1 Corinthians 15:5-10 

⁵and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. ⁶After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. ⁹For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Family Feud

         There’s fictional story about a family feud between to political clan. A man from one political clan and a woman from the other political clan were in loved with each other. The father warned his daughter, “Don’t you understand that, if you get married to the man from that political clan, you will carry their name?” His daughter responded, “What’s in the name? No matter what name he had, it won’t matter to me. He loves me. I love him. That is all I want in my married life.”

Are you comfortable with your name? There’re many individuals who have actually changed the name that their parents gave them. Name is very essential identity. And if you wish to step into the next level of awareness with your new acquaintances, the most important thing you should remember is their name.

Don’t we appreciate it when our name is pronounced or written correctly?

God told David in 1 Chronicles 22:9, ⁹You will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign.

         The Lord told King David to name his son “Solomon.” The name “Solomon” is a variant of the Hebrew word “Shalom” which means “peace.” And truly during the reign of King Solomon, the Lord granted peace and prosperity in Israel just as he promised. We trust that whatever God promised, it will certainly happen.

Interestingly, it narrated about the birth of Solomon in 2 Samuel 12:24-25.

²⁴David made love with his wife Bathsheba, and she gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; ²⁵and because the Lord loved him, David sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.

         The Hebrew name “Jedidiah” means “loved by the Lord.” God’s love for Solomon or Jedidiahwas practically exhibited in material wealth that he had during his lifetime. Israel had peacefully prospered because God loved Solomon.

Somehow, were you affected by your name? As Christians, we bear the name of Christ, and that should remind our mandate to witness for Christ Jesus.

1.  Witness

⁵and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. ⁶After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,  

         The disciples personally witnessed when Christ chose to appear to them after his resurrection. It may not be as sequential info as it happened or the exact number of people who actually saw Christ before he returned to heaven, but for more than 500 witnesses, those are significant figures that cannot be ignored.

         Interestingly, the name of Cephas or Peter was mentioned first. Scholars suggests that Apostle Paul may have wished the Corinthians to be more attentive to the message of Peter. Interestingly, the name of Apollos was never mentioned as one of the witnesses who personally saw Christ before he returned to heaven.

         Most probably, Apostle Paul wanted the Corinthians, who followed Apollos, to know that Apollos did not personally witness the resurrection of Christ.

Moreover, Paul mentioned James. Who’s this James? James was believed to be the half-brother of Jesus, who become the chairman of the Jerusalem council, and not James, the brother of Apostle John, son of Zebedee. James, the brother of Apostle John, son of Zebedee died. Acts 12:2-3narrated, ²King Herod had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. ³When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also.

The Lord allowed many disciples like James died. Peter was persecuted. All disciples who preached the gospel of Christ will be persecuted. Persecution is the most significant mark of genuine disciples of Christ. Were you persecuted ever since you accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior?

Does it mean that if we’re not persecuted, we’re not his disciples, yet?

Certainly, Christians are persecuted as Christ declared. Personally, how do you interpret what Jesus Christ declared in John 15:20? ²⁰Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

         The level of persecution or difficulties that God allows us to endure should expose the level of our faith in him. Can you accept that? What has been the worst persecution or struggle that you’ve endured, so far? Let’s learn from this:

Nebuchadnezzar

         Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon set up an image of gold, 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. He ordered all people in his kingdom to worship the golden image. But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego ignored his order, and they replied in Daniel 3:16-18. ¹⁶“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.

¹⁸But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Furiously, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered the 3 young friends to be thrown into the blazing furnace, and he saw with his own eyes when God rescued them.

Pray that you will be surrounded by friends and relatives who seriously practice their faith the Lord. Surrounded by believers who strongly trust God are great encouragement when concerns and struggles challenge our faith in him.

Truly, we need timely encouragement when difficult struggles confuse us.

         Reflect on Joshua 1:7-9. ⁷Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

         After the death of Moses, Joshua became the leader of the Israelites. The Lord may have sensed that Joshua was nervous because they’re about to cross the Jordan River, and go to war against the Canaanites. The Lord told Joshua to be strong and courageous multiple times. He also reminded him to meditate on the Book of the Law, day and night, for them to be prosperous and successful.

         Do you have friends who encourage you to meditate the law of the Lord, day and night? You are blessed! But if you haven’t found such friends yet, pray that God sends you one. Parents: Meditating on the law of the Lord is great habit to exemplify, and it is most precious lesson that you can teach your children.

