A Servant of Christ Jesus

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus... (Rom. 1:1a) 

Not an SLD (Spiritual Life Director here at LU). Not an RA. Not a pastor. Not a theologian. Not a scholar. Paul introduces himself in one of the most humble terms he could have used in the Greek language.

*The term "servant" here would have been doulos (phonetically).  This is a position of extreme humility.  Not a servant of the nature of the great servants like Moses and Abraham.  More of a bond servant.

He does go on to explain his authority as an apostle, but he starts off by claiming complete humility. I want to be like this. I don't want any title getting in the way of my ability to be completely and utterly humble before my creator.  I am better than no man.  I am the chief of all sinners. I have no right to any pride about who I am or what I have done. I only have room to boast in what grace God has poured out and how God has allowed me to see Him work. I must make my boast in Christ alone. As I opened up my Bible to start digging into Romans, I figured I'd skip the greeting since I had read it so many times, but I still glanced at the first couple words.  Those words, as you can tell, smacked me across the face. God will never be done using a passage to speak to you. Even as I read deeper into that verse, I see Paul's claim to apostleship and the fact that he had been set apart (...call as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God). I believe I can identify with him there. I know I have been called and set apart by God for His word and building His kingdom. I only hope that I will keep my eye focused on Him. I don't want to get so focused on the calling that I start to ignore the wishes of the caller.  I need His blessing and strength to help me stay completely humble in any position that He places me in.