There is no doubt that God used the Apostle Paul in an amazing way. Through the power of the Holy Spirit he wrote the most books in the bible. He traveled the most and the furthest of all the Apostles in spreading the gospel. It can also be said that he suffered the most out of all the early church fathers. The Lord Himself said of Paul, “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:16 ESV)
His life was a life well lived for the Lord and he seemed to have a servant’s perspective no matter what the Lord achieved through him. Paul said of himself, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV). Paul was able to maintain his humble spirit because he remembered who he was before Christ. He was a sinner without a savior and a lost soul without purpose or hope.
He considered himself the most unworthy person of God’s grace but at the same time he understood its purpose. God’s grace was given to him “to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Today, if you are saved by grace, through faith in the Lord, remember you are who you are by the grace of God. This grace was given to you for a specific purpose, to share the gospel with the lost and in doing so, to bring honor and glory to God. I pray that you consider yourself the very least, as you serve the Most High.
RICKY GARCIA
Ricky is a Pastor of Community Baptist Church in Victoria, Tx. He and his wife have been married for twenty-one years and have four children.