What authority did Paul have to talk about suffering?
Posted on February 6, 2010 by Pastor Tom
I find it risky talking about the purpose of suffering with someone else. I know when I’ve hurt, it doesn’t help for someone to explain why I’m suffering unless they’ve taken the time to try to understand what I’m going through. Or if they have a credible “resume of suffering,” I might be more inclined to listen.
Tomorrow, I’m talking again from Romans 8. Paul says quite a bit about suffering in this chapter. Perhaps his most outrageous verse (at first glance) is 18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed to us.”
It might seem like Paul hasn’t suffered much or minimizes other’s sufferings. But later in the chapter, he gives us a little glimpse of some of what he suffered. Thank goodness he shared.
Check out Justin Taylor’s piece today that talks further about the “treasures in jars of clay” and suffering passage from 2 Corinthians 4.
Thanks Lord for inspiring Paul to share his life with us!
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