For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.–2 Cor. 4:11

The key here is “for Jesus sake”. That describes why his enemies hated him and the motivation for his ministry. Jesus paid the ultimate price to deliver sinful man from his wretched condition and Paul was willing to do as his Master. What price would you pay for the same? Remember– others can be saved only by Christ being made known to them, and God has chosen to involve us in that process. We are His witnesses. Although this work is pleasurable it is not painless. Service requires suffering. Sadly many shrink back from their duty due to difficulty and danger. But Paul was different. In his mind no price was too steep, no cost was too great, and no burden was too heavy to keep him from his duty, which I might add was also his delight. He laid his life on the line daily for the sake of making Christ known.

It was this sacrificial spirit that made his ministry effective and enabled him to emulate Christ. But it did even more. He himself was edified as a result of his suffering. His character was forged and formed on the fiery trials and the anvil of suffering. That’s why he could “glory in tribulation””. Like the Psalmist, he could say, “it is good for me that I have been afflicted”(Ps.119:71). In other words, what hurt him helped him.

Could not, should not the same be said of us? Better men than we have suffered worse than we. Should we then complain. Back to Jesus for a moment—Knowing full well what awaited Him, He set His face like a flint toward Jerusalem where He would be crucified. This He did for the sake of others. Shall we then resent the difficulties of duty? Surely we would not be so arrogant and bold as to request exemption from troubles and trials if they be the means of making the life of Jesus “manifest”to others. Should we not be embarrassed to give less than our best for the sake of Him who gave all for us? While none of us enjoy pain, we can take pleasure in knowing what it can produce. Let us then embrace it as a friend rather than hold it at arms length like a foe. What hurts us can help us help those who are hurting. The product makes the pain worth the price.

Believe it or not, sometimes it is right to run in the wrong direction. If you watched the video of the Boston Marathon bombing you noticed that the first responders ran in, what some would say, the wrong direction–toward the blast site! That’s just the opposite of our natural instinct. Normally we run away from danger, not toward it. But these brave men and women did just the opposite.

There is a good lesson in this sad story. To do our duty as Christians we must sometimes run headlong into danger. Paul gave us a good example of this when he journeyed to Jerusalem, knowing that bonds and afflictions awaited him (Acts 20:17-24). He considered his labor to be of greater importance than his life. He was willing to suffer for the sake of service. He subjected himself to pain that he might fulfill God’s plan. He was willing to die that others might live! So– how serious are you about serving God?

Dear friend, we live in difficult and dangerous days, yet we are not dismissed from duty. Jesus never said following Him would be easy. To the contrary, He warned that it would be difficult and dangerous. He bluntly stated that to follow Him we must forsake all. Instead of “solving all your problems”, as some teach, Christian service can be very painful. Should we shrink back from it?

As we think about the great needs of sinners without Christ we need the compassion and courage of those “first responders” who risk their very lives to help those in need. It might be contrary to your nature, but it is the right thing to do. This is one time when going in the “wrong direction” is the right direction. Don’t ever forget–God.s will is always right, best, and safest. You are never safer than when you are doing as He directs. Those who do otherwise are in dangerous territory. How safe are you?

Having lost all ten children, your business, your goods, and your health, what can you say when your wife complains? You better be careful! Job responded,”Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh”. That’s not usually a good way to start! He better have something good to say next–and he does, “What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?–“(Job 2:10). In other words, shall we trust God when we are blessed with pleasant things and turn against Him when painful things come our way? Shall we sing in the sunshine and get sour and silent when the shadows fall? Is God good only when we approve of His actions? Do we think we deserve to be exempt from those things that are common to man?

We need to realize that God’s character is not changed, nor His love lessened, because our circumstances take a turn for the worse. We are to trust Him at all times. We should know Him well enough to realize that He never makes a mistake. Regardless of circumstances we are to consider His wisdom, assure ourselves of His love, embrace His promises, and believe that He makes all things work together for good to those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). Instead of leaning to our own understanding, we should trust Him with all our heart (Prov. 3:5-6).

For those who love God every—
–misery has a mission
–trial is a tool
–pain has a purpose
–burden has a blessing
–miracle has a message
–problem has a period—there will be an end to our trials. The best is always yet to come!

Sailing the sea of life isn’t always peaceful and pleasant. Storms arise that scare us. Clouds blot out the sun leaving us confused. Wind and waves cause us to worry and wonder if we will survive. But the Scriptures tell we can trust the Master of the sea. We can rest assured that one day we will look back from the shores of sweet deliverance, confess that He made no mistakes, and praise Him through the endless ages.

Let us not be weary in well doing: good, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not .–Galatians 6:9
A man that hath friends, must shew himself friendly- – –Prov. 18:24

Andy and Barney … Laverne and Shirley … Lucy and Ethel … Tom and Jerry … Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson…. Who doesn’t want a Best Friend Forever? It’s been the key to the plots of many great novels, movies, and television shows. Some of our favorite Bible stories are about friendship too — Ruth and Naomi … David and Jonathan …. Paul and Silas….

Perhaps you need a best friend today. We know the Lord is our greatest friend, but He knows we also need human fellowship. Though it seems strange advice, we never make friends by trying to find friends; for when we seek friendship, it’s an indication we’re putting our own needs first, that we’re looking for a friend who will alleviate some sense of loneliness in our own lives or bring us some sense of fulfillment.

Rather than seeking a friend, try being a friend. The parable of the sower tells us we reap what we sow. If we sow the seeds of love and smiles and friendliness, we’ll have an abundant harvest. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all” (Galatians 6:10).–Turning Point

A lone state need never be. Friendship will create friendship. Sow love, reap love.–Charles Stanford

God’s strength is “made perfect in our weakness.” This means that the Divine power is most conspicuous, when our weakness is the most thoroughly felt. We have got first to be emptied of all self-conceit and self-confidence. A bucket cannot hold air and water at the same time. As the water comes in–the air must go out. The reason why God give us some hard trials–is to get the accursed spirit of SELF out of our hearts! When we have been emptied of self-trust, then we are in the condition to be filled with might in the inner man, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Christian must not only realize his own utter feebleness–but he must give up what worldlings rely on, and admit that “vain is the help of man.” That poor woman who had tried all the doctors, and had only grown worse in body, and poorer in purse–is a touching illustration of our invalid souls. She, having despaired of human help–came crouching to the feet of the Son of God. One touch of His garments sent a new tide of health through her veins. Just so–contact with Christ brings currents of the Divine power into our souls–so that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

This is the real office of faith. It is simply the linking of our utter weakness–to the omnipotence of Christ! We furnish the weakness–and He furnishes the strength–and that makes the partnership! The baby furnishes a hungry little mouth–and the mother furnishes the nourishing milk. The mother is happy that she can give the full supply–and the rosy darling is happy as it draws in the sweet contentment. What a beautiful picture of my poor, weak, hungry soul–resting on the bosom of the Infinite Love! There is no danger that the supply will ever give out, for my Lord, my Feeder, my Supporter–is constantly saying unto me, “My grace is sufficient for you!” In this way we are strengthened with all might according to His glorious power. –By Theodore Cuyler