Wednesday | Sufferings for the Sake of the Gospel | September 16

September 16: Wednesday — Sufferings for the Sake of the Gospel

Bible Focus

• 2 Corinthians 11:16–28
• 2 Corinthians 12:7–10
• 2 Timothy 4:7

Summary

• Paul showed that his service for Christ had brought many hardships and dangers.
• He had faced beatings, imprisonment, stoning, shipwrecks, hunger, cold, and many other dangers for the sake of the gospel.
• Paul’s greatest burden was his deep concern for the churches and their spiritual well-being.
• His sufferings showed how seriously he had accepted his calling to serve Christ.
• Paul did not suffer because he wanted to make himself important or receive praise.
• He kept directing attention away from himself and toward Jesus, even when speaking about his sufferings.
• God allowed Paul to experience weakness so that he would remain humble and dependent on divine power.
• Paul learned that Christ’s grace is sufficient and that God’s power is strongest when human strength is weak.
• His example teaches us to remain faithful to Christ even when serving Him brings suffering or difficulty.

Question

• What can I learn from Paul’s sufferings about remaining faithful to Christ when following Him becomes difficult?

Answer

• I can learn to depend on Christ’s grace, remain faithful in difficulty, and remember that God’s power can work through my weakness.

Reflection

• When following Christ becomes difficult, do I depend on His grace, or do I become discouraged and give up?

Takeaway

• Suffering for Christ may be difficult, but His grace is sufficient and His power works through our weakness.