New International Version (NIV)
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
What do I see? Multiple trials.
A defence before rulers and kings, a desertion by friends.
A temptation to bear a grudge, the threat of a lion's mouth.
What do I see in my life? I wish I could type it all here. But
But God forbid I miss the point which we are pointed to in verse 18.
Paul was surrounded by challenges, but the main threat he chose to highlight came in 18 as he writes his response of faith:
"The Lord with rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom."
This is remarkable. In all the challenges he perceived that it was his citizenship into the Kingdom of God that was being threatened.
So too shall I. Shall I see that my laziness, my fixation on temporal things, my bitterness are "evil attacks" attempting to disqualify me from the kingdom.
But I was never qualified. Continue to qualify me O God.
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