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“"Bragging About Suffering"”

Thoughts for Today:

In our passage today, Paul was indulging himself in his own style of boasting. However, it was considerably different than the way most people brag about their accomplishments. Paul wasn't trying to bring attention to his many great achievements, but rather his extraordinary suffering.

How many people do you know who list on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on their resumes how many times they've been thrown in prison? What about how many times they were robbed, mugged, almost drowned, or been without food and water? Yet, Paul gloried in how much he had suffered in order to preach the Gospel.

There is one thing we can be fairly certain about -- the false apostles who opposed Paul had not been boasting in the same way. In fact, their approach was the polar opposite. They were inflating and embellishing their credentials. And they definitely weren't talking about how many times the people they were trying to reach had attempted to put an end to their ministry or life.

Questions to Ponder:

Ask the Lord for the power of His Spirit and eyes to see the need of His people. What can you do today? How can you step out of your comfort zone to share and model the message of salvation? We may not have to endure the hardships of Paul, but we can certainly make a difference in our workplace, schools and neighborhoods.

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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.