When missionary Adoniram Judson entered Burma (Myanmar) in July 1813, he found an unreached people in a hostile land. Today, there are some 3,700 congregations who trace their origin to Judson’s pioneering ministry. His primary legacy, however, is the complete translation of the Bible into Burmese—still in use today. Judson’s path was difficult, for he faced opposition, rejection, imprisonment, serious illness, pain. He also lost two wives and seven children to death. But through it all he persevered for the cause of Christ.
The apostle Paul also endured great suffering. He was “pressed on every side by troubles,” “hunted down,” and “knocked down” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). He lived “in the face of death” (2 Corinthians 4:12). As we read of his travels, his overwhelming difficulties and life-threatening dangers are well-documented (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Despite the suffering, however, Paul wrote, “We never give up” (2 Corinthians 4:1,16).
Describing our lives as “clay jars,” Paul acknowledged his own frailty, vulnerability, and mortality (2 Corinthians 4:7). But he also refused to be defeated, for he chose to see his difficulties from God’s perspective. “Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. . . . So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. . . . The things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
Paul’s confidence was rooted in God’s great power and sustaining grace, Jesus’ resurrection, and the hope of eternal life with Him (2 Corinthians 4:7-18). We can know this same hope and confidence as we fix our eyes on Jesus. Persecution and suffering may come, but with God’s help we can echo Paul’s words: “We never give up!”
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 8:1-20
More:
What encouragement do 1 Corinthians 15:58 and Hebrews 6:10-12 give to those who are on the verge of giving up?
Next:
What has it cost you to remain faithful to Jesus? How do the examples of Adoniram Judson and Paul the apostle encourage you to live for Him today?
gary1schelvan on July 29, 2015 at 4:06 am
Dear K.T.Sim,
Thank you for such a wonderful and in this day and age, a very encouraging posting. This is one of my favorite little things in life, to never give up. Winston Churchill, in the darkest moment of Great Britain’s history, the impending invasion of the Nazi’s, said something to the effect of, “We will never give up, never, never, never ever give up!” So just as this missionary you mentioned, Adoniram Judson, and the great man of faith and perseverance, the apostle Paul, didn’t ever give up in moving forward and carrying the news of eternal salvation and life through a relationship with Jesus Christ. We as Christians, under all sorts of and forms of persecution and rejection, must never ever give up. Thank you so much, bless all of you brothers and sisters out there, be strong and courageous…Gary Schelvan from Tianjin, PR China
patriciataylor2 on July 29, 2015 at 5:43 am
I needed this, I’ve been struggling with so much. And want to give up at times. Thanks for sharing this.
nattykins on July 29, 2015 at 8:46 am
patriciataylor2,
I understand what you might be going through. I too have been going through a lot as well. I pray God give you peace and comfort and that God will get you through whatever it is that you’re going through.
God Bless,
-Natalie
daisymarygoldr on July 30, 2015 at 2:17 pm
We fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. . .
How can we see the unseen? It is by Faith. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. All the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 had this one thing in common: they looked on things that cannot be seen.
What are the unseen eternal things that we can see now?
Paul was looking ahead at a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands. Abraham kept his eye on a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. As foreigners and nomads here on earth, people were looking forward to a country they can call their own. They were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland.
Moses thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt” and kept right on going because “he had his eye on the One no eye can see.”
Since we have seen the One no one can see, how could we give up in the face of sickness, suffering, shame, and scorn for the sake of Christ? As fragile clay jars we possess this precious treasure—the picture of God in the person of Jesus Christ. And one day we will surely see Him face-to-face and live with Him forever.
We never give up because we are looking forward to God Himself who is our eternal inheritance and exceeding great reward.
Winn Collier on August 1, 2015 at 6:48 pm
I was just reading today how ostracized Judson was for giving himself so wholeheartedly to the people he loved. Inspiring.