Matthew Henry, the famous Bible scholar, was once accosted by thieves and robbed. In his diary, he wrote: "Let me be thankful first, because I was never robbed before; second, because they took my purse and not my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed."

For Matthew Henry, doing God's will was far more important than what had happened to him. The apostle Paul also demonstrated this attitude as he was told about his future. Though the prophet Agabus had foretold his imprisonment in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11), Paul was undeterred. His desire was to do God's will and fulfill His purpose for his life, no matter what might happen to him. Paul desired to obey the Lord for His name's sake.

None of us knows what tomorrow holds. Sometimes God's will involves walking through "the valley of the shadow of death" (Psalm 23:4). At other times we may have to choose the path of hardship because we wish to do what is right, rather than what is easy.

In all of life's difficulties, we can remember that obeying God's will "for the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 21:13) is far more important than what may happen to us.  —AL  — Albert Lee