Paul, the Extraordinary Apostle
This is an amazing story of a man whom I consider the most well known, of all the people that the Spirit of God inspired to write the books of the Bible.
Paul wrote more than anybody else, he had a spiritual experience with Jesus that the others did not have. He was given revelation by Jesus Himself during his three years in the desert of Arabia.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with him fifteen days (Galatians 1:16-18).
Paul did not have the same experience with Jesus as the disciples did. The disciples had the living Christ, whereas Paul had the resurrected Christ. Jesus took Paul to a higher level of learning than He did the disciples. Paul was able to go more in depth than what Jesus taught His disciples who also became apostles. They were disciples when Jesus was teaching them, but once they were sent out they became apostles.
After Paul spent time with Christ, He went out on his own; he never saw Christ’s ministry like the disciples did. He had hands-on training and is known as the apostle of apostles. As great of a person Paul was, he had issues too.
Like the disciples, Paul, you, and I, we all had a starting point. Every child of God starts off with THE measure of faith (Romans 12:3). For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Some Bibles say A measure of faith which cannot be true, and this is the reason why. If you told someone to sit in a chair and there were other chairs in the room, they could pick any chair of their choice. But, if someone told you to sit in the chair, it would be a specific chair.
So, no one is given A measure of faith which could mean any measure, but THE measure is a specific meaning that no one started off in their new life at a different level than someone else. We started off on the same level/measure of faith.
Back to Paul, he knew his course was finished and his departure from this earth was at hand.
Paul’s Valedictory
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
What a legacy left for us to be encouraged by and motivated to continue pressing forward even though there are struggles. This is a true saying: There’s a blessing in pressing.
I am sure you have had experiences that can be shared with others. As a child of God, you should say something. After all, you have been given eternal life, and that alone is a testimony.
Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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