The Faithfulness of Paul

 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 1 Corinthians 15:31

If you ever needed an exemplary Christian role model - it would be Paul.

Paul took Jesus' words to heart when he said take up thy cross and follow me. I think this was his life's motto. When we look at the life Paul lived following his conversion, we see shipwrecks, stonings, running for his life from city to city, and imprisonment. Yet, through it all, he remained faithful to God and the work He called him to do. Each day, Paul rose with the thought, today is about His work, not about my comfort or my entertainment. "Today, I will let my wants, desires, and will die to His will."

Can we say this? All too often, we probably can't. Close your eyes and really think about how you would act if you were lowered from the city wall in a basket to escape death, or at the very least, a lashing. Would we have sat in a rotten jail with the smells, the rats, and the other things we really don't want to mention singing hymns and praising God? Do we, like Paul, make God's will prominent in our lives, regardless of the outcome?

The answer is no. Let's be real, we won't be faithful to church given the chance to do something else. When is the last time we shared our faith with someone? A stranger at the store, our family who is lost, or even in church during testimony time?

When we come to the close of our life, will we be able to truthfully say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" as Paul did? There's still time.

Make today the beginning of a Paul-like spiritual journey.

C