GOD’S POWER
2
Corinthians 4:7-9
But we have this treasure in jars of
clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are
afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; stuck down, but not destroyed…
Next to the Lord Jesus, perhaps no one endured more
trial and trouble in the first century than the apostle Paul. Think of all the
things that happened to him. He was shipwrecked (Acts 27:13-44), beaten (Acts
21:32), rejected (Acts 13:50), taunted (Acts 19:28-31), imprisoned (Acts 24:27;
28:11-31), mocked (Acts 17:32) and made a target for assassination (Acts
23:12). Let him describe his dilemma in 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27,
I am a better
one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments,
with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the
hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 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; 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; in toil
and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often
without food, in cold and exposure.
As we can see, hardship, persecution and crisis
characterized his life. In his day as well as in ours, professing the name of
Christ is not a glamorous position. Often it results in conflict, isolation and
repeated heartache.
What’s pressing you today? Are you suffering from poor
health? Is your spirit wounded from someone’s biting tongue? Has someone
betrayed or abandoned you? Take comfort in Paul’s words. Remember, you may be
down, but not out; staggered but not defeated. Let Jesus’ sustaining power
supply your spirit with resolve to keep going.
