In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul reflects on the cost of serving Jesus: ‘From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness’ (2 Corinthians 11:24-27 NKJV). What enabled him to live above his problems rather than be crushed under them? A God perspective! ‘Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal’ (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV). Paul processed things differently. When he had nothing materially, he believed, ‘My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). When facing the executioner’s chopping block, he wrote, ‘Having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better’ (Philippians 1:23 NKJV). Today ask God to give you His perspective on things!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.