Pastor’s Pen 3/31/2019

Pastor’s Pen 3/31/2019

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Philippians 2:17

In Hebrews 12 we were reminded to get rid of any distraction or sin that hinders our “race”. That race is the life that we live as a follower of Jesus Christ. Paul knew what it meant to get rid of everything that would hinder his race. He had decided to follower Christ no matter what the personal cost was. As the world sees it Paul was at the top of his game before he became a Christian. He had been given authority by the high priest to hunt down, imprison, and even consent to the death of those belonging to the new Christian cult. But, God in His mercy and grace called Paul to be His on the road to Damascus. From that day forward for the next 30 years Paul served Jesus Christ.

Paul during those 30 years suffered greatly for the cause of Christ.  In his own words he described in detail those sufferings, Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches (2 Cor. 11:24-28). In spite of all the suffering Paul said, For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2Cor.12-10). He was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was determined to run the race set out for him.

All of us, who have been called by God to be His sons and daughters, must run the race, Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering. What say you Christian? Can you say as Paul to live is Christ to die is gain.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark

 

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