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Unlikely Leaders

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    Paul’s “University” in the Desert

    In the solitude of the desert Paul had opportunity to study and meditate. He calmly reviewed his past experience and turned to God with all his heart, not resting until he knew for certain that God had accepted his repentance and pardoned his sin. Jesus communed with him and established him in the faith, granting him an abundance of wisdom and grace. When the mind is brought into close communication with the mind of God, the effect on body, mind, and soul is beyond measure.ULe 47.7

    Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Ananias had said to Paul: “The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:14-16).ULe 48.1

    Jesus Himself, when He confronted Saul on the journey to Damascus, declared: “I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me” (Acts 26:16-18).ULe 48.2

    As he pondered these things, Paul understood more clearly his call “to be an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:1). His call had come “not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father” (Galatians 1:1). He gave much study to the Scriptures, in order that he could preach “not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power,” “but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” that the faith of all who heard “should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17, NRSV; 2:4, 5.) Viewing the wisdom of the world in the light of the cross, Paul “decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2, NRSV).ULe 48.3

    Paul never lost sight of the Source of wisdom and strength. Hear him say, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). “I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things” (Philippians 3:8, NRSV).ULe 48.4

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