As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace[.]

1 Peter 4

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace[.] 1 Peter 4:10

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter eleven - Rigorous in Reasoning, Transparent in Feeling.  Here, John Pipers shares his love for Paul based on Paul's combination of strengths to both reason (and articulate his reason both in written and spoken mediums), and to be in firm grasp of his own emotions which he is able to harness to empathize with others and win their hearts. Piper first starts by describing how others viewed Paul's intellect, first by pointing to Roman Governor Festus (Acts 26:24), then to Peter (2 Peter 3:16). Piper then shares scripture where Paul encourages all believers to think for themselves (1 Corinthians 10:15, 14:20, 2 Timothy 2:7).  He continues by moving to Paul's emotional maturity, describing both his own emotions and challenges as well as his profound sense of care for others (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, Philippians 1:8, 4:1, Philemon 1:12, 2 Corinthians 6:11-13).  While this is a rare combination of strengths for anyone to possess, we are encouraged to develop these capabilities as God gives them to us, and use them in His service.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You have blessed me through others - through Paul's writings, and the love and care of others working in Your service.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love, care, and blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 15

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:3-9

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter one - From Angry Killer to Apostle of Christ.  The emphasis in this chapter is the remarkable - and of course, divine - transformation of Paul.  The chapter starts by ensuring we know about Paul as a Jew.  He was born a Pharisee (the strictest sect of Judaism - see Acts 26:5), and studied Jewish law and traditions under Gamaliel (one of the most esteemed teachers among all Jews - see Acts 22:3, 5:34).  Paul was also known for his "radical commitment to the strictest traditions" (see Galatians 1:14, Philippians 3:5-6) - his pedigree was unmatched among his peers and considered advanced. Yet, as he sought to bring followers to Jesus to trial (and ultimately death) (see Acts 9:1-2), Paul encountered the living Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-5). Christ gave Paul a mission to preach the Good News to the Gentiles (see Acts 9:15-16). Paul was transformed in an instant and expressed the same zeal he had persecuting Jews to preach to the Gentiles (see Galatians 1:13, 23-24) - it was of course noticeable. Paul's life became a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and his testimony was of course compelling. At the end of the chapter, John Piper refers us to 1 Timothy 1:16 where Paul describes his mission:

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost [sinner], Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 

God wants ALL believers to show how others how His perfect patience lives in us as an example to others....so that they may believe.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and Your Word is perfect in all ways that I may be sanctified by it and made more like You.  Thank You Jesus for the blessing of Your Word.  I am not deserving of such grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Galatians. 1:1, 11–16; 1 Corinthians 14:37–38; 15:1–9, 20–25; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:9

Today, I start a new study looking at the life of Paul, and using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I start with the Introduction.  I am compelled to look more closely at Paul because of his stature in scripture - he wrote 13 books of the New Testament - and because his words specifically reach deep into my heart to challenge me, sharpen me, encourage me, etc. In the Introduction, Piper writes how Paul does not claim to be Lord, but he "does claim to be an authoritative and truthful apostle— an   authorized representative and spokesman— for Jesus Christ, whom he says has been raised from the dead and is reigning over the universe and will come again in glory (see also Galatians. 1:1, 11–16; 1 Corinthians 14:37–38; 15:1–9, 20–25; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17)."* My objective is to better understand Paul, and in so doing, love and admire Paul as John Piper does and ultimately to grow in how I see Jesus as the "supreme Treasure of [my] life."

*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good and Your Word is good and perfect - and I seek to better understand Your Word by examining Paul who wrote much of Your Word as a divine prophet and message speaking on Your behalf.  I am not worthy of how You reveal Yourself to me...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.