The Right Stuff

When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the church at Colossae, he began by doing what he did in all the other letters.  He identified himself.  He told the people who received the letter who was doing the writing.  He did not wait until the end when he finished writing, but at the very beginning so that there would be no confusion about who was writing what.  The very first verse says, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God..."    An apostle was one was sent or commissioned.  It was not a personal choice, but one made by God and, in this case, accepted by the Apostle Paul.    

Paul was not one to take on titles for personal exaltation.  He wore the title "Apostle" because he understood it to be "the will of God."  It always seemed a bit strange to me back in my seminary days that some folks showed up not because they sensed God calling them to ministry, but to see if the ministry really suited them.  And while I know some very good pastors today who went uncertain of their calling, it seemed to be something different to go to see if it fit their plans for the future.  Ambiguity about such an important matter did then and continues to be something out of place for those who seek to give leadership to the church.    

In Paul's case the gospel of Jesus Christ and its ministry was not something he chose, but something which chose him.  And once he came to an awareness of that divine choosing, he never looked back at what might have been.  It could be said that he was whole heartedly sold out for Jesus.  To remember a simple song, there was no turning back.  The church still needs those kinds of leaders today.  It does not need the "let's check it out" kind of leaders, but the ones who are so gripped by the power of the gospel, their love for Christ, and their conviciton of calling that their life is no longer theirs, but the Christ who calls them to come and die with Him.