Citizenship: choose earth or heaven

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:18-21 ESV)

We choose between two realities, two life's, two homes where we trust our citizenship. Will we choose the reality that is blind to all things eternal and sets hope in things of this life which are out of our control. Will we choose to live on earth and die in eternity. Or will we choose to die to self carry our cross and believe in Jesus. Will we choose the pain now believing in the reality which is by faith. The reality of eternity where God rules which is actually more real but less visible. Will we choose to walk this world as foreigners loving God or will we love the things which will pass in this life.

These questions are hard because often we want both. I know I walk a fine line sometimes fixing my life after Christ and then losing my focus and chasing after things of this life: relationships success and security etc. 

Lord help me to see the spiritual reality of eternity in sharp contrast to the fleeting and temporary pleasures of this life. 

Lord this week I have come to appreciate this verse more because I have seen the sin and evil of my fleshly body. It is weak and sad and I long for a heavenly body in which I might be holy and glorify you God. But first I believe you have heart work you desire to do in transforming me.

Lord I want to stand with my citizenship in heaven as a foreigner in this land. I want to love the people around me as Jesus did. Yet I ask you help set my heart on heaven that I would not find my identity, worth or value in people or anything in this life. For when my heart is right and set on you Christ I will have nothing to fear. For the worst pain in this life is not worth comparing to the joy and glory that will be revealed in us. 

Amen

Do I really believe in Jesus' healing power today?

These past two weeks I have had a headache and trouble sleeping almost everyday. I will admit I am not a very patient or enduring man when it comes to pain and distraction like that.

In these circumstances I have been praying two prayers:

1. That God would heal my body and emotional health to sleep soundly and not have pain and headaches.
2. That I would grow in faith and joy in the Lord despite the circumstances. Philippians 4:

But these prayers for my own health have tested my faith in Jesus healing like in Matthew 4
²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.²⁴ News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,^[g] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

I know that I believe in word and as long as it is all theoretical. I even pray for others to be healed. I have asked for others to pray for me. My friend Stu laid hands on me. In these prayers I pray and others pray I know I have tremendous doubt, but I believe God has been changing my heart and growing my faith. 

So as the man prayed before Jesus when his son is possessed so I pray:
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Lord I believe you can heal me and others! Help my unbelief. 

But I also believe regardless of whether you heal me in this specific circumstance. 

One cool way that God has answered these prayers is that kind of randomly my wise girlfriend Ivanna pointed out that I slouch a lot! and that maybe I am causing my own pain and headaches. That was humbling, but I realized how true that is. I have tried to have better posture and it has almost been painful to sit up straight and hold myself with good posture because it is so foreign to my body. We'll see how it goes. But I have been feeling better in the last few days after praying and focusing on better posture. 

Lord thank you for working through others! Especially Ivanna and her sincere and wise spirit!
Lord help me to pray boldly with faith for others that your healing power might come into their lives. 
Amen

My new perspective on Elijah and the widow 1 kings 17: God does provide!

Earlier I wrote on this same scripture from 1 kings 17 and Elijah and the widom, but now I have new perspective from my own experience.

The way God works and provides does not always make sense. I know I often think of myself and especially other missionaries who have a clear calling and vision to advance the kingdom. But then I see them struggle and I have struggled to get enough funding. In InterVarsity campuses and ministries have been affected by staff with insufficient funding.

So when we experience this what do we believe about God, God's goodness, and God's plans?

Sometimes we get angry or discouraged. But I believe we are called to persevere and continue trusting. Elijah the prophet went through exactly that in 1 Kings 17 (Scripture will be italicized) when Elijah begins his ministry by prophesying in the face of a corrupt king of Israel.

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe^[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

Then in this drought Elijah he seems to have brought about by his word Elijah had to depend on the Lord for provision.

First God provides enough through Ravens for the Lord came to Elijah "You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” verse 4

But God stops providing that way for Elijah his prophet: "Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land." verse 7. 

So here is where we fit into the story as God has seemingly stopped providing and sends Elijah to a strange and crazy place. And so Jesus sends us when our prospect list gets low to some unexpected places asking unexpected people. 

God told Elijah: "Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food."

Wait what? Ask a widow? Ask a non believer? Maybe I am going crazy. haha. Then it only gets worse because at first when Elijah asks the widow she says:
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

When that happens to me or if it did I would say: "Yep, I must be crazy" God didn't really tell me to ask that person. And certainly everyone else thinks I am crazy to ask that person who isn't a believer or who is going through hard times. If I were Elijah I don't know if I could have asked again. And we have heard some really tragic things like this as we fundraise and ask people going through all kinds of life challenges.

