Paul was a stoop-shouldered, balding, crooked nose, cloudy-eyed old
man. He kept talking about Jesus as if He were God or something. So, Paul was
locked up in a prison in the city of Rome. If you asked anyone in Rome in the
seventh decade, “Who will make the greatest impact on the world, Nero or Paul?”
They would obviously pick Nero.
Nero was married to a beautiful blond knock out who bathed in donkey
milk. It is said they kept four hundred donkeys on hand just so she would have
plenty of milk to bathe in. She would be dried by swan feathers and massaged
with crocodile mucous. Personally lost me at that one, but Nero liked soft skin
and what Nero wanted, Nero got.
At the age of 25 Nero erected a 120 foot tall statue of himself. People
looked up to Nero, but they looked down on Paul. Paul was a commoner in a
prison and society paid him no heed.
The readings for the last two weeks have shown a lot about Paul’s life.
The ups and downs, the joys and struggles. Here are Paul’s words telling of his
life.
2 Corinthians 11:23-29
“23Are they
servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more
labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death many times. 24 Five
times I received 39 lashes from Jews. 25 Three times I was
beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I
was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 On
frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers
from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in
the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 labor
and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food,
cold, and lacking clothing. 28 Not to mention other things,
there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches. 29 Who
is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with
indignation?”
Sounds like a recruitment ad, NOT! When I
was young in the faith I would be both amazed when reading Paul’s writing and
downright scared. Throughout the New Testament we see Paul performing miracles
but we also see his life on the line more than a few times. Paul’s life was
blessed and challenged.
He walked in the major cities within the
Roman Empire. There were times he worked in the morning as a tent maker and
spoke about Jesus Christ from 11 am to 4 pm each day. He supported himself when
necessary but shared the Gospel any chance he could.
As mentioned last week, Paul wrote 13 of
our 27 New Testament books. Some of these were written in comfort as he stayed
with friends, some were written as he traveled around the Roman country side,
and some were written while he sat in prison. Regardless of when or where they
were written, the words he wrote are something we treasure today.
Reading through Paul’s writings you might
notice that it seems like his favorite word is Grace. He was a messenger of
grace; he was God’s spokesman on grace. He used the word Grace over 100 times
in his writings. Paul wanted to make sure that everyone understood the
wonderful gift we have been given.
Romans 5:2
“2 We have also obtained access
through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the
hope of the glory of God.”
Paul understood grace. Even though he was a prophet and a pastor, he
never forgot that the living Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. He never
forgot that Jesus changed him. He never forgot that even though he did not
deserve it, Jesus made him an apostle and commissioned him to spread the
message of Christ to the gentiles, kings, and the Israelites.
Paul understood that it was God’s grace that allowed him to live the
life he was living, not that most of us would willingly sign up for it knowing
what he went through.
It can also be said that Paul had an impact everywhere he went.
Acts 21-30-31
“30 The whole city
was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him
out of the temple complex, and at once the gates were shut. 31 As
they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment
that all Jerusalem was in chaos.”
Yes, he had an impact. Sometimes it was good and
others not so much. He either inspired people to come to Christ or caused an
uproar. He was beaten, thrown in prison, left for dead on more than one
occasion.
Paul had this ability to face opposition, deal with
rejection, and face the severe challenges in his life. How did he do it?
Paul had an ability that all of us could use. Some
people are rejected by their families for following Jesus. I remember this
summer hearing about a young girl who accepted Jesus and her family did not
want her to go to church any more. Some of us having followed Jesus for some
time, feel the isolation or rejection from friends or co workers for it. Some
of us may be dealing with some relationship hardships. It could be a financial
struggle, medical nightmares, or something we are dealing with that is very
personal.
Knowing how Paul dealt with the struggles he faced
and how he endured through them would be helpful.
2 Timothy 1:8-12
“8 So don’t be
ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share
in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. 9 He
has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus
before time began. 10 This has now been made evident through
the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For
this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, 12 and
that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One
I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been
entrusted to me until that day.”
What did Paul look to?
It was not a what, but a who. Paul
anchored his life to a hope out of this world. He entrusted his life into the
hands of God. He did not tell Timothy that things were going to be perfect,
instead he told him that suffering is going to be part of the job. Accept that
things will be difficult, but learn to rely on God.
Sounds like a lesson that all
of could learn. We tend to get bogged down in the struggles we are facing.
Several of us have had medical issues over the last year that could pull us
down. Financial issues, we have all had them. Family feuds are something we all
have dealt with. The loss of friends or opportunities due to the importance we
place on our relationship with Jesus Christ.
How about the florist grandma
in the news recently? She is a Christian who would not provide flowers to a gay
wedding. She is at risk of losing her business, her savings, and her home. The
courts are fining her and she is at risk of losing everything.
How do you think Paul would
respond to her and to each of us? Rely on the power of God! Stand strong in
your Faith!
The God that you are honoring,
the God that you are being persecuted for, the God that you love is with you. He saved us with His power
according to His grace. If God has the power to save us from our abundance of
sin, He can see us through our challenges. The God that abolished death and
gave us life will be there for us.
There are many days that life
does not seem like it is going right. Maybe not as severe as some of the
challenges faced by Paul, but challenges none the less. We can relate with him
as having to suffer, but can you relate to his faith in God?
2 Timothy
1:11-12
11 For this gospel I
was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, 12 and that is
why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have
believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted
to me until that day.”
Paul had faith in God. He knew what
a faithful, promise keeping God He is. Paul also understood that the amount of
faith that he had was not the key, it was WHO
that faith was in. Paul’s faith was in the ‘One’ or God.
Who or what is your faith in? Is it
in your check book, your doctors, your family and friends, or is it in God?
Paul gave us a wonderful example by
having his faith in God no matter what the day may bring. That is exactly what
we need to do.
We started out reflecting on how
Nero and Paul both were inhabitants of Rome at the same time. Nero was a hero
and Paul was a zero. They say hindsight is 20/20. Now that their lives are over
and we can see exactly how they played out and the impact they left on the
world. Things did not turn out the way the world would have guessed.
Paul’s life started out good and he
had access to a lot of things before the Damascus road incident, but his new
life truly began that day and things changed. Instead of being privileged he
was challenged. Instead of being a leader in the synagogues he was hunted. His
life was filled with hardship and ended on a chopping block in a prison cell in
Rome.
Nero was on top of the world, with a
lovely wife. Things changed for him also and not for the good. His second wife
killed his first wife. Then Nero in a fit of rage kicked and killed his second
wife. Four years after Paul’s death, Nero committed suicide.
Nero was no hero and we now know
that Paul was no zero. While people may know Nero’s name, it is Paul who has
had a lasting impact on the world. His words have been used to teach so many
about Jesus. The Roman Road, words written by Paul has been a great tool to
lead people to Christ.
Nero has had zero impact on life
today; Paul on the other hand still influences us.
Who are the real difference makers
in the world? Not the spot light seeking, attention craving celebrities. It is
the other people, The Church, who are a making a difference for the Kingdom of
God and for all eternity.
Only the church has been given the
story of grace.
Remember we are still in the era of
the Church and what started in the Book of Acts is continuing today.
You have been given the gift of
grace, but are you carrying to others?
Follow Paul's example and accept Jesus and Serve Others!
Thanks for reading,
Robert
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