Ears To Hear # 77

MY FRIEND PAUL

         I continued to read in Philippians again this morning when this verse attracted me: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” (3:10).
           It reminded me of what the Holy Spirit speaks to my spirit each time I go through a new experience…usually a tough one that I don’t understand. “You said you wanted to know Me.” And I feel Him smile.
         The more I read what Paul says and the things that happened to him, the more I see myself in God’s Word. I learn so much about Jesus, through Paul and his testimony. I want to thank Paul in person when I get to Heaven or when he returns with the saints.

WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT PAUL
TODAY

         The main drive of Paul’s life was to know God so well that he could maintain a personal relationship with Jesus in actual day-to-day experiences. He pressed constantly toward that goal. (Verse 3:14). Nothing else mattered to him as much as this.
         He counted all other things as loss compared to knowing God and His will, and experiencing His daily presence. (3:7).Paul renounced his religious credentials so that he would be recognized (acknowledged) by God as being “in Christ”; as being rightly related to Christ.
         Have we considered our religious credentials? Please consider yours at this time. What would I say were mine? Paul listed his, we can list ours so we can see their lack of value in comparison to knowing God. 
         Gwen: Parents were Christians, father a pastor and preacher, mother great worker in the church, grew up in church, went to Christian college, obtained several degrees, went to school of ministry, did many outreach ministries, taught Sunday school and youth groups, received spiritual gifts and anointings, faithful wife and loving mother and so on and so on. But none of these matter in comparison to knowing God. 
         I agree with Paul, “I count all (of these) things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord;…” (3:8)  The word to use here is “in comparison”.
         Fellowship of His sufferings. None of us want to suffer. Yet, it was in Paul’s sufferings that he came to know our Lord better. I like what my Bible commentary said: “Paul desires to share in the Lord’s sufferings because they bring him into a deeper and more meaningful relation with Him; companionship in sorrow establishes the most intimate and lasting of ties, as afflicted hearts cling to each other.”
         We cannot deny, when we are in deep sorrow, it is our Lord we cling to. He is always there for us. And how many of our friendships on earth were sealed during times of sorrow? Yes, the Joy of the Lord is our strength…but suffering with Him can also strengthen our relationship with Him as we get to know Him better.
         I believe we suffer with Him when we see what evil is doing to His world and His people. I believe we suffer with Him when we offer His Word and Hope, and people turn deaf ears to Him. I believe we suffer when we are misunderstood for proclaiming His Word with all our heart. But, it is in this suffering that we come to know Him better. Praise God! He is more than worth it all! 

AN ANSWER FOR ME

         An interesting song use to play in my mind and I wasn’t sure that I wanted to accept it. But it did make me wonder if I were a child of sorrow and of woe.
         It went like this: 

♫Take the Name of Jesus with you,
Child of Sorrow and of Woe.
It will JOY and Comfort give you.
Take it then, where ’ere you go.♫

         So, for today…none of that matters…as long as I get to know my Lord better. LETTERS – LETTERS – LETTERS

 

         Today I thank God for the Gift of Letters He gave Paul. Why do letters keep streaming out of me? If Paul wasn’t ashamed, why should I be? If the only thing on my plate (in my letters) is Jesus, His Cross, and what He Provides for us, why should I be ashamed to share? It could only be pride or the fear of man. Could I be persecuted for my letters? Could I suffer rejection? Yes, but I will not suffer alone. No! There are many other believers who believe as I do, and our Lord is always present in my heart.
         As, Paul wrote many of his letters from prison…I, too, feel I have been in a type of prison…secluded from a world that I can only reach by letter.
         Our Lord and Paul must have had an awesome relationship because our Bible is so full of Paul’s anointed letters. 

PAUL TALKED ABOUT HIMSELF

         Hmmm….Now, that’s interesting. The world has certainly taught us not to talk about ourselves. Yet, he was so confident of what he heard from the Lord, that he even told them to follow his (Paul’s) example.
         Are we confident of what our Lord has shown us? Whew! I don’t think I am where Paul was. But there is always tomorrow. We look at our own imperfections and draw back from sharing what truth we have. Please remember that even Paul had a thorn in his flesh. But it didn’t stop him from preaching God’s Word.
         In the mornings I often receive this song in my spirit: “Go tell it on the mountains…over the hills and every where. Go…tell it on the mountains, that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
         Perhaps my way of doing this is through our God supplied computer. Perhaps the many letters I write over email or personally, are my way of telling it on the mountains. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is the power of God unto salvation for all those who will believe. (Romans 1:16). How will they know if we do not tell them? How will they hear without a preacher…no matter how humble he or she may be? 
         The disciple is not above [his] master, nor the servant above his lord.  (Matthew 10:24).
         How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?(Romans 10:14).

PAUL TAUGHT FROM HIS HOME

         This one, I can truly relate to and appreciate that I have had it in common with Paul. And I believe many of you can also. Praise God!
         “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” (Acts 28:30-31).

YES

         Yes, I like to claim Paul as a friend…because we seem to have shared so many similar experiences. We have something in common. Our Love of the Lord Jesus Christ and a sincere desire to Know Him above anyone or anything else.
         I certainly don’t know all there is to know about our Lord, but like Paul, I press on to know more. And what I do know…I dearly love. I’m sure you do, too.

We’re Just Beginning to Learn

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What We Have Yet To Know