What if the story ended there? Elijah and the widow and her son would have died. 

I felt like I was at that point last Wednesday. I felt like I was going crazy and going to have a breakdown. But somehow God picked me up and I just kept doing my best to be faithful to what I knew God had called me to do: to keep asking even people I knew less. And so Elijah asked boldly a woman who was ready to die if she would share the last food she had. God also blessed me with a taste of giving and sharing my contacts this summer as I partnered with Max another missionary from my home church. God also has blessed me to partner with other missionaries from my own income. That same day I had a little breakdown I was able to host a married couple on staff with InterVarsity Justin and Samantha and welcome them into my men's small group to ask for partnership. It was hard and scary at first. 

But I have tasted and seen the Lord's provision abundantly! For the Lord provided for Elijah when he asked twice and risked it. But the Lord also provided for the widow and son who weren't believers when they gave:

¹³ Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴ For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

¹⁵ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. ¹⁶ For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

In the 5 days after that Wednesday of breakdown God provided 16% of my annual budget! And he provided through people I hardly knew and almost didn't even ask. All Praise be to God! For the Lord is good and he provides abundantly. But not always in the timing or way we expect. Lord give me and others encouragement from my story that we might continue to be faithful in fundraising! And always remind us you are the provider and all glory goes to you!

Amen

My psalm 54 prayer to God

O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them. With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. (Psalm 54:1-7 ESV)

Lord guide my words by your Spirit in me to write my heart and pray to you as David did in his time of trouble and times of rejoicing. Let this Psalm of mine be pleasing to you!

Father God, save me by your power, and turn my heart to you by your transforming gospel.

God hear my prayer, listen to me and the small hopes of my weak heart. For my own heart, life, the world, some family, some situations have turned against me. People and structures I thought I could depend on have failed me, I have sinned and depended too greatly on myself and set my hope and dependence in the wrong things. 

Yet I will still rejoice in you Lord.

For God is my helper and ever present protector, Lord you are the one who created me and hold my every day and every part of my being together. Lord you will work against those who work against your gospel. Lord you will work all things out for your good and my good. You will put an end to my sin and reign victorious in me!

Lord in my prayers and my abundance I will rejoice and give back to you and others out of thanksgiving! I will praise and give thanks to you sovereign God! For you have provided all I have and blessed me in giving more. For I tell you our God has led me out of darkness into light and even in times of stress and my own sin you have been faithful and doing new and beautiful work in me and through me. 

Amen

Marriage Commitment: discipleship!

1 Corinthians 7

Ivanna and I studied this section together today. This is a beautiful thing that we can study the Word of God together. This text speaks to those who are married and unmarried. For us the Spirit spoke to us about preparing for marriage and the seriousness of the commitment to marriage.

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. (1 Corinthians 7:3, 4 NIV)

That is some serious commitment. That looks so little like marriages today where when things get hard people divorce. This marriage that models Christ and his bride the church the body of Christ is a loving sacrificial act where each dies to themselves and serves the other even when we don't want to.

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 

(1 Corinthians 7:8, 9 NIV)

Paul is one of those who are able and called to live celibate lives. These verses and later in this chapter need to be carefully considered and not taken to either extreme. We should not hastily jump into marriage without wisdom and consideration to avoid burning with passion. Yet also marriage is a beautiful thing and great for some. Either way in marriage or singleness/celibacy we can serve The Lord. For myself I hope to pursue marriage God willing, and I believe marriage will be good for my own discipleship and it can be a beautiful partnership in the gospel with our spouse.

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? (1 Corinthians 7:10-13, 15, 16 NIV)

Wow the call of marriage is serious. Yet this is the way it was intended from the very beginning as Jesus reminded us:

“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mark 10:5-9 NIV)

Marriage is a lifelong serious commitment without a back door or prenuptials. It is one of the most serious and challenging places of discipleship where our faith and character in Christ is tested and grown constantly. And yet it is one the greatest and most beautiful gifts! But as we learn from Jesus in luke 10 even marriage is not eternal and we must not put our hopes there. Our vows don't say either until divorce or forever. Marriage is neither extreme: it is lifelong and yet not eternal.

