May His SON-Rise in US

 

This morning I saw a beautiful SON-rise!  It rose straight out of Paul's love for the saints in Rome.  This is what was so beautiful to me - "for God is my witness...how unceasingly I make mention of you in all my prayers, imploring God  if somehow I may now succeed in the will of God to come to you. For I LONG TO SEE YOU in order that I MIGHT IMPART SOME SPIRITUAL GIFT TO YOU SO THAT YOU WILL BECOME MORE ESTABLISHED."  Paul went on to say that he longed to preach the gospel "to them."  

 

That's interesting - Christians  still need the gospel preached to them!  Paul was right, he knew that we have tribulation in this world, and the gospel reminds us that our home and our hope is not found anywhere in this present age.  It's apparent that the difficulty of living in this present age "DE-stabilizes" many, and Paul was aware that He could impart spiritual gifts to believers that could "STABILIZE" them.  That heart is what was so beautiful to me.  No one had suffered more than Paul, yet he showed no concern for his own comfort, and no amount of suffering seemed to deter him from seeking to strengthen others.  In fact, he actually went so far as to say -"and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regards to Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, the church."  

 

WOW!  In a day in which so many place their own  pain before the needs of others, and seek their own comfort before that of other saints, Paul's heart is a glorious light rising out of the darkness.  "In the last days, men shall be lovers of themselves!"  According to John, he and Paul were already living in the last days - how refreshing and challenging to see such a beautiful expression of love rising out of Paul's selfless passion for strengthening other saints while the love of many is waxing cold.  

 

How many of us are "filling up in our flesh" the sufferings of Christ in the effort to continue to preach the good news to our fellow believers so that they will be made stronger?  Anyone can sit around licking their wounds and wondering why things are so hard - but it is a rare treasure when we see a servant like Paul, rejoicing to suffer personally if someone else would benefit from it!  Only such a heart could say - "it has been granted to us to suffer with Him."   Paul had that heart and it still shines so beautifully, even after two thousand years, that I felt its warmth today!