The Tanacity to face trials, rejection, and persecution!

As we read through Galatians, it is 1.15-2.3 in which Paul addresses his Apostleship to the Gentiles. Paul outlines his early years with: He makes a trip Arabia. He then returns to Damascus. Three years later he visits Cephas and remained with him for a few weeks. Fourteen years later, Paul and Barnabus take Tutus (apparently a Gentile) to Jerusalem to seek confirmation that their message to the Gentiles was not misguided.

Although, I believe there are several reasons which make Paul uniquely qualified to take the message to the Gentiles. The one which stands out to me as most prevalent is the verse in Acts (8.1) where he is giving approval over the death of Stephen. He also mentions the people were aware of his previous treatment of the believers in Gal. He had the credentials to speak the Jewish faith and education on the scriptures to realize the truth of Jesus.

Why would this be a helpful quality? Because everyone new and feared Paul. As he mentions in other letters, he was a Jew of Jews, highly educated, connected with all the influential people, and was zealous for the cause. Paul possessed drive and tenacity because of the fool he had been in the past. Taking the message to the Gentiles would take a person with the educated ability to examine the scriptures and debate with tradition. He would also need to have tenacity to endure the trials, rejection, and persecution on the journey. Paul's past flamed his present which uniquely qualified him for the task at hand.

Aren't we glad he did? You know I love ya, Don

Getting above the rats!

Airplane and a rat! An airplane pilot was flying his plane one day when he heard a scratching sound behind him. Knowing he was the only one on board, he quickly realized that it must be a rat. Putting on his oxygen mask, he began to increase altitude and continued this until the scratching and gnawing sounds stopped. After concluding his flight, the aviator searched his plane and found the dead body of the rat next to a hydraulic line that was almost chewed into. He had killed it by taking it to an altitude where there wasn’t enough oxygen to sustain its life. Had he not done so, that little rat could have taken the pilots life.

When we study the truths of the apostle’s teaching, we elevate ourselves to a place that eliminates the unrighteousness from our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 states, “ For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

It could be that you are having trouble in your life because your altitude is too low and you need to rise above the muck of the flesh and allow the Word of God to lift you up.

You know I love ya, Don