I'm not the only one with a sorted background, so this is for those like me ... all you other sin prone humans such as myself. If you are without sin, then congratulations ... and grab a rock and assume the position for the next stoning ... but if you are a sinner that is forgiven of much, then lets talk about our backgrounds, shall we?
Paul had a background that probably could have caused embarrassment for him. After all, he was the Lord's number one enemy, and would be considered a serial killer by today's standards. He was a regular Hitler, and now as asked to serve those that were friends of the people for which they just finished digging the last set of graves. I like the way that Paul handled his background, though.
Make your background your foreground.
There will always be pious elitist that think they are above reproach. These are the character assassinators that lurk with the sick devotion to bringing others down ... making us sorry slobs into spectacles of disdain. Paul faced them by beating them to the punch.
They said he was guilty ... Paul said he was the chief of sinners.
They tried to embarrass him about his weakness ... and he made weakness into one-third of his boast (the other boasts are the Gospel and the power of God to save a wretch like him.)
I don't mean that we give every gross detail to every misdeed that we have committed. That would not be right to remember what God, Himself, has already forgotten ... I am talking about confessing our weakness, the root of the sin. In other words, don't say you slugged your enemy in the arm (for example) say that you have a temper that is worse than a heathen's and that it is a miracle that you haven't mauled more people than you have, or that you are not behind a locked cell-door, because aside from the grace of God that is where you would be. Don't say things specifically limiting it to the trespasses that you did, but go deeper to the real heart of the matter ... that you are a wreck without God, and one moment without Him, you are no better than Hitler ... because you are that weak.
2Co 11:30
If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.
2Co 12:9b
... I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
04/30/08 @ 01:06
04/30/08 @ 09:46
04/30/08 @ 12:52 Know this, Beloved, some of the boys represent people in your life and the world, who will try to cut you down and sway you from your task; and all represent the many hordes of demons sent by the evil one, for they can not desecrate your beliefs, so they will try to rip them from your body with pain and anguish. (Persevere When Adversity Comes...Your Redemption Draws Nigh - Letters from God and His Christ - Volume 1)