Lord bless many married believers with strength and joy to persist despite the worldly culture of divorce. I pray for myself in your timing and planning that I would be a man of God worthy of marriage. And yet I know even in marriage I will continue to sin and need to depend on you and live a lifestyle of repentance. Set my hopes on you Christ and yet I also ask for a wife to follow you with in this life and to bring your kingdom together! I pray you would help me to honor you Lord and my potential future wife now with my body and my heart. For I am full of sin and in need of a savior to redeem and purify me. And it breaks my heart my sin and how it affects myself, a possible future wife and God.

Lord save me!

Amen

Psalm 46 Reminder: Be still and trust in God

¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46: 10-11

Too often I run around with great haste and concern to get to the next plan I have. I think of things I forgot to do or things I need to do and I jump into action. I know this often builds up stress in my life and usually doesn't actually help me get more done.

Before I worry or hurry I need to remember one thing: God is still God no matter what. And he is in control and he will be exalted in the nations and the whole earth! And this same God who is king of the universe is king in our lives and he is our mighty fortress. What have I to fear? For I can and often do make mistakes even mistakes that have consequences in the body of Christ on other believers. But I am quick to forget that God is still God and he will have is good way in us:

As Paul says confidently in Romans 8:

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing not even our own sins and failures can separate us from the Love and salvation of our God for those who believe in Christ and love him. And no mistake I make in fundraising or in ministry is greater that God's love and salvation for those who believe.

So let me not worry but take careful prayerful and also decisive action as Proverbs 19:2-3 says.

² Desire without knowledge is not good—
    how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

³ A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,
    yet their heart rages against the Lord.

Lord help me to be still even in times of my own failure to be still and know you are God and that I can trust in you. And yet help me to have patience and wisdom to act with careful and decisive steps on your path for the advance of your kingdom by the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Amen

A Life worthy of the gospel of Christ

²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,^[e] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸ without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him

God as a missionary and minister of your gospel I am humbled by the fact that all of us continue to struggle with sin. We are utterly dependent on you. No leader in the church or working professional is any better or worse of our own nature. We are sinners and are utterly dependent on you Christ for salvation and for any hope of victory against sin. No amount of self discipline or meditation can free us. Because the real problem is in our heart and only God by the work of the Holy Spirit for those who believe can change our hearts. 

So Lord I ask humbly and weakly knowing my sin that you do heart work in me to change me from the inside out. I pray that more and more I would reflect Christ because more and more I live by the Spirit and not my worldly selfish desires. 

God I pray that I would live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ through him because Christ also strengthens me to glorify you Father by your Spirit!

Lord I pray in all circumstances whether in need or in abundance that I would live in a life worthy of you. I ask for your peace and hope to encourage me in times of need and stress. In times of abundance I pray you would be on my heart that I would remember you are the provider and not me. My hard work is  good but without your provision in life God I could do nothing. Even in persecution and suffering which I rarely face, but I feel sometimes in fundraising I pray I would remember you are with me and this is for your glory!

Amen

One of Jesus' treatise on money

The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
(Luke 16:8-15 ESV)

We often think of money as a resource and a worldly thing but I think Jesus is pointing to the fact that money is a spiritual thing. How we use money which is a gift from God is a very spiritual act. How we use our money and our time point to what we worship and desire.

I think money is one gift that God gives us to test our hearts and our faithfulness. Money is not independent from our faith lives. And I don't just mean our tithe or what we give to church, missionaries or charity. This extends into every aspect of our budget and decisions around money.

Being in ministry money in the form of fundraising can become really harmful or really beautiful to our faith. In fundraising will I be faithful and hold to the truth about money and fundraising. Or will I be stuck in fear and feeling overwhelmed and say no for others. For our faith is put to the test and proved in situations that challenge them not when we are taught about them. I know my faith in God's goodness, planning, sovereignty and provision are tested in my work fundraising. Fundraising is real spiritual heart work. And yet because of these challenges my faith and understanding of God has grown.

Lord continue to teach me about money and the spiritual side of money that I could more glorify you and be healthy in how I use and think about money and fundraising.
Amen

Giving financially is an act of worship!

As I enter into another week of fundraising for my ministry or as we prefer to call it ministry partner development I want to center on God and what the living Word of God says about money and giving. One thing that blesses me is that I have the honor to give and be on the other side of this for some other missions I support including other InterVarsity staff and the Central Asia Institute building schools for children especially girls in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. God I pray you remind me both in giving and being the one asking for financial gifts for your ministry that you center me on you God and the truth about money and giving.

Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
(1 Chronicles 29:10-14 ESV)

This is a beautiful prayer by David over this act of giving. For it is so important that we remember these truths about God and giving:
God is creator and sovereign
God is the owner of all resources
We are only stewards for a time of God's resources
It is a spiritual act of worship to give back to God and God's work. God doesn't need it but it is good for us to give generously!

I write this not to make anyone feel guilty. I am looking for partners who are passionate about God's work in college students lives at CU! I pray for partners in the gospel who would work and sacrifice with me as a thanksgiving to God. For:

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)

This all reminds me how at my church in boulder before the offering and giving of money to the church they invite us all to continue to worship God with our money and giving. Lord I pray for faith and understanding to see and feel the spiritual act of worship as I both give and ask others to give!
Amen

Meditation Psalm 49

Why should I fear in times of trouble?
(Psalm 49:5 ESV)

The Sons of Korah ask this question in their Psalm. This is the same question I want to ask my own heart.

Why do I fear in times of trouble?
Why do I fear in times things don't go to my plan?
Why do I fear when ministry or my life seem to be struggling?

For I know these truths:
1
God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol for he will receive me. Selah (Psalm 49:5, 15 ESV)
2
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!
(Psalm 47:7 ESV)
3
I receive God the creator of the universe and eternal king as my heavenly Father through faith in Jesus Christ!

Yet I also struggle with doubt. For it is easy to believe in times of abundance and when things go well. But like Job will I believe when I lose things that I enjoy and love? Like Paul will I believe in seasons when ministry is not fruitful?

This psalm hits at part of the idea when it speaks of others having wealth and what that says about them and God. I think his also speaks to the truth about God and our faith when we are in times of need or suffering:

Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.
For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never again see light.
Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:16-20 ESV)

In particular this verse
—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
Speaks to me about my ministry. Because I am quick to place my identity in the success of my ministry and I also can become prideful and seek praise for my ministry. But ministry is about God's people and God's glory not mine.

Lord set my heart on you and your promises. I believe, but please help my unbelief. Grow my faith that no matter what comes I would hold true to you Lord! I want to have confidence in you alone and not in my abilities or my ministry or my strength. Help me to rejoice in you Lord at all times in all circumstances. Christ I want to rely on your strength!
Amen

Faith in action is real faith.

As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
which God will establish forever. Selah (Psalm 48:8 ESV)

There is a difference between faith in word and faith that leads to taking risks in word and deed.

For example two stories from Mark of fear vs faith really stick out to me of two people who have faith that Jesus can heal.

For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well." And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."
(Mark 5:28, 29, 36 ESV)

The woman lived out her faith by going through the crowd and carrying hope even after years of doctors and pain she still had hope and faith Jesus was different. So she put her faith in action and by her act of faith Jesus power healed her.

For Jairus: he believed Jesus could heal her daughter. But did he have faith Jesus could raise the dead. Carrying hope of Jesus raising the dead in this life and in eternity is a real act of faith. It is risky, because in front of others we look foolish and in our own hearts we know it will hurt that much more if we hope and it fails. So the family of Jairus laughed and lived in unbelief. As a result they were outside and did not see the miracle:

And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
(Mark 5:40-42 ESV)

Lord I pray for faith. I believe but please help my unbelief. Help me to put my faith in action.

Help my unbelief around:
Identity
My Maturity
Your goodness God

And help me to take steps of risk living in this faith in God and these truths even when everything points to something different. For the reality is heaven and God's plan. That reality is more real and lasting than the world around us. But in this life we test and find out if our faith is real.
Amen

Future glory over present suffering!

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 

(Romans 8:18 NIV)

I love this verse! For we do face suffering and pain in this life, some more than others. In this life we are not promised everything we desire or think is good. In fact Jesus promises us suffering for truly following him:

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 

(John 15:20, 21 NIV)

We must set our hopes on the truth. The gospel is one of a heavenly hope not a prosperity promise today. But as this verse in Romans reminds us we set our hopes on heaven on eternity. For that future glory of eternity at peace and in the very fullness of Gods presence is utter glory. So we set our hopes on this future glory, through Christ who left that place of glory and promised to bring those who believe with him to glory in the end. But now we endure this life to grow our faith:

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. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 

(Acts 14:19-22 NIV)

Few of us have endured hardship like Paul. Here he is stoned and then lives and goes on to preach the gospel with joy in The Lord! For his words carry weight ecause of his suffering: encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” 

Lord set our hopes on your eternal kingdom! Help me to grow in faith through the journey and the hardships of this life. Lord I want to remain true to the faith no matter what! But I am weak and need your strength! 

Amen