Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,
The calling of God is not something to take lightly, either by the person called, nor by the people he serves. I think to the stories of David who when given the opportunity to find victory over Saul, a man by whom God’s spirit left, stated “Who am I to touch the Lord’s anointed.” David knew in his heart that the judgment of the called man did not come from men but from God. David also realized later in his life as the called king of Israel that the justice of God was far worse than the justice of men. Simply from scripture, we understand that as God calls we must respect and fear that calling.
God has gifted many men to fill pulpits today in His service. It is a common temptation for any minister to get distracted to serve any number of things other than the God he is called to serve. He is tempted to follow the will of the people of the church, people with good intentions, yet who often do not listen as keenly as they should to God’s will for the church. He is tempted to follow his own ambition and build a church that may produce external numbers, but leave the inside vacant of God. The minister as called by God is to be employed by, accountable to, and in service of God. He is called to take the church to places that it often might not find comfortable. He is called to care more for the spiritual things than the numerical things.
As we begin looking through the book of Corinthians, I want you to see Paul’s authority, and also see your pastors. Do follow them trusting that they are God’s called men, or do you view them as a people who are employed to you?
