“But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.”
(Galatians 1:15–17, ESV)
When a married couple decides to begin a family, they take many amazing steps. Generally, there is a discussion about actually having a child and then the act of conception. Yet it is the discussion that is amazing. I know of no couple who has decided to have a child that has ever planned for their child to be an abject failure or dirge on society. No, they want the best for the child. Before the baby is even conceived in the womb the parents’ hearts’ desire is for the child to grow up and experience a fruitful life. Moreover, plans are discussed in what steps they will take in helping this along.
Following the birth, the parents are actively engaged in the child’s life through nurture in body and spirit. The parents provide physical care for the child. They also provide the most vital early education. Learning to speak and care for themselves is something that children learn from their parents at an early age. Even later in life, many if not all provide an ongoing presence and care for their children.
As I have spoken to many people about God, I have been amazed to find some, even professing believers, who have a small view God. They view the Heavenly Father as one sitting in a distant place in the universe who is disassociated with the affairs of men. Yet this is not the picture given in the Bible.
In this passage, Paul indicated something very important to know. He indicated that God had, like a good parent, had a plan for Paul’s life before he was born. God had established a plan for Paul’s life, one that was quite unique. He was to be an Apostle to the remote regions, presenting the message of the gospel to regions where it had not been preached before.
However, Paul would never be able to preach such a message effectively unless he had personally experienced the wonder of God’s grace in Christ. Paul indicated here that at the appropriate time, God revealed Jesus to him. It was a revelation that resulted in Paul’s salvation.
Yet the preparation of Paul for this great mission did not stop there. Paul, who as a Pharisee was a master of the Old Testament Scriptures, still needed to understand many things. Prior to his conversion Paul’s theological understanding of the way of grace was significantly flawed. He had much to learn. So, he went away into Arabia for three years where he convened with the Lord. It is there that the Holy Spirit, by the work of illuminating the Scriptures, honed Paul’s theology of salvation by grace through faith.
Every person who come to faith in Jesus Christ has a unique and privileged experience. In some miraculous and unexplainable way, God has appointed every believer toa specific mission in His kingdom. We all are ambassador for Christ in a foreign land (earth) (2 Corinthians 5:20). To this every believer has been called. Yet when saved every believer begins a process of spiritual growth. In this process, like Paul believers experience the illuminating work of the Spirit by which their theological understanding is deepened.
However, herein lies the problem. While the Spirit works in all believers to deepen their understanding of the Scriptures, most believers do not start off with the years of reading and memorizing the Scriptures like Paul did as a Pharisee. Thus, every believer must become a student of the Scriptures. Here I am not speaking of someone who merely sits in a church once a week and listens to a forty-five-minute homily. No, believers need to be immersed in the Scriptures deeply and continuously. Paul wrote of this to the Romans.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)
The Holy Spirit will renew our minds. Yet is the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) that He uses in this work. Believers, Increase you time in the Bible. Read and study it every day. This is vital.
Renewing the Heart 