When Trouble Comes
Duane Brown , OMS Church Partners
29
Day
Paul ’ s testimony from Acts 20:22-24 ( NIV )
And now , compelled by the Spirit , I am going to Jerusalem , not knowing what will happen to me there . I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me . However , I consider my life worth nothing to me , if only I man finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me ; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God ’ s grace .
How often has God warned you , like he did Paul , that life-threatening troubles were coming ? My answer : rarely . Perhaps because I personally serve God ’ s mission while living in the West , where homeland ministry often proves easier than global ministry .
I hope Paul ’ s words offer perspective that life isn ’ t as bad for Christians in the U . S . as it is for Christ-followers serving God in places that are antagonistic to the Gospel .
The day is coming , however , when Western believers will face hardships like Paul ’ s . As we prepare for those times , let us take heart and remember five necessities :
1 . Obey the call to go (“ And now , compelled by the Spirit ”). 2 . Step forward in faith (“ not knowing what will happen to me there ”). 3 . Listen for the Holy Spirit ’ s voice (“ the Holy Spirit warns me ”). 4 . Finish well (“ my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task ”). 5 . Commit to being a testimony of the grace of God at work in your life (“ the task of testifying to the good news of God ’ s grace ”).
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