Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. Are they Christ's servants? I sound like a madman - but I am a better servant than they are! I have worked much harder. I have been in prison more times, I have been whipped much more, and I have been near death more often. Five times I was given the thirty-nine lashes by the Jews; three times I was whipped by the Romans; and once I was stoned. I have been in three shipwrecks, and once I spent twenty-four hours in the water. In my many travels I have been in danger from floods and from robbers, in danger from fellow Jews and from Gentiles; there have been dangers in the cities, dangers in the wilds, dangers on the high seas, and dangers from false friends. There has been work and toil; often I have gone without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty; I have often been without enough food, shelter, or clothing. And not to mention others things, every day I am under the pressure of my concern for all the churches. When someone is weak, then I feel weak too; when someone is led into sin, I am filled with distress.

If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show how weak I am. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus - blessed be his name forever! - knows that I am not lying.

2 Corinthians 11:22-31

The apostle Paul trained himself to view the perils of his life as opportunities to express his faithfulness to Christ.

When we keep our eyes on Christ, obstacles become opportunities.

Our Daily Bread - November 30, 2001