It was said that by the end of Paul's life,it is estimated,he had travelled some ten thousand miles,this may not seem much when you compare to the 250,000 miles that John Wesley covered.But they are significant for travel was more arduous , and he faced so many dangers in his travels,in 2 Corithians 6 v3ff he leaves a record of the hardships he faced,here is a list of those things he suffered,'Troubles, hardships and distresses,beatings,imprisonments,riots,hard work,sleepless nights and hunger, Read also 2 Cor 1 v 8-9, he also had to cope with a severe ailment, 2 Cor12 v 7ff.What drove him?well he had an unique encounter with the risen Christ,we read about it in Acts 9 . He was on a journey to Damascus on a mission to persecute Christians, when a light flashed around him ,and he fell to the ground,and he heard a voice saying,'Saul.Saul, why do you persecute me?,he asked ,'Who are you Lord?,the reply was,'I am Jesus', whom you are persecuting'.from that moment on he was a man on a mission to the then world .He no longer saw Jesus as a false Messiah, but the real Messiah,a Messiah that had not come with an army to defeat Israels enemies,and to reign over them, but a Messiah not just for Jews ,but as a Saviour for this world.The flood gates were wide open, and so Paul went forth to bring the message of Salvation .There are very few Paul's about,but we all have our part to play in spreading the gospel.
' Here I am,Lord,Is it I Lord?
I hear you calling in the night,
I will go Lord,if you lead me,
I will hold your people in my heart.'
Words Dan Schutte.
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