HAVING A BAD DAY?

Related image  I have finished up 1 and 2 Corinthians and have been sent back to finish up the book of Acts.  Paul has left Ephesus with a very emotional departing:  "...he knelt down with all of them and prayed.  They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.  What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.  Then they accompanied him to the ship."  Paul has departed to return to Jerusalem.

 After preaching in Jerusalem, more controversy has arisen.  Paul is dragged from the temple, he is beaten and bound with chains.  Amazing, he gathers his wits and speaks to the unruly crowd sharing his testimony and they listen..until he shares that he was present at the stoning of Stephen, "I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.  Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles."  Their response to his testimony: The crowd, mainly Jewish, raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him!  He's not fit to live!" Paul is taken to the barracks and is being prepared to be flogged.  Paul again has his wits to ask since he was a Roman citizen can he be held and flogged without a trial?  He then is recognized by the authorities as a "hot potato"!  Paul is released and taken before the Sanhedrin to speak so that the authorities could investigate what the Jews were accusing Paul. 
Paul speaks as a former Pharisee and an uproar is begun among the hearers.  Paul is brought back to the barracks for protection from the mob.  Because the Jews have a murderous plot to be rid of Paul, and the authorities have been apprised of the plot, "he is escorted with 200 soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen" to travel safely to another location. 

God prepared Paul's heart: "As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."  More controversy and jail time!

As I read Acts and 1 and 2 Corinthians, I can't for the life of me but wonder, how in this world did Paul keep his focus with such attacks daily against him?  It seems he was beaten, tormented with abusive threats, and/or jailed as he entered most cities.  Again, the persecution came mostly from the religious Jews, his own former peers.  I am reminded from Paul's conversion experience as Ananias is commanded to go to Paul, "Go!  this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles, and their kings and before the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for My name." 

 Again, the Spirit of God beckons me to applaud Paul for his courage, his tenacity, and his willingness to die for his obedience in preaching to the Gentiles and the Jews.  I have experienced salvation because Paul took the good news of the gospel to the Gentiles.  He lived and he died according to the plan and the purpose of his God.  Paul could have said, "ENOUGH!  I REFUSE ANOTHER CONTROVERSY, ANOTHER BEATING, AND ANOTHER TRIP TO JAIL."   Out of his sufferings for the name of Christ, we have 12 books of the New Testament written to us...many written in a jail cell.  Out of his life's investments, converts willing to become Christ followers among the millions and perhaps more if we included us. I must also consider the numerous young men that he mentored.  

 Would you be willing to consider with me:  "Lord, would you use my day where it feels like a bad day with everything going to hell in a hand basket to be used mightily for your plan, purpose, and furtherance of the gospel of the Lord Jesus?" I yield my today to Your providential care.  Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS

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