When you are confronted with and challenged by the circumstances of life and living, how big is your God? Consider the Apostle Paul who was called to be a witness ... a servant ... an evangelist ... a pastor ... an apostle to the nations. The disciple, Ananias, was instructed to tell Paul (then Saul) that he would suffer many things for Jesus' sake. Is your God big enough for you to accept and follow through with your purpose, your gifting, your calling when it involves suffering? Is your God big enough for you to accept such a challenge, for you to go forward without hesitation, boldly, and confidently?
Is your God big enough that you never give up even when you
have suffered greatly? Can you imagine
how big Paul's God was? About midway his
time of ministry, Paul reflected on the sufferings he has already endured for
the Name of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-29) -- 39 lashes from his own people
on five different occasions ... beaten with rods three times ... stoned and
left for dead once ... three times aboard a ship wrecked at sea ... and
more? Can you imagine this level of
hardship and suffering? When would you
have stopped? Would you have given up
long before going through all of this suffering? When is enough, enough?
Is your God big enough for you to keep on keeping on amid
many trials and obstacles and sufferings?
Is your God as big to you as Paul's God was to him? What has God called you to do? What is your purpose in life? How hard is your walk? How difficult is your journey?
Paul believed and so he wrote words that encouraged him so
that we may be encouraged -- "I can
do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
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