Heroes: Devotions From Time of Grace MinistrySample

HUMILITY: PAUL

How could you have been an apostle of St. Paul's caliber and not gotten a big head? How could you not be arrogant after receiving personal revelations from the Lord Jesus Christ, given apostolic authority to proclaim God's very words directly, given the ability to perform amazing miracles, authorized to write 13 books of the New Testament, and even given power to raise a young man from the dead?

Here's how. "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy" (1 Timothy 1:15,16).

Paul had painful memories of his early life. As a young man he had viciously persecuted believers in Christ. He had watched approvingly as the first martyr, Stephen, was stoned to death. He had personally seen to the arrest and imprisonment of many Christians.

Thus he was always aware that everything good in his life was worked in him by God's mercy. Can you say with me, "Everything good in my life was worked by God's mercy"?