2 Corinthians 11:16-23

John Burnett:  ¹⁶ Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I am saying, I am not saying^[a]as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.¹⁸ Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also. ¹⁹ For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. ²⁰ For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face. ²¹ To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison.

But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I speak in foolishness—I am just as bold myself. ²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they ^[b]descendants of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in ^[c]far more labors, in ^[d]far more imprisonments, ^[e]beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

Are you willing to tolerate being enslaved, devoured, taken advantage of, and being hit in the face for Christ’s sake.  The time will come when this type of persecution will be rampant.  I pray that the church is raptured before this time but I am ready.  My Savior is so awesome, there is nothing anyone can do to me that would take my mind off the fact that He loved me so much that He died on the cross for my sins.  Why shouldn’t I be willing to live in eternity with Him.

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There will be no reading tomorrow, Friday's reading for 2 Corinthians 11:24-33

²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? ³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. ³³ But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.