Question: Is purpose spurred on by suffering?
Specifically, I am trying to connect 1 Thessalonians 2:1 and 2:2 in my head and it seems that what Paul is saying is that his purpose in Thessalonica was spurred by his suffering in Philippi. There is significant connections in Pauline writings about the suffering of those who follow Christ. See Philippians 1:29-30 and Jesus' words in Luke 9:23. What are your thoughts?
I think God uses "suffering" to get our attention. As it says about Him pruning away the dead limbs from the vine, I believe He tries to remove things from our lives that keep us from Him. Not that we always like it. We love the material world and the instant gratification we can get in this world. It's hard to wait for our blessings and reward in Heaven. It's a constant battle and one I fail at everyday it seems but I keep trying. I think that is what Jesus is trying to say about taking up our cross daily. And Paul, I think is trying to elaborate on that. It's hard to do right in a fallen world, and the more you do, the more this world will want to tear you down.
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