Friday, March 19, 2010
Philippians 3:8-9 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
THEY GOT IT: THE APOSTLE PAUL
Someone once called Paul the "Apostle of the Heart Set Free." This nickname is perfect. Paul was utterly free from things that commonly hinder Christians.
Paul had no concern for a retirement fund. He didn't have anything by way of assets, and if you asked him he probably would have replied, "Why do I want anything? I've got Jesus, and with Him the stamp of approval from the God of the universe."
Paul was so enamored with His Savior that he left Judaism, where he was top-dog, for a life of preaching Jesus, without pay, while he ran from men who sought to murder him.
He saw nearly everything that happened to him as an opportunity to share Jesus with others. Dragged before kings and wrongly accused, Paul told them about Jesus (Acts 26:1-29). When Paul saw a mob of rioters whipped up by his enemies, he saw a crowd of sinners who needed to hear about salvation (Acts 19:23-31). Thrown in prison, he told his guards about eternal life (Philippians 1:12-14). When considering whether it was better to live or die, his mind saw it like this: die and go to be with Jesus or live and encourage my fellow Christians to trust in Jesus (Philippians 1:20-26).
In the end, Paul lost his head in Rome. He died like he had lived, trusting in Jesus, resting in the power of Christ's all-forgiving cross.
Paul got it. He understood the power of Christ. If this Man is the Savior sent from God, than what is there to do other than live life fearlessly in praise of His love?
