BACKGROUND/COMMENTARY: According to David Guzik, "We are hard pressed:" This has the idea of "hunted." Paul was a wanted, hunted man because of what he was for Jesus. In Acts 23:12, forty men conspired together to not eat or drink until they had murdered Paul. He knew what it was like to be hunted!
"Yet not crushed:" Living as a wanted, hunted man means terrible stress, experienced every moment of the day. Yet, Paul was not crushed by this stress. He could still serve the Lord gloriously. Look at how Paul describes the experiences in his life: hard pressed … perplexed … persecuted … struck down. Paul's life was hard, and it was hard because of his passionate devotion to Jesus Christ and His gospel. Yet, look at the triumph of Jesus in Paul's life: not crushed … not in despair … not forsaken … not destroyed. Paul knew the power and victory of Jesus in his life because he was continually in situations where only the power and victory of Jesus could meet his need!"
PERSONAL APPLICATION: The Apostle Paul is one of my Bible heroes and I can't wait until I get to heaven and can "pick his brain" about everything he experienced while he was here on earth!! The Apostle Paul's example is what I want to follow, especially his commitment to follow and serve the Lord with all his strength, with all his passion, with all his heart, despite the harshness and injustices he experienced. His life of triumph because he knew that the power of God was in him and would give him victory over ANY obstacle that the devil would put in his way is one that I want for myself.
Lord, I pray that I will be like the Apostle Paul: "not crushed... not in despair... not forsaken... not destroyed!"
No comments:
Post a Comment