Paul Paid the Price – Acts 9:22a & 23
Paul Paid the Price”
“But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded
the Jews … And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews
took counsel to kill him. ” Acts 9:22a & 23
From the time of his conversion on the Damascus Road, to
his life’s end, his days were crowned with suffering and
affliction for Christ’s sake. Through it all he rejoiced in the
prize set before him (see II Tim. 4:18). Paul’s task was now
thoroughly understood and accepted with joy. He knew no
tragedy could separate him from God’s love.
We delight to quote Romans 8:28 for the benefit of fellow
believers who are laboring under great distress or physical
suffering. It’s another story to quote it to yourself! If we are
trying to live a dedicated life for our God, with confidence we
may apply this verse in every situation. Even the sudden and
earth-shaking experiences that crash upon us are embraced by
this passage from God’s Word. (If most readers are like me, it
will probably take them days to get their thinking aright after
life’s most devastating experiences. Then, one may begin to
absorb Romans 8:28. It remains true that we may be so beaten
down, we need months or years to recover. Some of the scars
we will carry to our graves.)
Rethinking some of my life, I now clearly see that my
children would probably never have been saved, my
grandchildren, or thousands of lost souls in America,
Australia, South Africa and other places, had God not tackled
me in that football game seventy years ago. Out of that “tragic
accident” has risen triumph in my life and in the lives of
countless others. – R.P.
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread” February 10, 2023 devotional by author DR. RANDY PIKE, Missionary Statesman, Greenville, SC. With permission from Tim Green, editor Baptist Bread.
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