Daily Direction Reading PlanSample

Thomas à Kempis said this about suffering: "Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting. All desire to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for his sake. Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread, but few to drinking the cup of his passion. Many admire the miracles, but few follow the humiliation of the cross. Many love Jesus as long as no hardship touches them." While these statements describe some in our day, they do not describe how early believers felt about suffering. They don't describe the Apostle Paul's attitude. Paul started a church in Thessalonica, but he had to leave abruptly because a riot broke out. He felt he could assist the new church better by leaving town. Yet he thought the new converts might become discouraged and fall back into their old way of living. Paul sent Timothy to check on them. Timothy reported that the people were standing fast in their faith despite their persecution. Paul then wrote them a letter. In it, he told how he was facing pain and suffering in Cori.