I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged
more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received
from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 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… 2 Corinthians 11:23b-25
The Apostle Paul suffered severely in his ministry of sharing the gospel in
the first century. But Paul was always quick to point out that what others
thought so terrible—his imprisonment—
God turned into good. Rather than hindering the spread of the gospel, it
actually aided its advance (Philippians 1:12-14). Paul’s example was followed by many disciples down through the
ages. You might be surprised to learn about one of these who lived in
Afghanistan.
In Kabul, a brilliant young blind man who had memorized the whole Qur’an in
Arabic listened to the gospel by radio and later publicly declared his faith in
Jesus as his Lord. He became the first blind student to attend regular-sighted
schools in Afghanistan. He graduated from University of Kabul with a law degree
in order to defend Christians who might be persecuted for their faith. Some of
his encouragement as a young believer came from a missionary from neighboring
Iran, Mehdi Dibaj.
Under the communist regime, Paul was arrested on false charges and put in a
notorious prison where tens of thousands were executed. There was no heat in the
jail during the cold winters. He had to sleep on the freezing mud floor with
only his overcoat. A prisoner next to him was trembling with cold since he did
not even have a jacket. Paul remembered John the Baptist had said, “The
man who has two coats should share with him who has none.” (Luke 3:11) He
took off his only coat and gave it to the neighbor. From then on, the Lord
miraculously kept him warm every night.
In prison, the communists gave Paul shock treatments to try to brainwash him.
The electric burns left scars on his head. But he did not give in. God’s grace
was sufficient. After release from prison he kept mastering foreign languages
and continued translating the Bible, writing and preaching…as well as discipling
new believers. In 1988, Paul was kidnapped by a fanatical Muslim group and
charged with apostasy because he became a Christian. He was beaten for hours
with rods and ultimately martyred. But Paul’s testimony lives on today as a
trophy of God’s grace. He is affectionately remembered as “Afghanistan’s Apostle
Paul”.
You can read more about Paul in Dr. Christy Wilson’s excellent book, More
To Be Desired Than Gold, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 1994.
RESPONSE: Today I will live biblically no matter what circumstances I may
face knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for me.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the inspiring example of Afghanistan’s
Apostle Paul and his faithfulness in serving You to the end.
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