WHAT DOES GOD WANT?
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
(Romans 1:1)
The Apostle Paul starts his letter to the church in Rome with some very telling statements about himself. If we are careful to consider what he says in just this short introduction we can hear what it is that God is looking for in us.
First of all, Paul was a servant. The word he uses there actually means 'slave' and it describes an utter and complete devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the general calling that comes to every person who would seek to know God, he or she must come willingly to Christ and lay everything at His feet, every ambition, every desire, self-will, self-ego, they must all be given to Him in devotion.
When the Apostle Paul was converted on the Damascus Road he saw a supernatural revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, his first words were, "who are you, Lord?". When Jesus told him who He was his next words were those of complete devotion, they were, "what shall I do?". There was no care for himself here, he had a revelation of the Lord of Glory and he responded with a question that sought to know what would please God and fulfill His purpose. Too often today we have that backwards in the church. Too often it is about what we can get from God, how He can fill our needs. God is looking for men who will seek His desires and purpose first. He is looking for bond-servants, those who willingly surrender all rights to self-realization and desire that God's purposes be realized because they've had a glimpse of the love of God in Christ Jesus.
The result of such willing surrender on our part is that God can then give a man a special calling. In Paul's case it was the office of Apostle. Then came also a specific calling, Paul was set apart for the gospel. He became a spiritual father to multitudes through the revelation of the gospel he received from Christ and wrote to the churches, which writings now make up a large part of the New Testament in our Bibles. God's desires and purposes were indeed realized and we are greatly blessed as a result.
Through one life surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ the world has forever been changed. God is no respecter of persons, He can do the same through you if you will give Him the reigns to your life. Isn't the Lamb who was slain for the sins of the world worthy of our willing surrender, doesn't He deserve that?
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Ron Halverson
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