MEMORY VERSE: for I speak to you gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the gentiles, I magnify mine office. Romans 11:13
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 61-65, Proverbs 13
One of the secrets of Paul’s success in life, especially in ministry, is found in Paul’s epistle to the church in Rome. Romans 11:13 says: “ for I speak to you gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the gentiles, I magnify mine office.” Paul was a seasoned preacher of the word. He was in the ministry for donkey years. His children in the Lord were the likes of Titus and Timothy who later became great men of God. He was a mentor to great teachers like Priscilla and Aquila. These great teachers, Paul mentored and discipled, mentored other great teachers. (Priscilla and Aquila mentored and discipled Apollos - another great teacher of the Word in Acts 18:24-28). Through Paul’s ministry, many who were sick – mentally, physically, emotionally – were healed. Acts 19:11-12 says: “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” In terms of revelation, Paul was miles ahead of those he met in the ministry. Peter said this of Paul, “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction(2 Peter 3:16).”
In all ramifications, Paul was considered a success yet he said, “I magnify mine office.” In other words, I see my office as a big privilege so I bring honour to my ministry. Paul saw his position, especially in the body of Christ, as a privileged position. How we see things inform our attitude towards things. Our perception of a thing informs our attitude towards that thing. Paul saw everything God had given to him, including his achievements, as a privilege. God has brought ‘helpers of destiny’ to some, but because they did not see them as a privilege, they began to speak to them anyhow and take them for granted. At the end, these ‘helpers of destiny’ left without being able to do what God brought them to do. Church members that go out of their way to support the ministry are a privilege. Pastors whose priority is the well-being of their church members is a privilege. A good wife is a privilege. A good husband is a privilege. A well behaved child is a privilege. A well paid job is a privilege. A good mother in law is a privilege. So also is a good father in law. A supportive wife is a privilege. That friend that is always there when you need them is a privilege. All these things are privileges. There is someone out there who will literally give an arm to have them. Your good health is a privilege. Your life is a privilege because many die daily. Paul never for once thought that he deserved anything; he saw everything, even his success, as a privilege. The reason why many get godly counsel and still go and do what they want is because they do not consider that godly counsel as a privilege. Action they say speak louder than words. It is easy to tell a fellow who sees his job or post as a privilege from a fellow who does not see it as a privilege. If you see your job as a privilege you will not play with it. You will channel everything you have into it. You will do everything not to loose it. A fellow who sees his marriage as a privilege will do everything to make it work. It is easy to tell if a fellow sees a godly counsel as a privilege or not. Those who see godly counsel as a privilege usually act on the counsel given almost immediately.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY: One of the biggest privileges is the death of Christ on the cross for mankind. Today, you and I can repent and give our lives to Christ, fallen angels can not because God did not make provision for their redemption.
TO DO: Thank God for making provision for your redemption.
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