No Pain, No Gain

Acts 19:13b They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”             

Adoniram Judson sweated out Burma's heat for 18 years without a furlough, six years without a convert. Enduring torture and imprisonment, he admitted that he never saw a ship sail without wanting to jump on board and go home. When his wife's health broke and he put her on a homebound vessel in the knowledge he would not see her for two full years, he confided to his diary: "If we could find some quiet resting place on earth where we could spend the rest of our days in peace. . ." But he steadied himself with this remarkable postscript: "Life is short. Millions of Burmese are perishing. I am almost the only person on earth who has attained their language to communicate salvation. . ." Today we remember Adoniram Judson as a great missionary. He is famous for all the right reasons, but it all began when he was ready to give himself up and take the cross.

When Apostle Paul began his ministry, the Jews were against him and even the chosen 12 Apostles were not supporting him. But he was not going to give up. He was faithful to the call that he received. Amidst a lot of travel, Ministry, opposition, persecution, hunger, thirst and all sorts of adverse and favourable circumstances, Paul was so famous. He was so famous that people would talk of Jesus about whom Paul preaches.

Often people are a step behind in the things of God, stating that, “OH PLEASE I DON’t WANT THE GLORY”. Actually the truth is, that one is not ready to carry the cross and go through the situations. But be reminded, that there is no resurrection without the cross. No Pain, No Gain.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com