Reflections on God's Word

by Victoria Robinson

Now enjoying a mansion in heaven, the apostle Paul could very well ask, “Who’s the fool now?” All of his earthly suffering has surely led to great eternal rewards. In his lifetime, many thought he was foolish for enduring such hardships as: beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger.

How about you girlfriends, are you living a “foolish” life? Is your heart more in tune with heaven or earth? A dear friend lost her mother last year to cancer. In her last days as we were visiting with her, she made a beautiful statement to my husband. She said, “Keep sending them to us.” She had her heart set on things above and was more concerned about the salvation of those here on earth than her own suffering. What a beautiful lady!

Paul himself said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

Dearest girlfriends, let us live our lives “foolishly” considering our true life and rewards are in heaven.

… Let no one take me for a fool. … I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ~ 2 Corinthians 11:16,23-28 NIV

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. ~ Acts 20:22-24 NIV

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ~ Acts 14:21-22 NIV

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NIV

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. ~ 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 NIV

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. … ~ 2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” ~ 1 Corinthian 3:18-19 NIV

by Victoria Robinson

There once was a man named Zacchaeus who benefited greatly for not waiting, but obeying the command of Jesus immediately. Jesus asked him to come down out of a tree immediately so that He could stay at his house. Because of his obedience, salvation came upon Zacchaeus. What a wonderful story to remind us to not wait, but obey our heavenly Father at once.

When sharing his story of redemption, the apostle Paul tells of being told four times to go somewhere or do something. He quickly obeyed and what we see is a story of salvation, baptism and deliverance from danger. If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you can be thankful for Paul’s actions as this brought salvation to the Gentiles.

In the book of Luke is a story of a paralytic man who Jesus told, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Because of his obedience we see God was glorified.

Girlfriends, has your heavenly Father asked you to do something and you have waited? If so, there is no better time than right now to take action and come into obedience. The results will be fabulous because your heavenly Father’s plans are always wonderful. Dearest girlfriends, I pray we would not linger over what God has told us, but move quickly in order to bring glory to Him.