CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 788

“RECYCLED”

Romans 1:1 (NASB95)  Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God…

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Have you ever marveled at the ingenuity of recycling in today’s economy?  The plastic bottle you drink water or soda from today could very well become part of the road you drive on, the deck you walk on or the clothes you wear tomorrow.  Our technology can turn everyday trash into useful objects.  God can also take the trash of our past lives and recycle it into something He can use to further His kingdom today.

Look at Paul, one of the great leaders of the Christian church.  Paul was a Jewish Rabbi, a Pharisee.  He had the enviable position of being born a freeborn Roman citizen and was educated in the best schools.  He learned the trade of tentmaker before completing the rigorous study to become a Rabbi.

Paul was zealous and passionate for his Jewish faith and considered himself to be a Pharisee’s Pharisee.  In his zeal, Paul persecuted the early Christians and oversaw the stoning death of Stephen.

It was on the road to Damascus to arrest more Christians that Paul encountered the Risen Lord and he was changed forever.  Now this man with the coveted free Roman citizenship is proud to announce that he had been recycled and transformed from a Roman freeman to that of a bond-servant of Jesus Christ.  A bond-servant was the lowest form of slave in that day.  They owned nothing that they called their own.

Paul further identifies himself as an apostle, called by Jesus to bring God’s Gospel to the Gentiles. He had been recycled and transformed from persecutor to evangelist.

God took Paul: his character, his zeal, his training and his past life experiences and recycled them for His own purposes.  God even used the trash and junk of Paul’s past and recycled them.  God transformed Paul into His ambassador to the Gentiles.

Paul was never so far gone that he could not be redeemed by God.  God can use your uniqueness also.  Even the junk and trash of your past life can be recycled and transformed into something useful in furthering God’s kingdom.

Don’t be too quick to give up on yourself or others saying that you or they could never be of any use to God.  That is a lie of the enemy of your soul to hold you back from fulfilling your God-given purpose and plan for your life.  God can do what you cannot do on your own.

For nothing will be impossible with God. – Luke 1:37

The question is, when God calls, will you hear Him?  And having heard will you obey?

May you yield to the call of God upon your life.  May you experience His joy and peace as He recycles and transforms the sum of your life experiences into a vessel useful to further His kingdom, purpose, and plan for you.