Apostleship
Paul describes himself as an "apostle" in this passage. The word means: sent one or one being sent. We derive the word missionary from this term. The fact that Paul was sent for a particular task causes me to think about a couple of things.
1) He was chosen. In John 15:16, Jesus states that He clearly had chosen the disciples to go forth and bear fruit. God always chooses us to send us forward and to bear fruit. Being chosen means that God places a certain amount of trust in us to allow His plan to be accomplished through us. Paul clearly understood his calling as he stated in Philippians 3:13-14. He was to forget the past and move forward to fruit! He was sent to bear fruit, not bear the past!
2) God's Will. God could have chosen others for the task but Paul recognized his calling. It is imperative that we understand that where we are, doing what we do is by God's Will and design. God has gladly chosen us for the tasks He has given us. In His foreknowledge He selected us to do certain things and tasks that are for us alone. The mission is for the missionary and every missionary has a mission. God selected Paul for a certain mission and He has selected you and I for very different ones. Nonetheless, we are able to do all that we can do by God's willful selection of us! How amazing! God designs each of us as He desires. We would all do well to simply allow Him to send whom He will where He wills. And as He does, we must each serve our purpose in each place, bearing fruit that will remain.
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