Most people aren’t keen on suffering as part of their daily life. Granted, all but the most deluded understand and accept, albeit begrudgingly, that there will be periods of pain in life. However, actively seeking pain is seldom an action plan for any save the self-loathing.
One of Scripture’s odder passages is found in Acts. To set up the scene, the Sanhedrin had called the apostles to face them, irate over their preaching Jesus as risen.
They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Personally, I would prefer not being flogged, although I have felt like I have been clobbered mentally in such a manner many times over the years. We all have.
The problem of pain for a believer is that the…
