Even though my foundation is not on solid rocks, I will continue to persevere.

At work! but YOLO. kidding, how pagan of me.

It all starts with Apostle Paul...

Paul the apostle was an incredibly godly godly man, a man of God. Who suffered and went though many trials, as he was stoned, insulted, flogged, persecuted and the list goes on (2 Corinthians 11:22-33). Regardless, he remained and stood firm in the faith, and continued to worship God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength. Let us not neglect that, it was Paul's obedience to God and submission to the Holy Spirit that placed him in such trials.

Currently, however, it is hard for me to relate with Paul, because persecution, floggings and so forth, I have not/yet to experience, by God's grace. But, what has really been speaking to me, comes from the book of Acts (17:18), where Paul was preaching to the people of Athens. In this passage, while Paul was preaching the Gospel, he began to offend the Greeks and Athenians, because he told them the wrongs of the practices within their culture. Not because he wanted to purposely, but because their culture conflicted with the true Gospel. (note: he didn't force or create his own opportunity to preach, but God provided an opening). As you read verse 18 of that chapter, you see that some labelled Paul a "Babbler". A babbler as Google definition defines, "a person who babbles" = makes no sense or speaking out of their butts.

Now, Paul being called a babbler, is like calling the most educated man in our society an idiot. In the bible times, not everyone knew how to read and or write. For someone to be literate in itself, places him or her (mostly him) on a pedestal not many have the opportunity to be on. Now, we are speaking about Paul, a  pharisee of pharisees, who read the in and outs of the old testament and knows every rule and law given by God. He was an incredibly educated man. So when Paul is labelled a babbler, it's calling him a man who is clueless and speaks nonsense, almost like a crazy man if you think about it. Do you see the irony in this?

Now, I won't ramble on, but what I have been struggling with lately, is realizing and seeing, no matter how smart, how much you learn and know, or how "great" you can be as an individual, if you truly live and follow the rules, laws and commandments of Jesus Christ, you will be rejected by society. You will be seen as an inferior. And this happens time and time again in scripture. (Elijah to Jesus).

Not to say, you will be rejected wherever you go, no. What I am saying is, if we are to live like Christ and truly follow his rules, laws and decrees, God will place trials before you. So when it happens, be like Paul and remain in Him, as we owe God our life and more. With God, there is no compromise in faith and in truth. Let us understand, just because we have been placed in this culture, we do not have to be of this culture.

I don't know what God is doing in each and every one of your lives, but I really do hope that you grow strong and firm in truth that comes in Christ. As I hope I do as well.

With love!





Books I really recommend; Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan AND the Holy Bible, maybe with commentaries by John Mac. :)