Have you ever wonder why the Apostle Paul was chosen by the Holy Spirit to write so much of the New Testament?
I have.
Paul speaks of receiving a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet him; because of the abundance of the revelations.
But why did he receive the abundance of revelations?
After all there were twelve other Apostles before him, and they had actually spent time with the Lord during His Earthly Ministry. Actually, as far as we know the Apostle Paul spent no time at all with Jesus during His Earthly Ministry. The only time spent with Jesus, I believe, was during times when the Lord gave him revelations.
So why then, can we suppose, was Apostle given such an abundance of revelations, and why was he called upon to pen such a large portion of the New Testament?
SUCH SIN
Before Paul’s Apostleship, which the Lord established, he was very likely one of the vilest offenders to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that existed at that time, or perhaps any time.
He actively persecuted the Church; bringing Christians bound for trial that said Christians might be further persecuted.
When Jesus revealed Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus, the reality of how filthy of an unworthy sinner Paul was must have begun to sink into his consciousness.
I recall Jesus saying, whoever is forgiven much, the same will love much. Within these words I believe lies at least part of the reason why the New Covenant was revealed to Apostle Paul in such a great way.
I can very well imagine, and I think rightly so that Paul was very humbled and perhaps more appreciative of the gift of Righteousness than anyone during those historic times.
And being very appreciative and humbled by the Mercy and Grace given unto him, I am quite certain that he was also very likely more thankful than most people, and perhaps more thankful than anyone of that time.
I believe that herein lies the secret or at least part of the secret of why God chose Paul to reveal the New Covenant to, most fully and also to whom was given the task of penning so large a portion of the New Testament.
When one is forgiven much, that one will also love much. When one loves much, that one will also praise, and be thankful much, because it is easy to keep in mind what Christ has done for us when we have in memory how awful was our past in the sight of God.
Most of us have not done so repugnant of sins in the sight of God as Apostle Paul. But this is precisely what kept Paul in a position of thankfulness. How precious must have been the fact that he was now IN Christ, after he had done such harm to Christ’s Church. Paul could have in no way paid his debt to God, just as none of us can.
But I believe he was inclined to be thankful and praise the Lord continually, Heb. 13:15. It was this attitude of continual praise which I believe allowed the Holy Spirit to work so mightily in his life.
Most of us surely do not have the depredating sin history that Paul did, never the less we have all sinned seriously enough to spend eternity in Hell.
My suggestion is for us to take time to humble ourselves, remembering from where we come. And be thankful on a continual basis for the same Grace being given to us as was given to Apostle Paul. I firmly believe that upon doing this, the Holy Spirit will honor our praise and thankfulness with fresh revelations from His Word and Blessings which can be received in no other way.
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