Paul: A Profile in Suffering

Acts 16:23-25 - "When they struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, and fastened their feet in stocks.  But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."

In chapter three of "The Power of Suffering," John MacArthur gives a profile of Paul's suffering.  Paul is one of the great models to us of how to victoriously endure sufferings, trials, and persecutions.  He suffered every kind of hardship and encountered every kind of extreme danger.  He was assaulted.  He was scourged.  He was beaten.  He was stoned.  He suffered hunger.  He was left for dead.   But he never, ever lost his joy.  In the account above, we see him and Silas praying and singing praises to God (while in stocks) after being hit with not just a few blows, but many blows.  No where does the New Testament record Paul ever allowing any circumstance to take away his joy in the Lord.  Why?  Because he continually set his mind on things above, on his calling, on his ministry, on Christ.  He sacrificed his own pleasures, his own comfort, his own ease, to preach Christ.  His overriding devotion was to the Person and cause of Christ.  He looked beyond himself and his circumstances.  The key to Paul's success, which is the key to our success as well, is to maintain our focus and our devotion on Christ.  (For Paul to live was Christ - Phil. 1:21.)  And like Paul did, we too can draw from God's complete supply of spiritual resources:  His Word, His Spirit, His Son, and the prayers of fellow believers. 

(I love the end of the story of Paul and Silas' prison account.  After they went out of prison they went to Lydia's house, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged the brethren before they left!)