April 22
(Acts 9:16
NIV) “I will show him how much he must
suffer for my name."
(Romans 5:1-4
NIV) "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, {2} through whom we have gained access
by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of
the glory of God. {3} Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance; {4} perseverance,
character; and character, hope."
(Romans 8:17-18
NIV) "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs
with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also
share in his glory. {18} I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
(Philippians
3:10-11 NIV) "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and
the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
{11} and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
(Hebrews
10:32-36 NIV) "Remember those earlier days after you had received the
light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.
{33} Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other
times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. {34} You
sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your
property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting
possessions. {35} So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly
rewarded. {36} You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of
God, you will receive what he has promised."
(1 Peter
4:12-19 NIV) "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you
are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. {13} But
rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be
overjoyed when his glory is revealed. {14} If you are insulted because of the
name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on
you. {15} If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other
kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. {16} However, if you suffer as a
Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. {17} For
it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with
us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? {18}
And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the
ungodly and the sinner?" {19} So then, those who suffer according to God's
will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do
good."
There would be no
Christianity Lite or Prosperity Gospel for Saul. Right up front, he is informed
that he is destined for suffering. His temporary blindness would be the easy
part. This suffering would last his entire lifetime. He was hunted down and beaten,
stoned within an inch of his life, shipwrecked and stranded at sea, bitten by
snakes, and cursed by men. He lived without food or money much of the time, and
in the end, the gospel would cost him his very life. We are so into “seeker
friendly, sugar coated, what’s-in-it-for-me” Christianity today that it’s tough
for us to believe Jesus would say something like this -- but He did. One
wonders how attendance numbers would be affected if every church welcome packet
contained this warning. Saul would suffer -- and so will we. If you’re not
ready for that, you’re not ready for the real Jesus. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of
the Day
