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Wednesday, March 12
For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1 Corinthians 15:9)
Kim Hyun Hee blew up a Korean Air Lines plane in 1983. In jail she became a Christian, and now tells anyone who will listen how the risen Christ has changed her life. Manuel Noriega was converted to Christ in a Miami prison cell, then wrote letters back to his former drug cartel partners in Panama, telling them of his salvation and urging them to receive Christ. Lee Atwater was the most hated man in politics. Before he died of brain cancer he met the risen Christ personally. He wrote to all his political enemies, asking their forgiveness and explaining the gospel to them.
What would you say is the worst mistake you've ever made? Could God redeem even that failure for his glory and our good?
What God's word means
Paul has been citing his transforming encounter with the risen Christ as evidence for the resurrection. Now he explains his status outside God's grace. I am employs the Greek emphatic, literally translated, "I am especially . . ." The apostle is least ("most trivial, smallest, most insignifi cant") of ("among") the apostles ("delegates, messengers," referring to the leaders of early Christianity). In fact, he is not worthy ("not suffi cient, inadequate, unqualifi ed") to be called ("identifi ed as") an apostle. The reason: he persecuted ("ran after, chased, sought to harm") the church ("assembly, community, gathering") of ("belonging to") God.
Saul (Paul's Hebrew name) took part in Stephen's martyrdom by guarding the outer garments of those who stoned the rst martyr to death (Acts 7:58). Some scholars think this action identifi es him as the instigator of Stephen's murder. Luke notes that Saul "approved of their killing him" (Acts 8:1). Later, he was "still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples" (Acts 9:1), obtaining authority to imprison Christians in Damascus (v. 2). Ananias, a believer in that city, had already heard "many reports about this man and all the harm he has done" to believers in Jerusalem (v. 13). Paul later admitted to Timothy, "I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man" (1 Timothy 1:13). As a result, he called himself "the very least of all the saints" (Ephesians 3:8) and "the worst of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).
Why Easter matters
Abraham was a liar (Genesis 20:2). Jacob was a deceiver and thief (Genesis 27:5-29). Moses was a murderer (Exodus 2:12), as was King David (2 Samuel 11:15). Peter denied Jesus three times; all the apostles except John abandoned their Lord at the cross. And yet God used their lives and service to extend his Kingdom around the world.
As Augustine noted, "The enemy is more completely vanquished in the case of a man over whom he holds fuller sway." Think of the most notorious sinner you know. How would his or her salvation impact our world? Paul's life-changing encounter with the risen Lord proves that no fault can exempt us from God's use.
How to respond
God redeems all he allows. Ask him to redeem even your failures by using them to help you and others make him King. Look for ways to help others who are dealing with problems you have faced. Share your story of God's grace as the Spirit leads you, knowing that your courage and transparency will help others follow Jesus.
Changed people change the world.
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