Part 4 of 4 in Intro to Agape:
Could I say that the Apostle Paul was the greatest sinner of all?
We know Paul as one of the most faithfully courageous Christ-followers of all time, no doubt. But Paul leaps from the pedestal, saying, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst.” 1 Tim 1:15 NASB.
Faithfully courageous Paul not only thought of himself as “the worst” sinner of all but recommended we accept this truth about ourselves. Once you can truly accept this, as Paul did, you will have made the most significant calibration to your GPS for the rest of your journey.
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” Matt 7:3-5, Lu 6:41-42.
Once I start to accept my own sinfulness with humility, I see Jesus’ teaching in a new light.
The Lord’s warning here is: aim first at yourself. Your GPS signal will be so much clearer. After some of the most obvious sin is cleared from the “log in your own eye,” smaller parts of “the log” become more and more obvious. Everyone is struggling with sin, including you.
Calibration Key: You’ll know when sin is truly being cleansed from you: When awareness of your sin becomes more important to you than the sin of others.
Be real about your sin, so other men can too. “…confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” James 5:16. Then, through the power of humility, you can respond more and more to other’s sin with agape: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” You’ll notice a dramatic positive effect in your relationships, especially those that matter the most.
Sin is often socially acceptable, even celebrated. This makes someone who has chipped away at their own log a tremendous help to others. You’re becoming that person!
Where Agape is missing will usually show in my first reaction.
As your GPS (God Positioning System) tells you to “turn back to Agape Trail,” trust the alarm and act on it! The sooner the better. It’s difficult to see, but steps off-trail go unnoticed where agape is missing. But praise the Lord He has equipped you with a God Positioning System! Check your GPS!
Remember our goal in climbing Disciple’s is to grow in realizing
– more quickly,
– more consistently,
– in increasingly subtle, difficult and tempting situations,
when the Lord is NOT on the throne in an area and invite Him back!
Calibration Key: Humility is a key to sure footing on the trail.
Once you’ve traveled in“obedience to the truth,” 1 Pe 1:22, you realize your sinfulness is literally infinite. You’ll see it at more and more subtle levels and realize, as your GPS tuning gets more sensitive, that there’s always more.
Because it’s infinite, you might as well consider yourself (like Paul) the greatest sinner of all. You are – (and everyone else.)
To illustrate, imagine you could cut all impure thoughts, impure desires and false judgments in half. How wonderfully freeing and peaceful that would feel! How dramatically transforming that would be in relationships! How much more content you would be!
Then, you realize you still face the remaining half of your sin and its deeper than the first. Imagine, the last remaining half is cut in half again. How amazing THAT would feel! That half was wired SO much deeper. FREEDOM!
Then, by grace, the Lord again miraculously removes half of that last half of a half of a half. Amazing. How light and free that would feel! How dramatically transforming that would be to relationships! How much more content you would be, much less triggered by an event, sleeping better at night, and worrying less during the day!
Then the realization hits – this remaining half of a half of a half is wired much deeper into the sinews of our flesh and soul than the other three quarters combined. At some point, you have to conclude with Paul, facing the immensity of your own sin, that I AM be the GREATEST sinner of all! “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.”
With each half removed, the “half” that’s left is even more subtly entwined in your soul and harder to remove. You now realize that humility is the most powerful place to be before a Holy God, so the Lord has all the room He needs to be powerful in us. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” Matt 5:2. Humility is the key to the Kingdom of Heaven. Humility becomes your only authentic posture before the Lord, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Man of God, the Lord says to you: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” 2 Cor 12:9. When we are weak, He has us right where He wants us. Paul was courageous enough to let go and trust God. Then, the Lord could begin to transform Paul in His image.
Contrary to his days of violently persecuting Christians, Paul is confessing that he, a sinner saved by grace, is no better than anyone else.
Realize and CONFESS:
I have a full-time job with the log in my own eye!
I just laid out a huge part of the path up Disciples – to deeper discipleship and abiding intimacy with Papa God. The path goes through awe-inspiring canyons, majestic forest ridges, peaks of Agape and yes, though dark valleys and thunderstorms. I hope and pray I have reinforced for you how essential it is to tune Holy Spirit’s GPS!
Soon, you will be exploring each of the nine fruit of the Spirit as you learn more about the features of your GPS and the inner workings of your soul. The path UP to higher ground requires you to get off the judgment patch that keeps you circling the lowlands.
You will always have fellow travels close by. An open heart, confessing your own weakness in sincere humility, makes a tremendous hiking partner. You will also have plenty in your pack to share – when your pack is first stocked with humility.
I’m so happy to be taking this journey with you. Onward! Upward!
PRAYER JOURNAL:
Although Paul saw his sin clearly, he did not become immobilized by it. Take a moment to talk honestly with the Lord about an area you’ve seen in yourself that agape is lacking. Write it out in your journal if you have one, or on anything handy. There’s definitely room for more of God living in us.
Honestly, in some ways you can be afraid to let Him transform you. You may feel like a toddler in the shallow end of the kiddie pool. Papa God invites you to adventure into the still shallow, but deeper end.
Write about any fears you can identify on going deeper into this adventure. Talk to Papa about it as you write.
PRAYER JOURNAL:
Name at least one person you have not completely forgiven.
If every time you see someone else’s weakness on display, recognize that the root of that same weakness is also active in you.“…first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (Matt 7:3-4, Lu 6:42.)
Are you truly ready to work on the log in your eye?
<<< YES! MAYBE? NO. >>>
The Lord’s focus is always agape. It’s the ONE thing. It is who He is and what you were created for.
Any area we lack Agape demonstrates a lack of God in that area of us.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” 1 Jn 4:7-8.
Big question: How often am I not doing what I expect others to?
No one likes it when people do that. You don’t, I don’t, no one does.
Write out a confession and take some time to talk with the Lord about it, honestly.
