Something you can't forget about
1Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,a what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
Lord, they were very poor, and tested with many troubles, but they were filled with abundant joy and overflowed …
2Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone. 3I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you. 4I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made …
4In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.
Father, I have endures so little in my life. I have had it easy. Yet, in the troubles I have been in I …
17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Paul was in prison and facing possible death. He was beaten, stoned, whipped and ship-wrecked. All that and he describes them as light and momentary troubles. Lord, the troubles in my life are so small compared to the sufferings of so many of Your servants. I am sorry I have ever …
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Jesus, again it seems I should thank-you for my problems and troubles. It sounds like You are saying that the we …