Paul, the leader who took others with him

Saul was stopped by God - Jesus Himself - on the road to Damascus. Where he was working in all his own strength he had to give way to the power of God. For the next three days, he was blind; by the hand of another, he had to continue his way. And what was he going to do? Pray (Acts 9:11).

Jesus sent Ananias to him and assured him that this Saul was chosen by Him to bring His name to the Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. Wow, what a calling.

Saul, Paul - a powerful personality - knows what he is called to do, and he also knows that he cannot and need not do everything himself. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, we read that he indicates that "planters" are needed, but also "waterers”. Different roles. Paul works together. He knows his limits and - as he needed to be taken by the hand - in his calling he now takes others with him.

He makes an explicit invitation in 1 Corinthians 11:1. In my own words: follow me, come after me, do as I do - as I follow Christ. The ultimate benchmark is Jesus, Christ. And therein the invitation. Come along, follow, do as I do. Are you following Paul as Paul followed Christ? And do you extend that invitation to others? Follow me, let's follow Jesus together. Together. Focus on Jesus.

A very concrete example of this is how Paul dealt with Timothy. Paul talks about him as his "son in the faith" (1 Tim 1:2). Do you see the picture of "father" and "son"? That's how Paul dealt with Timothy. He instructed him, he cared for him. He demonstrated, corrected, encouraged and inhibited. Wonderful right?

A key verse in this is found in 2 Timothy 2:2. Paul encourages Timothy - his son in the faith - to pass on what he has received to trustworthy people who, in turn, are also able to pass it on. Receive and pass on, and receive and pass on again. From Paul to Timothy, and from Timothy to another trustworthy person, and from there on again. Do you see the movement developing? That's what Paul has in mind. And that's why Paul takes Timothy - and in addition, of course, others.

What about you? Who do you take with you? To whom do you make the invitation "follow me, for I also follow Jesus?" At its core, then, we're talking about discipleship, and tomorrow we'll look at how Jesus did that.

It was Jesus' last words: "go, and make disciples." Paul gives us a wonderful - and practical - example.

Take the following questions to think about & take action on:

• Paul was stopped on the road to Damascus. Have you, too, ever been stopped by God? When was that? What did God say to you at that time?
• Have you ever received that invitation, "Follow me as I follow Christ?" What does this do to you?
• Have you ever given that invitation to someone else, "Follow me as I follow Christ"? Why or why not?
• Is there someone you could take with you on your "way" following Jesus? What concrete step could you take?
• What place does discipleship have in your life in this way?

Prayer:

"Lord Jesus, how brightly are the examples You give in Your Word. Thank You for that. Would You give me the courage, like Paul, like Timothy, to follow after You, and take others with me in that? Help me to serve and lead as a servant leader. Help me also - like You and like Paul - to be willing to suffer for that as well. Teach me Lord, because I do not yet know exactly how to do this. Help me to take one step after You today. Amen."