Praise & Pray

Apostle Paul's origin story is fascinating. Originally named Saul, he was a Pharisee who hated Christians. He hunted many of them down, putting them in jail, and advocating for their death. Despite his past, God chose to use him to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to countless people and his writings continue to convict lives today.

He'd encountered Jesus on a trip to Damascus to find Christians. The Lord got His attention by blinding him and speaking with him. He then sent (the good) Ananias who, through the power of God, healed Paul of his blindness and gave him the Holy Spirit. From that moment onward, Paul was on fire for the Lord.

And that zeal didn't dim when God informed him that trouble lay ahead on his journey to Jerusalem. In fact, multiple believers gave prophetic words that he would suffer when he got to the holy city. Their deep affection for the apostle caused them to discourage him from going, just as Peter tried to rebuke Jesus for saying that great suffering lay ahead for Him.

Like Peter, these believers had put their desires above God's concerns. But Paul didn't. He said that he was ready to keep going to Jerusalem and added, "I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 21:13). What brought fear to his fellow believers spurred him forward in conviction and faith.

But why? And how? Why was he so calm in the face of impending danger? And how could he speak so boldly, given what he knew was to come? The Lord told him from the very beginning of his calling that the journey would not be easy. Given his own experience as a persecutor of Christian believers, he understood that there would be challenges.

And so as the Holy Spirit warned him that prison and hardship lay ahead, Paul's response was, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace" (Acts 20:24).

Many of us love God and have experienced His merciful hand work things out for ourselves and our loved ones. Yet, most of us could not be as dedicated as Paul was to the task of spreading the good news about Jesus and the restoration His death and resurrection provided.

Paul's dedication and fervor for the assignment the Lord gave him presents a challenge for all of us who say we love God and desire to serve Him. Would we continue to serve if we knew that hardship lay ahead? Would we entrust our very lives to Him and keep going forward if we knew danger was coming?

It is easy to say that Paul had a special grace for this but the scriptures do not suggest that he was made differently. He just chose to do whatever God said, no matter the consequences. He trusted God even when things went wrong. He decided to not compromise with his calling. To put God's concerns first at all times.

Most of us experience difficulties and walk away from the Lord, forgetting or maybe unaware that Jesus said troubles would come simply because we chose to walk in submission to Him. Our flesh can't handle the pressure and gives up long before the rewards arrive for enduring hardship.

Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and his life was under constant threat from those who conspired to kill him. Most of us will never go through a fraction of his experiences and praise God that isn't His plan for our lives. But, we should consider Paul's life a challenge. We should challenge ourselves to stand firm in the face of opposition. We should commit to holding on to our faith by trusting God, no matter what comes. We should be willing to do whatever He asks, knowing that His plans for us are good because we love Him and He loves us.

It is time to fully and truly tell God that we belong to Him and won't walk away when the going gets tough. That is the Paul Challenge and today is the day to commit to the Lord in true dedication. Could you do that this day? God bless you as you do.

Give your life to Christ with the Altar Call below and learn more about today's topic from the following previous P&P messages:

1. Let God Have His Way

2. Don't Turn From God

3. Dear Peppers 1: God isn't a burden

4. Trusting God When Things Go Wrong

5. Do whatever he tells you

6. Are You Living to Please Others or the Lord?

7. Obedience Is Wise

8. The Opposition We Face

9. The Impact of Your Relationship With God

10. God Stirs Up The Spirit

11. P&P 500: Be Steady In The Face Of Pressure

12. Depend Solely On God

13. Don't Backslide

14. Topic: God's Concerns Series (Mark 8:33)

15. Topic: God's Rewards

16. Topic: Submit, Submission