we're following along with Paul's acts in the readings these days. and i gotta tell you, i've never been a big fan. i know some people love Paul, and of course he wrote some of the best verses in the NT. but, in my humble opinion, he was kind of a jerk.
i won't go into all the reasons i feel this way. it's just a general impression i get from reading his epistles, and the accounts of his actions. and i've talked to other people who feel the same way, so i don't think it's just a personality thing.
but there is a good lesson here. let's say, for the sake of argument, that Paul IS in fact a jerk. God used him. He used him mightily, to do great things. to help people. to spread the gospel and to save people. to perform miracles, even. God used a jerk to do great things.
kind of gives us hope for us, doesn't it? you might not be a jerk... but i know that i can be sometimes. and when you see your OWN actions and think to yourself, "man, i can be a jerk!" you probably are a jerk, at least sometimes. i know i'm not a jerk all of the time. thanks to God, i'm learning to be kinder and more loving. to not always have to have my own way. to be full of the love of God, that was written about so eloquently in 1 Corinthians 13.
by Paul.
God, please open my heart to Your love every day, so i can be less of a jerk and more useful to You.
2 comments:
Paul had the pride and arrogance of who he was before the road to Damascus, it never went away.....but oh how God was able to use him. The world he turned on fire for Christ is the beginning of our salvation and God knew it would take someone as pompous as Paul to accomplish it. Head strong is a mild description of Paul but used by God in such a mighty way inspite of himself. Amazing......
good thoughts ^
Post a Comment