I'm in the midst of planning a wedding with my niece, Emma. She has chosen mid-winter in most-likely-to-snow, central New York, for a wedding date. She has opted to go without a wedding rehearsal in spite of having ten people in the wedding party. The logistics will be like having ten people trying to read Emma's mind.
I know Emma and her divorced parents (my sister), and some of the conflict I will walk into when I arrive just 24 hours before the BIG event. I do not know the in-laws, and didn't do any of the premarital counseling. That was hired out by a local marriage specialist.
Our planning is progressing in a rather falter-step manner by phone and disjointed e-mails. As I write to Emma, my goal is to clearly express my questions and ideas without stepping on her toes. As the wedding expert, I'm trying to make for good memories in what seems to be a less-than-ideal wedding plan.
In all of this, I have been developing a new appreciation for carefully chosen words. It is so easy to read what has not been said. It is so easy to miss what has actually been said. My only comfort in all of this is the fast getaway I will be able to make after Emma says "I do."
Each time I read the letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome, I wonder about the care he exercised as he shared his heart, deep theology, and life-changing truth with a church family he had yet to meet face-to-face.
Paul intended to visit the Roman church. And so he wrote in anticipation of his visit. He wanted the congregation to be ready for his arrival. In an attempt to make the most of his visit, he sent a letter of introduction. But Paul, being Paul, struggled to focus upon himself. He kept losing his place in his letter of self-introduction. Paul repeatedly found himself talking about Jesus and salvation.
I think a closer look at Paul's struggle to stay on task might help us develop a healthy, biblical self-image. Paul began as we might begin, "Hello!"
Romans 1:1 . . . Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
In one short line, Paul carefully identified himself:
"Paul" . . . that was his name. By this point in his life, Paul's reputation preceded him. The mention of his name elicited a response, good or bad. Few were without an opinion on Paul.
"a servant of Christ Jesus" . . . this was his relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul did not think lightly of the salvation Christ provided. And Paul knew his place before Almighty God. God is God, not a buddy or his co-pilot.
"called to be an apostle" . . . this was Paul's ministry, and it was not his idea. Paul had been called by Jesus to serve the Church as an apostle. Paul had been gifted by God, and specifically given to the Church as a visionary. Apostles were instrumental in the establishing of the Church (Eph. 4). Paul, as an apostle, started Bible study groups, planted churches.
"set apart for the gospel of God" . . . Paul's purpose for daily life was found in this calling. Sharing the Christ of the Cross was Paul's whole life. This was not just a job. This was not just a hobby. Paul did not struggle to find his place in this world.
It is at this point, the mention of the gospel, that Paul wandered from the intention of his letter. Paul wrote, "My life is the gospel...." And Jesus came to mind:
Romans 1:2 . . . the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures {3} regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, {4} and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
The gospel Paul proclaimed was the substance of the prophetic message of the Old Testament. Paul's life purpose was to proclaim "salvation has come." This gospel is the message regarding the Coming of God's Son, the Christmas story, and the Resurrection of God's Son, the Easter story.
Paul's message clearly explained Jesus: David's son, a human, God's son, God in the flesh. And it is this Jesus, the son of David, the Son of God, who is the Messiah, the long-promised deliverer. Born of a virgin, grown into perfect manhood, sacrificed as an innocent upon a Cross, buried three days, Jesus was raised victoriously from the dead.
And He calls you and me to shelter in the safety of His salvation, to surrender to His Lordship, to fully embrace the life He has made possible. How sad it is, when we seem to draw close to Jesus, and yet fail to embrace all that He freely offers.
It is this Jesus, and this gospel message, that provided the purpose for Paul's daily life and ministry:
Romans 1:5 . . . Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
Please notice the source of Paul's calling: Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship....
Christ Himself was the source of Paul's calling. And that, my friends, is assurance of a successful ministry. Jesus does all things well.
Further, Jesus is not only the source, He is also the recipient of the fruit of the gospel. That God's grace allowed for Paul to be an apostle, was magnified in that Paul's ministry as an apostle returned to Christ the fruit of the gospel: new believers, new family, a steadily growing worldwide Church.
And so, Paul went about his calling, not so much as a chore, but as a delight. He joyfully served Jesus. From the first century, forward, to this very day, the Church has continued to grow. And we, you and I, are part of this growth:
Romans 1:6 . . . And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
We are the Church!
And because we are the Church, like the apostle Paul, we too belong to Jesus Christ. We have been called by Jesus, and by faith, have embraced Jesus. If that is who we are, then we have also, like Paul, been gifted and enabled to serve as the Church, as Jesus' hands and feet. What remains then is the lifelong process of realizing and making the most of our gifts and graces.
But that is another sermon, or many sermons. Actually, that should be the content of your Bible study life, personal and corporate, as well as your various attempts to serve Jesus. You see, it seems to me that we learn best by trying to do.
For now, though, as we apply what we have gleaned from Paul's words, I want to ask: How would you measure your life? Are you, like Paul, able to define yourself in terms of your relationship with Jesus? Is who/what you are because of Jesus in/through you? Or would you, instead, need to admit that your life is better defined in terms of self and self-achievement? "I am what I have made myself to be."
It is so easy to make our lives about ourselves: My name is Les. I love to eat really good food. And now I'm a bit overweight and on a diet. My name is Lance. I own a lot of expensive stuff. And I work all the time to pay the bills. My name is Harry. I guess I'm what you might call . . . lazy. And now, I find myself without.
Regardless what your story line is, know that there is more, and that more is found with Jesus. Paul offers a model for a biblical self image that IS a better kind of life. We might think it humorous that Paul seems to slip in his thinking about himself to thinking about Jesus. But that is the better life, a life that finds itself wrapped up with, and consumed by, a relationship with Jesus.
If we find ourselves defined by accomplishments, possessions or performance, we have a self image defined by self. These self images tend to be fragile, easily damaged. A loss or failure is more than enough to begin a downward spiral toward self-doubt or self-loathing.
But a person who looks to Jesus, and to the excitement of a relationship with Almighty God as "of utmost" importance, self image is drawn from life in Christ. This kind of self image is durable, not based upon what changes, but rather, is based upon the One who never changes.
We would do well to ask God to help us discover who we are, not who we think we are, or who we want to be. We need to be honest about ourselves. It is this self-realization that opens the door to change.
Further, we need to actively seek after this better life. It is available, ever and always near, but must be desired. We must seek and strive for that which is available.
So . . . who are you? Is this enough?
