Friday, July 21, 2017
Most Christians think of Paul as a top-rung sort of guy, a hero of faith. And rightfully so. Premier theologian. Unparalleled missionary. Church-planter of all time. Empowered to write thirteen inspired letters. If you scan the pages of the New Testament, you’ll find—second only to Jesus—Paul pops up lots of places.
But. You might want to consider the rest of the story. Paul was one of the greatest sufferers ever. God’s announcement immediately after “Saul’s” conversion on the Damascus Road would have shocked us to the very core if it had been spoken about us. “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name . . . I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15-16).
(Hearing those words, we’d probably have responded . . . “Just what I wanted to hear. What a great start to my new life!”)
In our modern, western culture, suffering makes no sense. For us, eradicating pain, discomfort, hunger, disease, sleepless nights is high priority. “Quality of life”? The absence of suffering.
So why did God call Paul to a life of suffering? Lashed repeatedly; beaten with rods three times; imprisoned several times; stoned once; shipwrecked three times; endured hunger, thirst, nakedness, cold, sleepless nights; spent a night and a day floating in the open sea; almost died multiple times (see 2 Cor 11:23-28).
We wonder: What did Paul’s suffering accomplish? Was it necessary? (For a partial answer see 2 Tim 1:11-12.)
We’re going to be reading through Paul’s second letter to Timothy over the next two weeks, and in doing so, we’re jumping to the end of Paul’s life. It may surprise us that there’s even more to learn about Paul’s suffering. Though a top-rung hero, Paul’s life ended with him dangling from the bottom rung in a Roman prison awaiting execution. “I am being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near” (2 Tim 4:6).
This is not to say Paul had nothing to look forward to. But whatever was positive was not in this life. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim 4:18).
QUESTIONS: How do you feel about suffering? If suffering can be for a good cause, should we avoid it at all costs? What about missionaries who put themselves (and their children) in harm’s way when they go into certain countries? What about adopting children who may bring suffering into our lives? What about giving away so much of our assets to help the poor that we may end up one of them?
The good news is: We’re in very good company when we suffer. We join with Jesus in his suffering. We join with Paul in his suffering. And we join with thousands of saints through the centuries. On the surface, it doesn’t seem to make sense, but it’s true: Suffering can be saintly.
(Recommended reading: 30 Days to a More Resilient Faith by Barb Wooler and Wayne Hannah.)
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