of prosperity and no harm for him? There wasn’t any, not till he got to heaven at least. God’s plan for Paul was not one of health and wealth, but it was one of significance. I like the way the apostle Paul summed up his at times miserable existence…“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” By that he meant that as long as he is alive he is devoted to serving Jesus with everything he’s got, and when God finally takes him home to heaven he will receive the reward of that faithful devotion. Paul was not looking for his prosperity in this world, but the next.
Why do you think God would allow such bad things to happen to someone who was serving him so faithfully?
God does have a plan for each and every one of us. And it always ends well for every one of us that surrender our lives to Him. But note: it ends well. For many of us the story along the way will have many ups and downs. Jeremiah 29:11 was part of a prophetic word from God that Israel’s story was going to end well. If we are going to apply this scripture to our own lives that is what we must take away. That our story will end well. God has not promised us that all our time on earth will be safe, prosperous, happy and healthy. For some of us it won’t. The journey might be difficult at times but we will never encounter anything beyond what we can overcome in God’s strength.
Jesus once told a wealthy young man “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” This proved too tough for the guy because his heart was set on the riches of this world not the next. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15 we want our happiness and wealth right now. We don’t want to have to wait for the afterlife. So tragically we live our lives for passing pleasures when we could be storing for ourselves blessings in heaven that will last for all eternity. The life Christ is calling us to puts Him first. Our hearts are in heaven while our hands and feet serve Him here.
How important do you think it is to God that we are financially wealthy?
God’s plan for us is way better than anything we could conceive of ourselves. We need to learn that better doesn’t necessarily mean richer or safer. Better means obedient to God, trusting in Him and enjoying the eternal blessings of the God who will welcome us home with the words “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
Pray: Ask God to give you a heart that seeks after Him and the plan that He has for you. And to be content with what you have. And thank Him for the awesome eternity He has prepared for you!
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God’s Plan for Paul…
Read 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 and Philippians 1:12-14, 19-21
2 Corinthians 11:24-28 ‘Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have travelled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.’
Philippians 1:12-14 ‘And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear… And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.’
God’s plan for the Apostle Paul didn’t end up being that free of harm. He spent his life as a Christian beat up and whipped, stoned (with rocks, not the herb), in and out of prison for his faith, and ultimately executed. Where was God’s plan of prosperity and no harm for him? There wasn’t any, not till he got to heaven at least. God’s plan for Paul was not one of health and wealth, but it was one of significance. I like the way the apostle Paul summed up his at times miserable existence…“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” By that he meant that as long as he is alive he is devoted to serving Jesus with everything he’s got, and when God finally takes him home to heaven he will receive the reward of that faithful devotion. Paul was not looking for his prosperity in this world, but the next.
Why do you think God would allow such bad things to happen to someone who was serving him so faithfully?
God does have a plan for each and every one of us. And it always ends well for every one of us that surrender our lives to Him. But note: it ends well. For many of us the story along the way will have many ups and downs. Jeremiah 29:11 was part of a prophetic word from God that Israel’s story was going to end well. If we are going to apply this scripture to our own lives that is what we must take away. That our story will end well. God has not promised us that all our time on earth will be safe, prosperous, happy and healthy. For some of us it won’t. The journey might be difficult at times but we will never encounter anything beyond what we can overcome in God’s strength.
Jesus once told a wealthy young man “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” This proved too tough for the guy because his heart was set on the riches of this world not the next. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15 we want our happiness and wealth right now. We don’t want to have to wait for the afterlife. So tragically we live our lives for passing pleasures when we could be storing for ourselves blessings in heaven that will last for all eternity. The life Christ is calling us to puts Him first. Our hearts are in heaven while our hands and feet serve Him here.
How important do you think it is to God that we are financially wealthy?
God’s plan for us is way better than anything we could conceive of ourselves. We need to learn that better doesn’t necessarily mean richer or safer. Better means obedient to God, trusting in Him and enjoying the eternal blessings of the God who will welcome us home with the words “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
Pray: Ask God to give you a heart that seeks after Him and the plan that He has for you. And to be content with what you have. And thank Him for the awesome eternity He has prepared for you!
candice roy farren - November 9, 2009 at 7:08 am