Paul is my hero as he became God’s “go-to guy” and the author of our theology as Christians through his epistles. There was no one better at studying the Old Testament law, hunting down and stoning the early Christian church, or passionately serving Jesus after his conversion. Remember, Paul, then Saul, was studying under the tutelage of his father a renowned Pharisee, was probably the one who set the tunic check and sold rocks at the stoning of Stephen. He was aggressive in his approach. He had the same aggressive nature after his conversion; Jesus must have said some things to him that he never spoke of but I am certain it was more than noteworthy and life-changing.
Paul had a style that always got right to the heart of the matter. He focused on causes and not symptoms, something pastors in today’s politically correct world don’t want to address. Paul was not only arguing his case against Gentiles but against his very own Jewish people. He was alone and unafraid. Have any of you been to prison, wrongfully enchained? Its not pretty and you are surrounded by the most unsavory characters you could ever imagine. But this where Paul wrote this letter from. How amazing is that? His message was simple: (1) don’t be anxious about anything, (2) pray about everything, and (3) be thankful for all things. Again, can you imagine writing that from a dreary dirt floor in chains to fellow Christians that you love? Today, we claim being victims to everything—student loans, benefits, more pay, crime, homelessness, and here is Paul, in jail being the most positive person through Christ that anyone could be. Pretty amazing!
We as a church body must be one of Spirit and continually striving for more from the Holy Spirit, we take on one another’s burdens to reinforce our faith, and we certainly can never be afraid of Satan’s devices. Like Habakkuk, it is up to us to stand on the watchtower, always vigilant and never relenting on our duties. One of my favorite lines was written by Robert E. Lee to his son while he was a cadet at West Point. It goes as such: “Duty is the sublimest word in the English language, you can never do more, and you should never wish to do less.” Do we feel that same duty in our service to God and our fellow man? Where do your tithes and offerings go? What is the mission of the church? To feed and clothe the hungry and barren? To house felons who need to get on their feet? To minister to those in prison? Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:41-46 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Paul followed exactly as Jesus told him and always got to the heart of the matter.
I always find it interesting that the street of Paul’s conversion was named “Straight.” It is still a major thoroughfare in Damascus, Syria today. I have always wanted to go there, but don’t that my kind would be welcome. I have been to so many cities named in the Bible to include all of the Holy Land, Corinth, and others—even Nineveh, where I think I am today but it is rapidly turning into Sodom and Gomorrah. Paul certainly had such an event that he was “scared straight” much like all of humanity needs today.
Paul was quite clear when he wrote the word “being” as the verb to be constantly established in a position. Paul clearly followed the example of Jesus as he wrote in II Corinthians 8:9 (ESV) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” Paul poured it all out of his pitcher and God gave him strength to refill his jug. Like Jesus, Paul wanted to unify but knew like Jesus, he would have to give all of himself. Ultimately, it was all in sharing the sufferings of Christ.
So, What’s In it For Me (WIFM). (1) Are we truly bound together as a church body and family? (2) Are we afraid to teach, preach, and share the absolute Truth of the Word of God? Remember, the salt preserves from putrefying and corruption, and the light shines on the darkest evils of Satan without compromise. (3) Are we prepared daily to fight the good fight of faith, standing in the breach on the wall of Truth and salvation like Nehemiah, or being vigilant on the watchtower like Habakkuk, or even going to prison, being abuse, and even stoned like Paul? I never want to hear Jesus say, “I never knew you.” Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” I can’t wait to talk with Paul.
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