Our theme for this month: “Being a virtuous person”
Our Bible verse for today: “I have learned the secret of being content – whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12-13 (CSB)
Our thought for today: “Resilience is a virtue”
Part of the greatness of the Apostle Paul was his ability to simply play the hand he was dealt in life and to play it well. His life was not an easy one. Listen to his description of it in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28:
“Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.”
In light of such challenges it’s pretty awesome that he would also write, “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Yes, Paul was resilient. It was one of his virtues, one of his outstanding character traits.
That’s also true for many of you. I know many of you personally and so I know about some of the things you deal with in life. You probably haven’t been whipped and stoned and shipwrecked (it just feels as if you have). In your life it’s been lost jobs, unfaithful spouses, rebellious children, serious health problems, difficult bosses, betrayal by friends, and much more. And yet, like Paul, you have discovered inner strength, along with peace and contentment, as a result of your close relationship with Jesus. With Paul you too can say:
“I am afflicted but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. I have learned to be content whatever the situation. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Strength of character and resilience in the face of hardship are important virtues. A person with those character traits has learned to play the hand they are dealt in life and they play it well.
Oak Hill Baptist Church