It’s one thing to claim authority when speaking in person to a live audience; quite another to write and have your motives and voice understood. Paul addressed that “elephant in the room” with this part of his letter, trying to help his readers trust him. Do you think any of his readers wondered about Paul’s intentions or questioned his humanity?
For us, looking back on the scene of Paul’s first audience reading these words, it makes sense that Paul would continually need to build his rapport. Paul wanted to bond with the people and yet give them reason to trust him and his teachings. The message of Christ he shared was just too important.
Did you notice that Paul referred to the actions of “these other men”? He’ll speak to that more coming up in his letter. It’s good for us to realize that even in Paul’s day the people were hearing many different voices, including voices of the world trying to distort the truth and draw them away from Jesus. We know that God never changes, but it seems the evil one’s schemes remain very similar.
If we are going to put our trust or belief in someone, like Paul, it does help to get to know him. For many Jews, they remembered Paul as the attacker and enemy of Jesus’ followers in the early days. Paul wasn’t always on “Team Jesus.” Since his conversion and recruitment for the gospel, Paul never pointed to his own greatness, but to the greatness of Jesus. Paul was not afraid to put himself in harm’s way if that meant he could preach the Good News. That’s a model we can all certainly follow. Do you ever find it hard to be bold like that?
Paul likes to use Scripture because it calls on the authority of God and not himself. He quotes from Jeremiah 9:24, which says, “But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Our boasting should be of holy things our majestic Father has accomplished. There are plenty of examples of God’s work in our own lives and communities to talk about. Take a moment to reflect on God’s goodness.
Giving God the glory should always be our main goal. We do that in the way we live our lives, the choices we make, the positions we take, the things we say to encourage others, and the ways we spend our quiet time. Everything we do, we can do to please and honor God. Psalm 19:14 gives us a great prayer to use: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Paul said this in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
Let’s pray. Lord Jesus, I want the world to see clearly that my motive is to glorify you in all I say and do. Forgive me when I fall short. Thank you for picking me up and setting my feet on the solid ground of your Word. I trust you with my life. I am so grateful for leaders like Paul who show us how it doesn’t matter who we’ve been, but who we proclaim as Lord of our lives. That is my mission, and I ask for your strength to help me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
