“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”
Philippians 1:12
When hardship or suffering is involved, many of us want to quit or escape. In the world of sports, an athlete must see quitting and even cutting corners as out of the question because adversity will come. The champions in the end are those who can adjust and persevere.
Just like in sports, we can count on experiencing hardships in our walk with Christ. Instead of bemoaning his unfair treatment, Paul used his prison time to continue to share the gospel. He trusted that God would sovereignly use his circumstances and physical pain (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28) for His glory.
Does God shine through in your most difficult times? It’s then that others see He is Lord of your life, not just in the good times, but also in the bad times. Both in sports and in life, there often is gain through pain. As God works through our hardship, we see His fruit produced in our lives. And none of this would be possible at all were it not for the ultimate instance of gain through pain: our salvation through the death on the cross of Jesus, our Champion.
Just like in sports, we can count on experiencing hardships in our walk with Christ. Instead of bemoaning his unfair treatment, Paul used his prison time to continue to share the gospel. He trusted that God would sovereignly use his circumstances and physical pain (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28) for His glory.
Does God shine through in your most difficult times? It’s then that others see He is Lord of your life, not just in the good times, but also in the bad times. Both in sports and in life, there often is gain through pain. As God works through our hardship, we see His fruit produced in our lives. And none of this would be possible at all were it not for the ultimate instance of gain through pain: our salvation through the death on the cross of Jesus, our Champion.
Scripture Focus
Acts 16:16-40
Insight
“Adversity is not simply a tool. It is God’s most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives.” (Charles Stanley, 1991)
Bible In A Year
- 1 Chronicles 26-27
- Psalm 6
- Matthew 8-9