By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
MONDAY
THEME: CONFIDENT IN SUFFERING: NO FEAR FOR DEATH“
SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:37
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
REFLECTIONS
God did not mince His words when He assigned Paul’s mission to him. He said, “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” – Acts 9:16.
Paul accepted the challenge to suffer for his Lord and shows evidence in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 – “[23]Are they ministers of Christ?—. . . —I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. [24]From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. [25]Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; [26]in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; [27]in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—”
Paul experienced the challenges above because of his love and dedication to Christ and His service. He had a burden which he narrated as: “. . . my deep concern for all the churches.” – verse 28. Paul was constrained by the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14), so he faced every suffering with confidence and hope. He was convinced and stated in Romans 8:16-18 – [16]The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17]and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. [18]For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” He believed that in Christ, he would move from suffering to glory.
Paul’s conviction was clear: Suffering should not deter one from enjoying God’s goodness or dampen one’s desire for salvation. He reminds us in 2 Timothy 2:12, “If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”
In suffering, he remained positive and wrote in Romans 8:37-39 – “[37]Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. [38]For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, [39]nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Beloved, how much suffering have you endured for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord? Remember “. . . all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” – 2 Timothy 3:12.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 159 – “Old Rugged Cross”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for life; thank God for His leading thus far; pray to stand for Christ even in suffering and deprivations;
– Pray for those who have dedicated their lives to win souls for Christ; pray for direction to lead someone to Christ;
– Ask God to show you how you will be a blessing to someone in need, empathize with the sorrowing, and give hope to the suffering;
– Pray for those who have blessed your life and those who use their resources to help the suffering and support the work of saving souls.
