12th May 2026

12th May 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (2 Corinthians 4v7-15)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The Apostles were those men who were sent out by Jesus to spread the Gospel. They were eye witnesses of the resurrection and they were enabled to do mighty signs and wonders which acted as confirming signs that their message was true. Even so, the life of an Apostle was no picnic.  


Paul spoke about being afflicted, perplexed, persecuted and forsaken (v8-9). Indeed, elsewhere he gave this list of his troubles “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11v24-29). I suspect there wouldn't be too many of us who would have wanted the life of an Apostle.


Nevertheless, there was something that gave Paul hope even in the midst of his afflictions. He understood that the treasure of the Gospel was stored in frail humans who were and are like fragile jars of clay (v7). None of us should ever be arrogant. If the Gospel goes forward it does so in the midst of human fragility and in the power of God. Furthermore, he was afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed. No matter what happened, the Apostle Paul knew in his bones that he could keep going until the day he would certainly cross the finish line.


What could possibly encourage a man as stones were raining down upon his body or as robbers planned to steal everything from him? Paul knew and passionately believed that just as Jesus had been raised to life after death then so too would every Christian be raised and brought into the presence of Christ (v14). Paul’s Saviour was Jesus and his hope was heaven.


I must admit that I do not always think about heaven and there are times that life isn’t bitter but incredibly sweet. Even so, no matter how good life can be, heaven is immeasurably better. We are fragile and sinful and so heaven being better than life can sometimes seem quite unreal but heaven is as Paul once suggested “far better.” (Philippians 1v23).


Brothers and sisters, may the certainty of heaven help you when tears stream down your cheeks, may your desire for heaven only grow and your love for this world chill and may you know in your bones that to be with Christ is better by far.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q65 What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations.
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