How To Get Through Struggles"For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have." - Philippians 1:29-30Have you ever wondered how Christ's twelve apostles died? From the Bible we know that Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ, hanged himself (Matthew 27:5) and that James, the son of Zebedee, was killed by a sword in Jerusalem (Acts 12:2). History indicates the following deaths for the remaining disciples: Peter was crucified in Rome, head downward, during the persecutions by Nero. Andrew died on a cross at Patrae, in Acchia, a Greek colony. James the less, was thrown from a pinnacle of the temple and then beaten to death with a club. Bartholomew was flayed alive in Albanapolis, Armenia. Thomas, the doubter, was run through with a lance at Coromandel, in the East Indies. Philip was hanged against a pillar at Neorpolic, a city of Phrygia in Asia Minor. Matthew was slain by a sword in Ethiopia (Abyssinia). Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows. Simon died on a cross in Persia (Iran). Only John seemed to die a natural death at an old age in Ephesus. Dr. Simon Greenleaf, commenting on the eleven apostles' faith, said: "It was therefore impossible that they could have persisted in affirming the truths they have narrated, had not Jesus actually risen from the dead." Christ has risen from the dead! It is our faith in that fact gets us through any struggle we will face. Is your faith in Christ's resurrection unwaiverable? Today in prayer, praise the Lord that you can endure suffering because He lives and has given you eternal life. "When I consider my crosses, tribulations, and temptations, I shame myself almost to death, thinking what are they in comparison of the sufferings of my Savior Christ Jesus." - Martin Luther God's Word: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." - James 1:2-3 By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 1999, Devotional Back to Christian Poetry
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