Daily Word of Grace # 167 (November 4, 2020)
The Apostle Paul, who penned thirteen of the epistles in the New Testament is arguably the most influential person, outside of Jesus Christ of course, in the history of Christianity. And yet many of his contemporaries considered him a second class apostle, for a couple reasons. First, unlike other apostles like Peter and John, Paul had not been an eyewitness of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry but rather had converted as a result of his encounter with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9)—and therefore considered a “Johnny come lately.” Second, prior to his conversion, Paul had actually taken part in persecuting the Christian church, as he later wrote, “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence” (1 Timothy 1:13). And yet, there was something infinitely more important than both of these: God’s grace in Jesus Christ—as Paul put it, “the grace of our Lord overflowed for me” (1 Timothy 1:14) and “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:10). What was true of Paul is true for you. God’s grace is infinitely more important than any lack you may have, as well as your past. The Body of Christ consists of redeemed sinners, and because of God’s grace, there is no such thing as a second class apostle or a second class saint.
Love and Prayers,
Dave