Roaming in Romans
The promise is “peace that transcends understanding.”
That alone should set the alarm bells ringing loudly.
And what must I invest for this priceless gift?
Nothing! Nothing?
What’s the catch?
Conclusion: An imposter is scamming me!
My inner voice is screaming: “Check the credentials!”
Paul’s Credentials
I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God’s words and acts. (Romans 1:1 The Message)
He is a slave
Four things are pertinent concerning a slave:
- Absolute obedience constrains him.
Slaves do not punch time clocks or have off hours. They cannot resign or choose their assignments. They cannot argue about their assignments. Paul’s words were spoken in obedience and not concocted in the laboratory of his own mind. (Galatians 1:11-2:10)
- A great love binds him.
In the Hebrew scheme, slaves were to be released after 7 years. Slaves could elect to remain in the ownership of their masters when the time came for their release. This indicated they were happy in the household, they loved their master. A slave who elected this option would have his ear pierced by pinning it to the door post with an awl. This was a sign that symbolized his ear was open to hear his master and he was fixed to the household. Paul opted to remain in the service of the greatest King for the rest of his life.
- A great office honored him.
He is not just any slave – he is a slave of Jesus Christ. Far from being embarrassed, there is immense pride by the addition of the words “of Jesus Christ”. Slaves no doubt boasted of the great houses they served in. “You belong to who? I belong to Caesar!” While the world may pity his slavery, he is honored to serve such a great King.
- A humble attitude envelops him.
He always defers to the King. He does not put on airs or seek to promote self. He dies daily with great cheerfulness. This relationship alone brings significance to life and all else is relatively trivial. He lives humbly and happily as a slave of Jesus Christ.
He is called to be an apostle – A Plenipotentiary
A slave is the lowest denominator in society. Slaves do not generally generate a lot of excitement. As menials they can be ignored as safely as little sisters. An Apostle, on the other hand, is a specially chosen and authorized envoy, of the same order as an ambassador. These officers are known as “plenipotentiaries”. They are empowered (potent) in all areas (pleni). His call to the office is exceptional. Intently bent on stamping out Christ and his followers, God interrupted his agenda in a most dramatic way. (Acts 9:1-18) His message was imparted to him directly. (Gal 2:12)
He is set apart for the gospel
Paul is of the order of a Test Pilot, a breed apart and set apart for a specific function. They are unique in their capabilities and have honed their skills through rigorous and arduous discipline. God called Paul from his mother’s womb, uniquely equipping him from conception, overseeing his development, so setting him apart for this exceptional calling.
His credentials are impeccable and are backed by the authority of God himself.
They minimize the man, exalt the office and authenticate his message. We may fully expect to enjoy all the benefits of the spectacular promise. We will see that the message itself also has authenticating credentials, which will make a sure thing made more certain.
Reflections
Slavery requires application in four areas of life. Assess yourself in each category, with 10 being perfect and 1 being pathetic. Ask someone close to you to honestly assess you in the same way. Confess your sin and then determine specific ways to bring about improvement. Ask your honest assessor to hold you accountable. Do this not as a duty, but as an exercise in demonstration of your love for God. In other words, be relaxed, concentrate on the friendship and enjoy his encouragement.
How should the idea of being Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20) impact you today?
You too have a calling. You too are uniquely conceived and your life has been an equipping for service. Let this astonishing fact elevate your life this day. “For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13)
Would you describe yourself as a person who knows this “peace that transcends understanding?” Recent data shows that unclaimed lottery winnings have averaged between $40 million and $50 million annually.
Unclaimed!
Peace is like a winning lottery ticket. All you have to do is cash it in. How? Remember who God is, then pray: “Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of peace. You are in charge now.” Every time you feel disturbed, focus on God’s greatness and repeat the prayer. Initially it may mean praying it once every ten minutes! Gradually the truth will take hold and the peace will become pervasive.
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