What Have You Done For The Lord?

Larry R. Ping II

Now and then, we hear someone ask "What has the Lord done for us lately?" What we really should be asking is "What have we done for the Lord lately?" Notice what Paul endured on behalf of the Lord (I Corinthians 11:24-27).

· Whipped Five Times - Verse 24

· Beaten With Rods Three Times - Verse 25

· Stoned Once - Verse 25

· Shipwrecked Three Times - Verse 25

· In The Sea One Night And One Day - Verse 25

· Various Grave Dangers - Verse 26

· Great Weariness And Pain - Verse 27

· Hungry And Thirsty - Verse 27

· Cold And Nakedness - Verse 27

Is there any doubt that Paul was willing to go through anything for the Lord? Later Paul wrote "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). He also penned "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Corinthians 4:17). Even after all of these very difficult tribulations, Paul was able to say "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II Timothy 4:6,7).

What we ought to gather from all of this is the following: Compared to what Paul went through, we basically endure nothing, yet we (including myself) often find reasons to complain and rationalize. How is this?

We need to go out and plant and water the seed of God (I Corinthians 3:6). We need to do this regardless of what friction we may receive, which if anything, is usually verbal. What have you done for the Lord lately?