In the above focus we see Paul on the move. He had spent a year and a half in Corinth; his ministry there was very fruitful. He leaves an active congregation, displaying the fruit of the Spirit in their meetings. Before he leaves to go back to the continent of Asia, he has his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. We do not know the content of the vow, but we do know that Paul was earnest in reaching all kinds of people. In Corinth, Paul had removed himself from teaching in the synagogue because of threatening opposition to what he was advocating. Because of that, he might have lived more like the Greeks, allowing his hair to grow longer than what was acceptable in a Jewish community. Now that he is moving back into Asia to minister the Good News in synagogues in various communities, he might have felt his appearance ought to conform more to the Jewish expectations. What he vowed we do not know, but he was willing to adapt his living standards according to other people’s expectations. Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) Paul's adaptation to the lifestyle of other people was for him the best way possible to reveal Christ’s love for them. Paul’s faith was not static, merely in his head. He expressed God’s efficacious work through Christ by traveling from one city to another, allowing God to use him. In those cities he performed many miracles and ministered the Good New of Jesus of Nazareth being sent to the world for its redemption, to be reunited with God the creator. James says that if works do not accompany your faith in God, your faith is dead. Definitely Paul’s faith was not dead, for he was moving from one city to the next with the sole purpose of introducing the Good News of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ and his work on the cross. In every community he would face death threats, mainly because the Jews in those cities believed Paul was an apostate, teaching Jews to serve multiple gods. The Jews were monotheistic, serving the Creator only who made all things and who has chosen them as his special people out of all the people on the earth. Consequently, Paul and his aberrant gospel to them must be destroyed, a godly assignment for any Jew faithful to the law. But this constant threat of death did not deter Paul from entering their synagogues and engaging the people with the idea that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. To the people of the law, Paul presented Christ as their Messiah who at last has come to restore the Jews to their prominent place in the world. To the Greeks who were in impenetrable darkness, Paul presents Christ as the light of God, a way out of their hopeless existence. For both the Greeks and Jews, Paul was bound to Jesus as his slave, with the message of eternal life on his lips. He had no other life to live, but to live presenting the Good News to all people. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 KJV)
Paul consider his life as lost to everything but Christ and to ministering The Way. The vow he took before entering Asia once again reveals his total dedication to God. As a rabbi, he knew the seriousness of a vow to the Lord. Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: “This is what the Lord commands: When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said. ( Numbers 30:1-2) Serving the Creator of all that is made is a serious matter. When a commitment is made to God, it must be kept. God is not like men and women who sometimes feel they can break their covenant and vows cavalierly. All statements and promises to God are on the books of heaven forever. God remembers our pledges, our vows, even if we do not. God’s own words do not change; neither does He feel that our words to him should change. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5: 17-18) In today's focus we see Paul making a vow before God. God will hold him to his words. Serving a righteous and perfect God is a serious matter under the law; violation of the law in any way can mean eternal death. Our words to God should be kept. Jesus refers to the seriousness of taking vows before God Almighty. However in our rebellious flesh, vows, oaths and pledges are loaded with the intentions of man to fulfill them in his or her own strength. Or they can be considered under the umbrella of people saying to God, I can fulfill them by my own strength. This is the keystone of rebellion to God, “I will be God in my own strength; leave me alone God; I can do it.” Jesus has something to say about that attitude., “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:33-37) Do not say that I can fulfill a vow as sure as heaven and earth or I exist because you cannot change anything: even the hair on your head; only God can do that. Then, what about Paul and his oath. He merely is expressing to God how serious he takes his purpose on earth for the sake of Christ. He knows full-well that God is in control of every aspect of his life, even his daily existence. Paul believes strongly as James said, Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. (James 5:12) Paul learned on the road to Damascus to say “yes”. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:5-6) From that time on Paul followed Jesus not with vows, oaths or pledges but by the constant voice of God in him.
Paul was well versed in the law and its regulations; he knew as the ancients that serving God was a serious matter, for the God he served made everything that is or ever will be. In Nehemiah 9 we see in the prayer of the Levites who the God is that they serve. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. (Nehemiah 9:5-6) As a learned rabbi, Paul knew the God he served was the Creator of all things, so he did not nonchalantly serve God. Sometimes Christians in their intimate walk with God through the presence of the Holy Spirit in them forget that God is Almighty, controlling their very breath. In Nehemiah, we see the Israelites gathered together to hear the book of the law read to them by Ezra. They stand in place for THREE HOURS, not wandering around as one would do in a concert. They stood in place because of their respect for the law. Then for three hours they fell on their faces and repented, confessed their sins and worshiped God. How many of us would stand in place for three hours to hear the Bible read to us? Serving God is a serious matter. Of course, since the death of Christ and the subsequent coming of the Holy Spirit to us, we are constantly in the presence of the Lord; we are endowed with his voice, but still, do we give God the honor and awe He deserves in our lives. The Israelites chose not to obey the law or to honor God in their lives. They had the ability to live for their God, but they chose rebellion instead. However, God is forgiving, gracious, and merciful. He is slow to become angry and is rich in unfailing love. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19) We see this God manifested in Peter’s life. Peter swore probably by the heavens above that he did not know this man Jesus. He made the strongest plea possible so that the people in the courtyard of the High Priest would not turn him over to the authorities who had arrested Jesus. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth. ”He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man! ”After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away. ”Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:69-70) He began to call down curses; only God can curse people, so he claimed God would back up his lie, such a blasphemous claim. Peter had walked with Jesus, saw all of his wonderful miracles, but under pressure wanted to live his life the way he desired, for sure in safety. We see the Israelites in the wilderness who saw all the marvelous acts of God for their best interest deny God in their lives, refusing to live their lives as God desired, even claiming other gods delivered them from the hand of Pharaoh. But God is steadfast in his love for people. Paul carried this message of God’s goodness in a dark, violent world. He knew Peter was forgiven of his blasphemous talk; he knew he had been forgiven for battling Jesus’ church, even sending some believers to their deaths. Paul and Peter gave their lives for their Lord Jesus. We who are Christians around this breakfast table have been given the baton of life. This baton has been handed to us from Peter, Paul, and many others. May we carry this baton to others, so the Good News can be passed down from generation to generation. CHRIST IS RISEN. HE IS RISEN INDEED! May our run in life display this truth to all we meet.
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