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“"Part 3 of Paul's Job Description: in Specific Circumstances"”

Thoughts for Today:

[We are in a section in which Paul lists the qualities and situations in which he demonstrated his qualifications for ministry.]

It is one thing to intellectually understand there might be challenges in ministry, however it is quite another to find yourself right in the middle of one. Paul did not lecture simply on general principles, but rather on his actual life experiences. As a result, his witness was much more effective. For example:

Beatings (Acts 14:19): "Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead."

Imprisonments (Acts 16:23): "After they [Paul and Silas] had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully."

Riots (Acts 19:29): "Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together."

Hard work, sleepless nights and hunger (2 Thessalonians 3:8): "Nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you."

In Paul's day, persecution was a sure sign that you were indeed a minister of the Gospel. And anyone who wanted to be a minister would need to willingly embrace great risk to life and limb in service of the Lord. Especially if one were to accompany Paul!

Questions to Ponder:

I know few people who have actually been beaten or imprisoned for their faith, but all believers will be ostracized, criticized or avoided at one time or another. How do you respond to persecution? How have you handled specific events? Do you avoid difficult situations? Have you been recognizing the opportunity to endure and share in the suffering of Christ? How will you respond in the future?

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.