“…I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to make thee a minister and a witness…” Acts 26:16
Dear Ones:
Though there have been a good many men and women of faith mentioned by name in the Scriptures, there is only one Saul of Tarsus. The calling by Christ of Saul of Tarsus was singular, particular, and effective. Here is a man, like all men, and yet, unlike all, in that God had made him for a unique purpose. God made him different, as all men are different from one another, with certain capacities and gifts that are essential to the fulfilling of the will and purpose of God. When the Lord Jesus called him, before his name was changed to Paul the apostle, He addressed him by saying: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” (Acts 26:14) The name “Saul” was particular to this man, as it represented who and what he was at that time. The call of God was just as particular, not so much with regard to what Saul had to offer in and of himself, but with regard to what God would accomplish in and through him, as Paul the apostle. The call was singular, personal, profound, specific, and powerful. The ramifications of Paul’s calling changed the world, as his writings, by the Spirit of God, have endured the test and fire of time and opposition until this very day. Where did this calling begin, and why would it be so effective? It began with the clear intervention of Christ from heaven, and Saul knew it. Paul would then enter God’s university to learn God’s ways, finding it to be unlike any other he had ever known.
Paul once wrote to the Galatians that, before his conversion to Christ, he had his “manner of life” in “the Jews’ religion,” persecuting beyond measure the disciples of Christ. He went on to say that with regard to his zeal “in the Jews’ religion,” he profited above many of his equals, being exceeding zealous of the traditions of his fathers. (Gal. 1:13,14) In writing to the believers in Philippi, he would speak of how his trust in circumcision, the law, his lineage, and religious training and zeal as a Pharisee, had become to him as nothing. Indeed, he would write: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” (Phil. 3:7) Why would he write this? Paul had to learn that, if there was to be the fulfillment of God’s purpose, in and through him, he would need not only to SEE that Christ was the One who called him, but learn to trust HIM fully, and only, as his life and power. This is why he would write that his objective had become, “…to know Him (Christ), and the power of His resurrection.” (3:10)
There would be something else that he would need to master, with regard to the truth of what he had become IN Christ. In writing to the Corinthians, he would declare: “For I determined not to know any thing among you, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2) Why would he write this? Paul had to grasp that the work of Christ on the cross, had divested him forever of all trust in and of himself. He was “crucified with Christ,” no longer to live, though alive in the flesh, but to live by “the faith of the Son of God.” (Gal. 2:20) The effect of this attitude of heart and mind was probably not felt or seen more clearly than in his “speech and preaching.” It was there, as he trusted entirely in the living Christ, His Lord and Life, that he would speak and preach in “…the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Cor. 2:5) This was essential if the faith of other believers was to, “…not stand in the wisdom of men, but IN the power of God.” (v.5)
Dear Father, give us to see that our specific calling, though always different from others, is first to learn Christ, to know Him and His ways. Give us grace to learn well, so that Thy will and purposes will be realized forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad