Tuesday: Two Contrasting Commissions
WEEK 26
TUESDAY
TWO CONTRASTING COMMISSIONS
Galatians 1:15-17
There is a very instructive contrast between what Jeremiah conceived to be his commission and what Paul conceived to be his. Jeremiah felt he heard this from God,
“This very day I appoint you
over nations and empires,
to dig up and pull down,
to destroy and demolish,
to build and to plant.” (Jer 1:10)
Four items in his commission were negative: “to dig up and pull down,” and “to destroy and demolish.” Only two were positive: “to build and to plant.” He was twice as negative as he was positive. Hence he is called the “weeping prophet,” and his sayings are called the “lamentations of Jeremiah.” And this is the point; we don’t follow him.
But note how Paul conceived his commission in Acts 26:15-18 (RSV). Note the points in that commission.
(1) “Who are you, Lord?” the most important question. It is all begins with your view of Jesus. (2) “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Everything you do is done in relation to me. (3) “But”—the interposing of redemption. (4) “Rise and stand upon your feet.” Free servants freely give their allegiance and love. (5) “I have appeared to you”—firsthand; (6) “To appoint you to serve.” Jesus is Lord; you are surrendered to him. (7) “And bear witness to the things in which you have seen me.” The point of witness is “me.” (8) “And to those in which I will appear to you”—a continuing revelation. (9) “Delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles—to whom I send you.” Freed from your own race, “the people,” and from other races—“the Gentiles” (10) “to open their eyes”—receptivity produced. (11) “That they may turn from darkness to light”—light on life. (12) “From the power of Satan to God”—delivered from evil. (13) “Forgiveness of sins”—past blotted out. (14) “And a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me”—significance—“a place”!
O Christ, we thank you for this commission. To this man. Our future hung upon that command and his obedience. We thank you that he was not disobedient. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: My sense of mission will move in the realm of the constructive, always.