Richard Roberts – Third of five parts
As the Apostle Paul told King Agrippa about the Lord’s purpose for his life, he concluded by saying, “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Oh, that we all might come to the place where we can say that!
Even though Paul’s purpose in life was for good, it did not mean that only good things happened to Paul. Paul was whipped several times… beaten and left for dead… thrown in jail… and had stripes laid upon his back. He had been stoned… in a shipwreck … and knew what it meant to be hungry and cold. On more than one occasion he had to escape for his life. Did all of these things happen to Paul before God revealed to him His purpose in life? No … they happened as Paul was going about what may be the most effective Christian ministry of all time!
Paul experienced persecutions even as he walked more miles and preached more sermons and established more churches than any one in that era. The hardships came even as Paul laid his hands on the sick and cast out demons. He wrote several books of the New Testament while he was in jail for his faith.
Why did Paul continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of such difficulties? Because he knew his purpose! When you know your purpose in life, you have an added ability to endure what the devil throws at you.
