I have read and re-read so many times about the trials that Paul suffered in running the good race and as a believer it is very humbling and sometimes it makes me feel inadequate because there is no way to compete with his many ordeals!
Below is a copy of his trials I found doing a search on the site.
(When I read it this time, BAM, something different, a insight into the deeper things of God hit me!)
THE TRIALS THAT PAUL SUFFERED:
FROM: II Cor. 11:23-28).
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more;
in labors more abundant,
in stripes [blows] above measure [in excess, inordinately, exceeding reasonable limits],
in prisons more frequent,
in [perils of] deaths often.
five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods,
once was I stoned,
thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeys often,
in perils of waters,
in perils of robbers,
in perils by mine own countrymen,
in perils by the heathen,
in perils in the city,
in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness,
in watching often,
in hunger and thirst,
in fasting often,
in cold and nakedness.
I mean, come on! This guy must have known something! Why else would he continue? Paul's revelation he received from God when he was taken up in spirit to the 3rd heaven was so life altering and profound that he knew that all the suffering he endured was worth it!
And it is enough for me to also believe in what Paul saw was worth it to stay in the race. We need to imitate one another.
It does not matter that I'm not facing half as much as Paul did in order to be in the race because a fellow brother of mine (meaning Paul) believed and saw enough to endure.
We are so blessed to have fellow brothers and sisters and I look upon all the disciples and apostles in the bible as my family.
I for one am looking forward to meeting them when my Saviour come to collect us! As I am looking forward to meeting all of you when the time comes!
There is a beautiful unity and oneness in these thaughts for as He is so are we!
The rambling thoughts of a fellow believer.
Heidi