         Anyone wants to prosper and successful. We want to accumulate material things. We want to accomplish something. Material success is practically useful. But all worldly wealth will certainly be left behind when we die. It’s undeniable truth. We should be more mindful of activities that warrant eternal blessedness. How? Prayerfully seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit always. Do you deserve to enter heaven when Christ returns? The Holy Spirit is our guarantee and warranty.

2.  Warrant

⁸and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. ⁹For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 

         When Apostle Paul introduced himself as one born abnormally, what did he imply? Did he suggest that Peter, James, the twelve and the more than 500 who personally witnessed the resurrection of Christ were more important than him? Paul saw himself as less important and not even deserve to be called as apostle. Christ chooses to appear to anyone he prefers, abnormally born like Paul or not.

         Apostle Paul downplayed his calling as apostle because he persecuted the church of God before Christ called him. Originally, the English term “Apostle” was translated from Greek word “Apostolos” which means “Messenger or sent for a mission.” Missionaries are modern day apostles, and they are sent to missions.

So, who deserves to be called apostle? There is no human qualification that could guarantee anyone who deserves to be called apostle. So, what could warrant the calling of apostle? Popular apostle like Peter or simply an abnormally born like Paul, Jesus Christ himself chooses anyone he prefers as his apostle.

Let’s reflect on what it declares in Ephesians 4:11, ¹¹Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.

Anyone who has personally received his mission order directly from Jesus Christ is called “Apostle.” Christ gives mission purposes to apostles he prefers.

Christ mandated believers to witness for him. Preaching the good news of salvation is part of witnessing for Christ. Christ gave marching order to Apostle Paul. He assigned Paul to preach the gospel of salvation to the Gentiles.

Apostle Paul had warned in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, ¹Brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ²By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

         Maybe, some Corinthians have thought that they have faith in Christ just because they attended a Christian church. Their actions had exposed otherwise.

Don’t be deceived like the Corinthians. Make sure that you have sincerely accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Ask God to give you the gift of faith. Faith to believe in Christ comes from God, and only God can increase such faith.

Everything is possible

         At one time, a father brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus Christ.

The Lord asked the boy’s father in Mark 9:21-27, ²¹“How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. ²²“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” ²³“If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” ²⁴Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ²⁵When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit.

“You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” ²⁶The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

         Someone said, when we can’t see the hand God, it doesn’t mean he’s not working. When we can’t hear the voice of God, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. Anything that God does is favorable to all who are called for his purposes. Can you accept that? Great and ordinary, all Christians are called to testify for Christ.

Apostle Paul claimed that he’s the least of the apostles; he did not suggest that we ignore his work as apostle. Well, he worked harder than all the others.

3.  Work

¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 

         Apostle Paul may have thought that he’s not as great as the other apostle. It’s not to downplay his status or relegate his work into obscurity. He highlighted his transformation that Christ did in his life. Formerly, Paul persecuted the church, but Christ in his mighty power transformed Paul into eager servant of God.

         Whenever Apostle Paul sensed that the Lord wanted him to go, he would go. He was not anxious, if he will be persecuted or not. He trusted that the grace of God is sufficient enough to sustain his needs, physically, mentally, practically.

         Let’s learn from the testimony of Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:12-13.

          ¹²When I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, ¹³I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

         No peace of mind was also a deciding factor when Apostle Paul decided to move on, even when there’s opportunity to preach the gospel of Christ in Troas.

Truly, there will always be opportunities to share the gospel, but be sure to sense the peace of God as confirmation of his divine appointment. In the same incident, the author of the Book Acts, Dr. Luke narrated in Acts 16:8-10, ⁸They passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. ⁹During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The vision that Apostle Paul had may have prompted him to leave Troas and go to Macedonia. When he wanted to be sure that the vision he saw was really what God wanted him to do, he may have felt simultaneously that there was no peace in his heart because of the absence of his brother Titus.

The Lord himself assures that his grace sufficiently sustains our physical and practical needs. Pay attention. You might be called. If you heard your calling to serve the Lord fulltime or not, you won’t hesitate to obey him. Listen carefully.

         God speaks to us through the Scripture, circumstances, even in our prayer. When God calls you to explore his will, his peace prevails in your heart and mind so that you won’t missed your opportunity to experience more of his grace.

Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit to clearly interpret his message.

The grace of God sustains your needs practically. The grace of God is at work in our life is not without effect. It’s God’s grace that causes us to obey God.

         The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the obedience of Christ to God even unto his death on the cross. By faith we believe that the Lord took all our sins and crucified them with Christ, and his shed blood on the cross washed away all our sins. He died, buried and resurrected. Christ will return to take us into heaven.

Remember, the grace of God is not without effect in the believer’s life.

When God calls us to serve him, we respond obediently by faith. Amen.

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