St. Paul wrote to his young apprentice, Timothy: bear your share of hardship for the Gospel. The hardships St. Paul endured — being stoned, whipped, shipwrecked — seem pretty dramatic. The hardships I endure for the gospel seem tame in comparison but they still challenge me. It is a hardship to “love my enemies, do good to those who hate me,” to “forgive seventy times seven times,” to “stop worrying,” to “stop judging.” By bearing these hardships we create a counter-force to all of the anger and hatred which dominates the world at present. Living a life of gospel joy produces a ripple that flows out into society demonstrating that living as Jesus taught us makes for a society where all can live in justice and peace.
JUNE32020
By Church Staff