You are Uniquely Prepared

(1 Cor 15:9,10 Phillips)  I am the least of the messengers, and indeed I do not deserve that title at all, because I persecuted the Church of God. But what I am now I am by the grace of God. The grace he gave me has not proved a barren gift.  I have worked harder than any of the others – and yet it was not I but this same grace of God within me.

This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to learn more about the amazing life of the Apostle Paul, who was raised “Saul of Tarsus.”  Tarsus was the capital city of the Roman province of Cilicia and it had once been the seat of the provincial governor during the time of the Persians.  As I told you yesterday, Tarsus was known for its great schools which are said to have rivalled Athens and Alexandria.  Paul’s upbringing in Tarsus exposed him to Greek philosophy, which some  scholars have noted in his writings, and Koine Greek, which was the language spoken by commoners during the time of the Roman Empire.  Mastering Greek would serve Paul well later on in life, especially when he knew the Lord had called him to minister to the Gentiles.  Paul even referred to himself as the “Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom 1:5, 11:13; Gal 2:8).

If being exposed to the international flavor of a bustling Mediterranean city were not enough, while Saul was still young he was sent to Jerusalem to receive his education at the school of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), one of the most noted rabbis in history. Gamaliel was a leading authority in the Sanhedrin in the mid-1st century. Gamaliel’s “Hillel School” (named after his father and grandfather) was known for giving students a balanced education.  While we can’t know for sure, it is likely that Paul was exposed to classical literature, philosophy, ethics, and of course, the Jewish Law.  Later on in life, while being interrogated by a council of Sadducees and Pharisees, Paul said, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors!” (Acts 23:6).  To say that Paul was well rounded is an understatement.  He was born in an international city, he was given the best education, he had the privilege of studying abroad, and he had dual-citizenship (both a Roman and a Jew).  Paul could not be pigeon-holed in any one group.  He was savvy enough to fit in anywhere, but also exposed to too much to completely fit in anywhere.  We will stop here for today.

So what does this mean to you today?  Just two things today:

1.  By Grace God leverages who you are.  God used Paul’s international background, his exposure to different cultures, his dual-citizenship, and his great education as He sought to use Paul for His glory.  Nothing Paul experienced was a mistake.  Paul was uniquely prepared for his life’s assignment.  Even though he did not have his conversion experience until later-on in life, God was working in the life of Paul from his mother’s womb.  Paul was exposed to so much that he could reach just about anyone.  Paul, by his own admission, wrote, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor 9:22).  My point is that you are not a mistake.  God made plans for you before the foundations of the world and He has been working in your life from your mother’s womb.  You are uniquely equipped to fulfill your divine assignment.  God wants to use you — with your background, education, language, accent, mannerisms, unique flavor, etc. — for His glory.  Will you let Him?

2.  By Grace God supersedes who you are.  To supersede means to replace, to take the place of, to take over from, to displace, or to unseat.  Not only will God use who you are, but He will also step in to supersede who you are not.  Said another way, God puts His super on your natural, filling in the areas of  your life where you are completely inadequate.  In areas and ways that you are not capable or worthy (and that you will never be) God steps in and takes your place.  So in one way God amplifies who you are, and in another way He glorifies Himself in who you are not.  Do you know what that’s called?  It’s called GRACE!

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for making me who I am.  You made plans for me before the foundations of the world and You also called me by name from my mother’s womb.  You knew where I would grow up, what type of upbringing I would have, what education I would be exposed to, what languages I would learn or not learn, and what environments and people would help shape me into the person I am today.  You took all of that into consideration when You designed my purpose.  You will never expect me to do what I am not equipped to do.  And I understand that my preparation is both natural and spiritual.  Naturally speaking, You have leveraged my background and earthly preparation to get me to this point and to prepare me for my life’s assignment.  Spiritually speaking, You know that there are some things I am not naturally prepared to do and I know You are more than equipped to ‘fill in all the blanks’ in my life.  Therefore, I declare by faith that I am completely available to You.  Use me Father to make the impact You desire to make in my generation.  Use my background, my flavor, and my “swag” for Your glory.  Use everything that I am and everything I am not.  In the areas where You can leverage who I already am, I trust You will do so and You will use my natural preparation for Your glory.  In the areas where I am not humanly prepared, and in the areas that exceed all human ability, I look to You to manifest Your glory through me, by Grace.  This message has helped me.  I have no more excuses.  Where I am already prepared, You simply use my preparation for Your glory.  Where I am not prepared, You step in and put Your super on my natural.  Either way, I am committed to being used of You, for Your glory, while I am in the land of the living.  None of me, all of You, have Your way in me LORD!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.