An instrument in the hand of God.  Romans 15.17-21

It is told that once when Michelangelo began to carve a huge and shapeless block of marble, he said that his aim was to release the angel imprisoned in the stone.  I love that.  In many ways, that is how Paul looked at men …he saw what they could be if they surrendered themselves to Christ.1

Take Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, for instance.  In itself, it was quite ironic that Paul, a Hebrew among Hebrews, striving always to be made righteous by the Law … mentored by the Rabbi Gamaliel … hate-filled persecutor of the followers of The Way—any and all who endeavored to uphold Christ’s teaching--until God called this Hebrew to bring the Christian faith to the Gentiles.   How so?  Paul broke through with a ministry of the Word and the confirming work of the Holy Spirit, which included miracles that were wrought at his hands.   

Oh, yes, Paul’s ministry has been powerful!  At this point, he launches into a mini-retrospective:

“Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.    It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, ?and those who have not heard will understand.”  Romans 15.17-21

Paul has taught on humility—we have discussed it quite recently, but now we see it.  We see the character of the man, Paul, revealed once again.  Here we see Paul practicing what he preached, walking the ‘talk’, embodying humility in his service for Christ.  All glory goes to God, as he cites the source of his power—the Holy Spirit.  We do not see Paul saying, ‘yeah, it was rough—but I did it…’ or ‘look what I accomplished…’  No, Paul does not list the number of souls he had won for Christ, the various miracles he had worked, or the numerous churches he had established over his 10 years of laborious service on his three missionary journeys.  What an amazing amount of ground—both spiritually and geographically—Paul had covered! 

In one sentence, he sums up his missionary journeys—from Jerusalem in an arc all the way to Ilyricum—(some 1200 miles), preaching the gospel as he went.  His strategy was to evangelize the populous and influential cities, and plant churches, and then leave to others the radiation of the Gospel into the surrounding villages.2

See, Paul saw himself as an instrument in the hand of God, forever changed by the Savior, Jesus Christ.  And because of that, he laid his ‘all’ on the altar … whatever else he might have done, whoever else he might have been, whatever expectations his (very) Jewish lineage might have had for him, he was fully devoted to Jesus Christ.  And so, when God chose to use him, he was ready.  

Paul was an instrument in the hand of God.  ‘Reminds me of another story, which just might have application right here:  It seems that the change in the life of D. L. Moody came when he went to a meeting and heard a preacher say:  “If only one man would give himself entirely and without reserve to the Holy Spirit, what that Spirit might do with him!”  Moody said to himself, “Why should I not be that man?”  His spiritual legacy is renowned.  Moody was an instrument in the hand of God.

Paul – an instrument in the hand of God.  Moody – a more recent instrument in the hand of God.  Mother Teresa – an instrument in the hand of God.  Billy Graham – an instrument in the hand of God.  How about you?  How about me?  'Instruments in the hand of God?

Christine