…his heart had turned away from the Lord…who had appeared to him twice.

1 Kings 12:9

We talked the other day about believing when we had wanted seeing. Here, we have an example of seeing not being enough. Faith can be stronger than sight!

I want to do a different verse today because yesterday I was wondering about Colossians 1:24, where Paul says he’s filling up in his flesh what was lacking in Christ’s afflictions. It seems an oxymoron to say Christ lacked anything.

Today, we read:

For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Acts 9:16

There’s no maniacal laugh here. God’s not out to get Paul back. But this is the man who will teach us about the fellowship of suffering. Suffering is done in fellowship with Christ. Christ continues to suffer as He suffers with us.

“…Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Acts 9:4

Violent acts, hurtful acts against the saints are committed against Jesus. If by faith, we are identified with His death, burial, and resurrection through baptism, then we no longer live and our life in the flesh is lived by Christ in us. He is experiencing all our suffering. He bears it for us as much as with us. We are not alone.