INTRODUCTION

Life is full of suffering, but the Christian should never suffer for wrongdoing. Christians may suffer wrongfully, and for the name of Christ, but never "as a thief" (1 Peter 4:15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
See All...). When a man puts his faith in the finished work of Christ, he should be a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
See All...). "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
See All...). A saved man, though previously a thief, will labour so that he may have to give to others. Only the power of the gospel can take a thief and make him charitable. What a transformation!

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Part of suffering is bearing shame when we do wrong. This includes theft (Romans 6:21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
  See All...). There is no shame in suffering for Christ (1 Peter 4:16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
  See All...). Paul did not want to be ashamed in anything (Philippians 1:20
  See All...). God expects us to work for what we get.
• It is thought that perhaps Onesimus stole from Philemon (Philemon 1:11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
  See All..., 18-19). Did Paul expect things to be different when Onesimus returned to Philemon (Philemon 1:15-16 [15] For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; [16] Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
  See All...)?
• According to Ephesians 4:28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
  See All..., a man goes from stealing to giving and labouring when he gets saved. Why are labouring and stealing considered opposites?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to give you a heart to labour and give.
• Thank God for the transformation of salvation.

HYMN

Amazing Grace!

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