Bondservant and Apostle

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God...

Romans 1:1, NKJV

He was Paul.

Not Saul of Tarsus. No genealogy given. No credentials. No history. He was just Paul, voluntarily stripped of all the trappings of a former life. It's important that we should recognize, honestly and completely, that in spite of everything we say and do and accomplish, at the end of the day, at the end of a life, we are still just us. I am just Casey in the morning, and just Casey at night. No more, no less. I am what I am, and that's all that I am.

Paul knew who he was, and he also knew his place in life--first and foremost, he was a bondservant. He willingly recognized that he was a slave for life,bought and paid for by Jesus Christ. We are not our own. Jesus owns us, and has complete authority over us. He can do with us whatever He wants, and He has that right. We can, of course, refuse to serve Him, refuse to obey, refuse to conform, but we do so at our own risk. We are His slaves, His servants, His property!

And as our owner, He has the right to give us any assignment He desires. He calls us to Him and says, "Here, this is your job. This is what I want you to do." In Paul's case, the bondservant was called to be an apostle.

These days so much emphasis is placed on calling and titles and gifts--mostly in terms of positions and authority. It has been my experience that most people calling themselves "apostles" are doing so because they want to be honored and they want to exercise authority over others. But an apostle is simply an ambassador, an emissary, a personal representative. An apostle has authority only when he is under authority. It is indeed a high and holy calling, but also a heavy one.

He was Paul, the slave of Jesus Christ, who had assigned him as an emissary--but one with a purpose. He was separated to the Gospel. Set apart. Sanctified. His service, his calling, his reason for being was found in the good news! Romans is, for all intents and purposes, Paul's gospel, his message of salvation through Jesus Christ. It wasn't a message about Paul, or Paul's abilities, talents or accomplishments.

It was the gospel of Jesus Christ!