For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 1 Timothy 2:7 ESV
Paul fully understands and knows his calling. It does not make him better or less than anybody else. It just helps him accept what he is and what he is not. He knew he was appointed as a preacher. That preaching is something he was called and designed by God to do. If he will not preached it will go against God's design for his life. On the other hand, by giving his best as a preacher of God's word will allow him to function in his design and be useful for God's grand design. He was also appointed as an apostle. The origin in the Greek is apostolos which means send forth. With this, he understand what it takes. He knows that God may and will send him to territories uncharted before. That there will times God will use him as trailblazers to some regions of the world, that there will be places that God will send him to that had never heard the Gospel before. By understanding that, it will remove from him any excuse when God sends him to new territories. He will not dare say... Lord, why me? why are you sending me to this place? There are other people for that. Understanding our calling makes it easier for us to follow. Understanding where we are in the big picture will help us fulfill our roles and not feel better nor inferior with anybody else. We understand that we are part of the bigger plan, and that plan is not ours but God's.
Paul also understand that he was called as a teacher to the Gentiles. That even though he tried teaching and preaching to the Jews, he sees the bigger picture that if they (the Jews) will not respond to him, an audience had been set forth by God for Him, the Gentiles. 24 December
תגובות