The Study: Romans 1:1 From a Saul who persecuted Christ to a Paul who proclaimed himself to be His slave!

TACKLING TODAY'S PASSAGE:  Romans 1:1  "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,..."

    As Christians, we rejoice in the life of the apostle Paul because he illustrates both the grace of God to love the one who hates Him and the power of God to transform that one into one of His most devoted servants.  When Stephen's body lay lifeless on the ground after being stoned to death by the "stiff-necked" Sanhedrin, it was Saul who was there, "giving approval to his death."  (Acts 8:1)  And his approval of Stephen's persecution was not just directed towards Stephen, but also to Christ Himself.  On his way to persecute more Christians in Damascus, Jesus struck him down with His light and spoke in his ear, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  (Acts 9:4)  Yet, later, the first thing that Paul would say in his letter to the saints in Rome is that he is now "a servant of Christ Jesus." (Romans 1:1)  Paul was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit from a persecutor of Christ to His personal "servant."  (Romans 1:1) 

     Paul's 180 degree turn around is both amazing and complete.  The word "servant" means a "bond slave" and according to the law of the bond slave in the Old Testament, a slave could choose to refuse his freedom and voluntarily remain with his master.  (Exodus 21:1-6)  This was the choice that Paul made.  God could have transformed him and forced Him to be His servant.  But, instead, while God did indeed change Saul from the inside out, He still allowed him to make the choice of who he would now serve.  Paul's choice was Jesus Christ.  He knew that Christ had set him free from his hateful life and that he now belonged to Him.  Paul gladly humbled himself and allowed himself to be Christ's servant and he did so because he had experienced God's amazing love and His transforming power.   

TUCKING THE TRUTH INTO MY HEART:  I Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, who you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought with a price.  Therefore honor God with your body."  

TAKING IT ON TO THE FIELD:

     Lord, help me to live today as a "bond slave" to your Son.  Like Paul, may the first thing that characterizes my life be my surrender and servanthood to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  ___________ (your name), "a servant of Christ Jesus."