Note: This may be the last blog for a few days. This blog is sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Rockport, and the church will be going through a process of change for a few days, beginning today. The blog may be back to normal by Monday.
October 22, 2020 (Thursday)
The Apostle Paul suffered from what he called his “Thorn in the Flesh,” no doubt a physical health problem. He also suffered at the hands of wicked people. He lists many of those painful experiences in a letter to the Corinthians, such as several shipwrecks, beatings with whips, etc. On the other hand, during his first missionary journey to the Galatians, Paul and Barnabas were worshiped as gods, which Paul quickly prohibited and steadfastly decried all such attempts. He finally persuaded the people to cease that forbidden activity, but soon afterwards, he faced a different kind of problem.
“Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning the crowds over, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead. But after the disciples had surrounded him, he got up and went back into the city.
On the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch. They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, ‘We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.’
When they had appointed elders for them in the various churches they prayed and fasted, entrusting these new believers to the protection of the Lord in whom they had come to trust” (Acts 14:19-23).
We might say to Paul, “You say you must face persecutions. Then we might ask, is the accomplishment of your mission really worth such suffering?” He might answer in the words of our hymn for today, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase, so let us run the race till we see Christ!”
WHEN WE SEE CHRIST
Esther Kerr Rusthoi
1941
Sometimes the day seems long,
Our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain,
to murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
to catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
in God’s eternal day!
Chorus:
It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.
At times the sky seems dark,
with not a ray of light;
We’re tossed and driven on,
no human help in sight.
But there is One in heaven,
Who knows our deepest care;
Let Jesus solve your problems,
just go to him in prayer.
Chorus
Life’s day will soon be o’er,
all storms forever past;
We’ll cross the great divide
to Glory, safe at last!
We’ll share the joys of heaven:
a harp, a home, a crown;
The tempter will be banished,
We’ll lay our burdens down.
Chorus