For the sake of Christ

2 Corinthians 11:24-31 

²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? ³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

After reading through Paul's description of what he had suffered through, one cannot help but ask themselves this question: "Would I be willing to suffer the same fate for the sake of Christ?" 

It reminded me of our recent missions trip to Haiti. On our first night there, we slept on a cement rooftop with a 2-3" mattress under us.There was a day I could do that somewhat comfortably, but at my current age, I felt that cement "floor" in my hips, shoulders, neck, and back. I was in a fair amount of pain as I tossed and turned all night long to secure a comfortable position. 

I thought about the latrines and the lack of latrines, in some cases, or the scorpion sting our fearless leader endured. 

For most Americans, this might be the closest we come to "suffering" for the sake of Christ - inconveniences. 

But Paul, he layed down his life for the work of God. We see a partial list of the ways Paul suffered for the sake of Christ and it made me wonder, "If God called us to that, would we accept it? Would we walk through the fire to fully serve and obey God?"

Fully Surrendering ourselves to God might require real sacrifice on our part. Paul, in the "missing 5 years" likely had to face the "death" of his family. Scripture doesn't talk about where Paul's father went, but one can most certainly ascertain that upon arrival to his hometown, he was greeted by a deafening silence from his father and his family. 


Saul was well on his way to becoming a Pharisee, just like his father, when he walked that long road to Jerusalem at the tender ago of 13 to become a man. He was likely his fathers pride and joy. Now Saul was a Christian. A convert from Judaism. 


That was a "death" sentence for family members. His father and family has likely acted as if Paul had never been born. Even now, in some Orthodox Jewish communities, a person who turns from Judaism is considered dead to the family. 


I think about my family (both my parents and sister, as well as, my own husband and children) not being a part of my life - it's too hard to comprehend. The thought of losing them in any manner (either by their choice or by real death) is overwhelming. The thought of cutting off my child because he doesn't do what I want him to do or follow what I want him to follow is unthinkable.


And yet, this is what Paul likely faced. We know he faced prison, flogging, stoning, being shipwrecked, floating in the ocean for a couple of days, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, and much more - all for the sake of Christ!


Would we be willing to sacrifice all of our conveniences, luxuries, family, and friends for doing the Will of the Father?


I just recently read a book, written by Katie Davis called Kisses From Katie, about her walk through sacrificially choosing to Fully Surrender her will and her agenda for the will and agenda of her Lord and Savior. The book walks you through her journey, at the very young age of 18, to Uganda. 


On a short-term missions trip in her senior year, Katie feels God calling her to live in Uganda. She has some hurdles to jump over, but after she graduated high school she returned to Uganda permanently. By the time she was 19 she had adopted 7 children. And at her current age of 23, she has adopted 14 children and is running a huge non-profit, feeding over 1600 families in Messe, and helping to educate, cloth, bathe, and feed an additional 400 children near her home with her children. 


The journey was not easy and she tells of times where she is so lonely and misses the comforts or Tennessee, but she knows this is the will of her Father. 


Are we willing to Fully Surrender our lives to God for His sake?

He placed me in a little cage, 

    Away from gardens fair;

But I must sing the sweetest songs

    Because He placed me there.

Not beat my wings against the cage

    If it's my Maker's Will,

But raise my voice to heaven's gate

    And sing the louder still!

~Days of Heaven Upon Earth