PERSEVERANCE WORKS EXPERIENCE

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope (Rom 5:1-4, KJV). " . . . and perseverance, proven character . . . " (NASB). " . . . perseverance, character . . . " (NIV). "And steadfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope" (ASV).

Devotion 14 of 24

PAUL TESTED

Paul declared that multiple tests confirmed he was, indeed, the servant of Christ. His response to these tests validated His Apostleship, as well as the insightful message he proclaimed. "Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches" (2 Cor 11:22-28, NASB).

Paul was not a "servant of Christ" by coercion. Nor, indeed, was he one by mere profession. In arduous labors, he passed the test! In frequent imprisonments he kept the faith. When beaten times without number, he continued running the race. His faith did not waver when he was beaten with rods and stoned. Three times the trauma of shipwreck assaulted his soul, and he stood fast. Twenty-four hours in the foreboding and oppressing sea could not weaken his grasp on reality. Frequent dangers did not distract him, nor did the presence of false brethren! Labor, hardship, hunger, thirst, cold and exposure, could not cause him to swerve from the faith! Even the weight of concern for the churches was carried with spiritual dignity. Do you wonder why the Lord used him to such a marvelous extent? It was because he passed the tests. His endurance produced unparalleled character.

Like Abraham, "the father of us all," Paul passed the Divine testing. That is what faith enables the trusting soul to do. It is unbelief that fails the test, for unbelief cannot stand up when it is put to the test. It always fails, just as surely as faith always survives.


How wonderfully this is confirmed in the Spirit's delineation of the manner in which the servants of God are approved. It involves testing--extensive testing.
The person approved of God will pass these tests, "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor 6:3-10, KJV).

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, give me grace to see the favorable and unfavorable circumstances of life as testings, whereby faith can be confirmed.

-- Tomorrow: SPEEDY VINDICATION --