The Apostle Paul ... on a more humorous note.

Ponder for a moment ... if Paul was going to be so valuable to the cause of the Kingdom - to pen most of the New Testament, then why was it not divinely arranged that he should be one of the Disciples. Surely he would have done at least a little better than Thaddeus or “doubtful” Thomas. We know at least 4 of the others - Simon Peter (Andrew’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (son of Zebedee) and Phillip were all plain unlettered fishermen while Levi was a despised tax collector. Tradition has it that Peter needed someone to write the Epistles named after him. We saw what the unregenerate Peter, James and John were like in the Gospels. What would Paul have been like? Surely some legalese would have been useful.

I do have a theory ...the unbroken Paul (Saul of Tarsus) would perhaps have proved quite a handful even for our Lord Jesus. Imagine the deep arguments, theological contests, complex debates and lengthy and witty conversation that would have made the Gospels perhaps only thrice as long ... and more painful for ordinary folk to decipher plain truths.

How would Paul have answered if Jesus asked “and who do you say that I am?”... I suspect a lecture on schools and philosophies on the Messiah would be offered. Would Paul have ever said...”only thou knowest?” ..when Jesus asks “ lovest thou me?”...or would we have smarter and more befitting repartee. Would the logical Paul have brought the loaves and fishes of that small lad to feed thousands? Would an intellectual snob sit quietly with 4 other fishermen listening to the master?

Imagine at the trial of Jesus. This would have been the platform for Paul's legal innovation and argument skills to silence both Pilate and Herod...causing the Pharisees to all cower away in shame... the crowds silenced. Would Paul have stayed in the background as grievous slander, serious allegations and mockery were heaped upon Jesus? Would Paul have wasted pages of destiny arguing to advertise or justify his natural "flaws"? Paul (before Damascus) may have been accomplished but quite frankly perhaps not as easy to realign with the master's script.

Perhaps Christ would have made him dumb like the Prophet Zacharias – the father of John ...if only so that the Gospels would remain as concise as they are today....

The Paul - slain by the Holy Ghost who said.. Philipians 3[8] "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" ...NIV ...was of great use...indeed this was a very different broken Paul...extremely valuable.

I fear many of us are like Saul of Tarsus - Paul before the blinding encounter in Damascus – so available yet unusable ... uncontrollably clever at pleasing ourselves... defending ourselves ... often offering our "laughable" services to defend God.

Romans 15 [3] For Christ did not please Himself [gave no thought to His own interests]; but, as it is written, The reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me. [ Ps 69:9 .] Amp

Lord help me to be broken... for it is so true that “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ...Can I be silent if your Spirit commands me not to defend myself ... especially when my mind knows exactly how and suggests otherwise?

Why is it Lord... that a high intelligence quotient does not help obedience? Help me obey you like a fisherman would...Break me...mould me...fill me...then use me.

(Author's blog)