DON’T LOSE YOUR INDIVIDUALITY (2)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9

“I did not rush out to consult with any human being.” Gal1:16 NLT

The apostle Paul never tried to emulate the other disciples who’d enjoyed an up close relationship with Jesus. When God arrested his heart and called him to preach to the Gentiles, he didn’t solicit any tips from the more experienced disciples who’d walked with Jesus on a daily basis. Consider his testimony: “It pleased [God] to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days” (vv.15-18 NLT). Although Paul could not boast of an earthly relationship with Jesus, he did not feel he brought any less to the table even in light of the fact that he had persecuted and killed many Christians. He would not allow his negative past to cause him to feel inadequate or unworthy of his divine assignment. He was even confident enough to rebuke Peter for his hypocrisy in eating and fellowshipping with Gentiles and then ignoring them when the Jews came around (see Gal 2). Writing to the Corinthian church, Paul said, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1Co15:10 NKJV). So the word for you today is be yourself; be who God made you to be, and He will bless you.