Tuned In – Palm Valley Youth

posted by: Darius Sanders

Scripture
II Corinthians 11:24
Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes

Observation
Paul was beat with a whip on 5 different occasions.  On each occasion, Paul was beat 39 times.  That means Paul was beat with a whip 195 times!  Paul had been slapped by a whip that was filled with glass, bones, nails, barbed wire and a number other types of sharp objects 195 times because he was a follower of Christ.  He must have really loved Jesus to endure all that persecution for His name!

Application
I used to think I had it bad as a teenager because people teased me for being a Christian or talked about me behind my back…but I’ve never had people beating me across the back with a whip because I have a personal relationship with Christ.  I guess I’ve never really suffered for Christ the way Paul did.  This verse was a great reminder for me to count my blessings.  Compared to the followers of Christ in the early church, I really have it easy.  I get to talk freely about Christ without fear of being physically harmed by the government for doing so.  I hope this verse inspires teenagers to be more bold for Christ knowing that the worst type of persecution they may receive living as a Christian in America is nothing compared to the persecution the early church received.

Prayer
God, thanks for the reminder of just how well off I have it.  I’m grateful that I don’t have to endure the physical beatings Paul endured for your name as well as the suffering the early Christians went through.  I’m thankful that I live in a country where I can proclaim your name freely.  Please help me to use that freedom to boldly spread the good news of Your Name.