The Making of the Apostle Paul

#3 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, (1 Tim 1:1) Think of all the words the Holy Spirit could've used here instead of the word “commandment” He could've said, “by the appointment of God,” or “by the commissioning of God,” or “by the will of God,” but He didn't. He said “by the commandment of God!” The Greek word means, “by injunction or decree,” and it comes from another Greek word that means “to arrange upon.” The idea of “arrangement” should cause us to pause and consider Creation, by that I mean when God spoke, (commanded) things were “arranged upon” this earth by His command!. He commanded there to be light and there was! The point being, when God commands something, it happens! In this instance, God's commandment trumps free will. Paul had no choice in this matter. He would be an Apostle. We read about it when Jesus met Him on the road to Damascus in Ac 26:16-18, “'But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make (To what? To make! And that speaks of create!) And what did God purpose to make Paul? We continue in v16, “a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 'I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' In short, He made him an Apostle, sent to the Gentiles (you and I) to open our eyes and turn us to Jesus, that we may receive forgiveness from Him and an eternal inheritance in heaven! God said, Let there be light!” And there was! God said, “Let there be an Apostle Paul,” and there was! And because there was an Apostle Paul, the light of the Good News of salvation was brought to the nations! Brought to us! Thank You Father for the precious gift of Apostle's bearing light.