Small
dog; I am guessing Bichon
Frise? But whatever
breed he is, my second guess is that he is NOT HAPPY. Who knows what
happened to him this week to cause him to feel this way (except, of
course that little matter of a BATH). What does it take to may YOU
feel like this? Family problems, boss giving you a hard time, money
problems – well it could be almost anything (or a combination of
problems).
When
you feel like this, remember, other people have had worse weeks than
you. Here is the example of the Apostle Paul’s
life as a missionary…
2
Corinthians 11 ( World
English
Bible
)
[1] I wish that you would bear
with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me. [2]
For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to
one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. [3]
But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his
craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that
is in Christ. [4] For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we
did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did
not receive, or a different “good news”, which you did not
accept, you put up with that well enough. [5] For I reckon that I am
not at all behind the very best apostles. [6] But though I am
unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in
every way we have been revealed to you in all things.
[7] Or did I commit a sin in
humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you
God’s Good News free of charge? [8] I robbed other assemblies,
taking wages from them that I might serve you. [9] When I was present
with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the
brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my
need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I
will continue to do so. [10] As the truth of Christ is in me, no one
will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. [11] Why?
Because I don’t love you? God knows.
[12] But what I do, that I
will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an
occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.
[13] For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading
as Christ’s apostles. [14] And no wonder, for even Satan
masquerades as an angel of light. [15] It is no great thing therefore
if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose
end will be according to their works.
[16] I say again, let no one
think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also
may boast a little. [17] That which I speak, I
don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this
confidence of boasting. [18] Seeing that many boast after the flesh,
I will also boast. [19] For you bear with the foolish gladly, being
wise. [20] For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if
he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he
strikes you on the face.
[21] I speak by way of
disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I
speak in foolishness), I am bold also. [22] Are they Hebrews? So am
I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am
I. [23] Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself)
I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly,
in stripes above measure, in deaths often. [24] Five times from the
Jews I received forty stripes minus one. [25] Three times I was
beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered
shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep. [26] I have
been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils
from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city,
perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false
brothers; [27] in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger
and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness. [28]
Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on
me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies. [29] Who is weak, and I am
not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don’t burn with
indignation?
[30] If I must boast, I
will boast of the things that concern my weakness.
[31] The God and
Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forevermore, knows
that I don’t lie.
Think
you had a bad week; consider Paul. In this passage, he is “boasting”.
To me, it sounds like a Torturer's bucket list. Worst of all, is his
intense concern and mental anguish for the Corinthians Christians.
Now, THEY had real PROBLEMS!
Through
all his sufferings, Paul endured and even excelled. How? He dedicated
his life to God’s service and knew that God was with him in
everything that happened to him. So can we; if God is with us!