2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (ESV Strong's)
Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
Subject: Christian Living
The above text is the biography of Paul's life. It looks remarkably different than most Christian living today. It looks quite different than most Christian pastors and ministers today. Paul did not look toward ministry as a "cushiony" job. He didn't wonder about retirement packages, where he would live or a car expense. In the above passage we see the real cost of ministry and Christian living. I am soft!! Would I continue to be loyal to Christ (the subject of chapter 11) if this were my journey in life? We look so much for creature comforts. Paul is telling this church his story, not to complain or boast, but to show them his right to correct them and teach them. The false teachers were putting themselves on the same level as Paul and we're trying to discredit him. This biography is to show them the authenticity of his ministry. There is nothing that shows you are a Christian than the suffering of persecution and the carrying of the load of ministry.
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