Paul (formerly called Saul) was an apostle of Jesus Christ – not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead (Galatians 1:1). And he was not someone who was looking for human approval, either, nor was he trying to please other humans, or else he would not be a servant of Christ/of God (vv. 10-12). But he had a past, for he was once a persecutor of Christians who tried to destroy the church, the body of believers in Jesus Christ (vv. 13-14).
Paul said, “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 3:7-10 ESV)
Paul said, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Philippians 1:12-14 ESV)
Paul said, “..For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Philippians 3:8-12 ESV)
Paul said, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:17-19 ESV)
Paul said, (speaking of Jesus Christ) “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28-29 ESV)
Paul said, “For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-5 ESV)
Paul said, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV)
The apostle Paul was a man of sincere faith in Jesus Christ who took his calling from God to heart, and who did what the Lord told him to do, even if it meant being misjudged, hated, persecuted, rejected, falsely accused of wrongdoing, imprisoned, and beaten and left to die. And he spoke the words that God had him to speak, too, even to give testimony of God’s calling on his life and of how God was using him for his purposes and for his glory, and even to say what was not most popular among the people, too.
Now, if we read some of the words that he wrote about himself and of God’s calling upon his life and of his walk of faith and ministry, if we are thinking from a purely humanistic viewpoint, we might regard him as a prideful man who was always bragging about himself and how God was using him. And we might consider it audacious for him to suggest to other humans that they should imitate him and his walk of faith in the Lord Jesus. And we might regard his seriousness of faith “over the top,” and thus prideful.
And what I am finding much of in today’s “Christian” culture is this idea that if you live a holy life, pleasing to God, and if you follow the Lord in obedience to his commands, and if sin is not your practice, and if you take his calling upon your life seriously, and so you actually do what he has called you to do, then you might be regarded, not only as an odd-ball, but as someone who is overtly religious and prideful. And they would really be more comfortable with you if you were less committed to Christ and a little more worldly.
Basically, if you do your best to serve the Lord faithfully, and so you don’t sway and you don’t compromise on purpose, and so you don’t sin a little here or there just to prove you are not a religious fanatic, you might be regarded as prideful just because you are pursuing holy living and faithful surrender to the will of God for your life. But one does not have to naturally result in the other. And full surrender to the will of God for our lives actually engages true humility, and not pride which would lead us to compromise.
But we can’t be concerned with what other people are thinking of us or how they might view our walks of faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus. We just need to surrender our lives to the Lord, follow his lead, go where he sends us, do what he has called us to do, and say whatever he gives us to say. And we must continue to do our best, even if our best is regarded by other humans as something that is prideful or “over the top.” For we are answerable to the Lord for how we live, and it is him we must please.
[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-19; John 15:1-21; John 16:33; John 17:14; Acts 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Eph 6:10-20; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]
Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer
Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897
Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg
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