April 9, 2008
Galatians 2:20
Paul’s vision: On his way to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Paul in the broad daylight in a light brighter than the midday sun! The vision changed his life.
The vision should change our lives! In 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, Paul calls the people of God to repentance in order to behold the glory of the Lord as in a mirror (through the Word) and to be transformed by the Spirit of God from glory to glory into His image!! We need to stay with the Word and walk in the Spirit.
Paul’s submission to the vision: When Paul went to Damascus God sent Ananias with the message to Paul. He had to bear the name of Jesus to the gentiles, kings and to the children of Israel. This was a tough assignment! The Jews would not accept if he told them about the resurrection of the Lord and that He is the Messiah! And preaching to the gentiles! How would the Jews accept it? To stand before the kings would be to stand trial before Tetrarchs and Caesar. Paul knew where this vision was leading him to. But he submitted.
When God calls us for a purpose let us not draw back thinking of the difficulties. Jesus told Paul. “Do not be afraid for I am with you”
Paul’s mission: In obedience, Paul started preaching. He made three missionary trips. He raised disciples, planted churches and appointed elders in spite of opposition he faced wherever he went. But he never gave up. Nothing deterred him. He was not ashamed of the gospel. Rom. 1:16.
His passion: One thing stood out in his ministry. His passion! He was gripped with his passion for the Lord, for the church and for the souls. He was passionate in his preaching. He triumphantly declared that nothing would separate us from the love of Christ, whether tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword. What is our passion that grips us for Christ?
In Galatians 2:20 he says “ I am crucified with Christ. It is no longer I but Christ lives in me”
A mature Christian once said 3 things about the crucified life:
“A man on the cross can be facing only one direction.
There is no going back.
He can have no further plan of his own.”
I read the following story. One day after his conversion, Augustine had to attend to some business in his old haunts in Rome. As he walked along, a woman whose company he had formerly enjoyed saw him. She began calling, “Augustine, Augustine, it is I!” He looked at the disreputable woman and shuddered. Reminding himself of his new position in Christ, he quickly turned and ran from her, shouting, “It’s not I! It’s not I! ”
“ I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians. 2:20.”
