Everybody has their favorites in the bible. Mine just happens to be Paul. You can’t look at his handiwork and not see Jesus’ hand in everything. Some of you might want to remind me of the 12 apostles, as well as a prophet or two. For me, just know Paul is the one.
A substantial part of the bible is devoted to Paul’s building of the early church in a time when whom you worshipped was literally a life and death decision. Paul says in his letters to the church in Corinth that there was indeed a point to his suffering and persecution. It was a byproduct of his faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul writes, “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
This kind of thinking and belief led to the proliferation of the church worldwide.
It also shows how the lives of so few have impacted and influenced the ancient world and the world we know today. Paul is who he is because of a unique encounter with Christ. That encounter changed him and ultimately the world in which we live.
I am reminded that it is not unusual for new Christians to come under attack by old friends. It is also not unusual for new Christians to come under attack from a world where Satan has some sway. I think Paul’s good news is there is a place of refuge when this happens.
He uses himself as an example for us to follow. If I submit my weaknesses to the power of Christ, then I become empowered to deal with whatever is thrown my way.
When the going gets extremely tough, check out Paul. Like Christ, he too went through the worst that life has to offer and perpetrated a good deal of evil along the way. You know, he was a murderer of Christians; volunteered for the job, from my recollection. Yet because of his belief system after his Christ encounter, he experienced the best of God’s promises.
We still recognize his work on that issue today. Paul’s life is like a refresher course for all of us who deep down cannot shake the memories of where we came from. I just wanted to let you know where I go at those times. You might want to venture there yourself to find the answers you seek.
