Paul

I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:16).

For Christians, Paul is one of the greatest teachers to follow Jesus. Raised to be a member of the religious elite, Paul was a scholar of Holy Scripture, advanced in his studies. When He met Jesus in a vision, Paul saw how the entire Old Testament pointed to Christ and His ministry of salvation. Paul organized three extensive missionary trips, establishing numerous congregations as he went. He wrote multiple letters, letters that were to be read in church as sermons, letters that were collected and made part of the New Testament. Yet for all his accomplishments Paul was a humble man, calling himself the worst of sinners.

Paul was not always humble—in fact, as a young man he was arrogant and full of himself. He did not accept Jesus as his Savior, not at first. When Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He told His followers to spread word of Him throughout the world. The message was simple—believe in Jesus and be saved, because without the forgiveness of Christ, heaven won’t be open to sinners. But Paul did not accept this teaching; he was convinced that Jesus was a fraud and that His followers were misleading people to eternal damnation. Paul became an eager destroyer of Christians, getting them arrested and approving their punishment by death. It was not until Jesus confronted Paul in a vision that the scholar realized how wrong he had been, how his arrogance had blinded him to the truth (to the detriment of his many victims).

We understand all too well the trap of pride. We confuse opinions with facts and stubbornly defend our views as if we know better than everyone else. Paul is an example for us that is both good and bad. God reminds us that when we accomplish something good, it is only with His help and despite the sin which taints everything we say and do. Paul writes, it is God who works in you, to make you willing and able to please him (Philippians 2:13). There are times when we let arrogant self-confidence lead us into acting like bullies; although we don’t enjoy it, praise God that He confronts us when we’ve gone off the rails. Because He corrects us, we can humbly admit that we’ve done wrong and receive the blessing of His undeserved mercy.