Humility Through Jesus

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalms 16:11

Paul had a personal encounter with Jesus on his journey to Damascus. (Acts 9) It was such an incredible experience with the Lord that he was blind for three days and could not eat or drink anything.  From that point on, Paul whose name had been Saul served the Lord Jesus all his life.  Paul had an enthusiasm for the Lord and a genuine desire to please Him.  If you look closely at Paul's life, you will see Paul's growth in the faith.  At the beginning of his ministry, Paul wrote in Galatians describing himself as "an apostle".  Five or six years later when he wrote Corinthians, he described himself as "the least of the apostles".  In Ephesians after another five years, he referred to himself as "less than the least of all God's people".  In Philemon a year or so later, Paul called himself "a prisoner of Jesus Christ" and near the end of his life in Timothy, he called himself "the worst of sinners".

Why did Paul describe himself using more humble words as he journeyed the Christian path?  Was he a worse sinner than before his conversion when he executed Christians? I believe with each day that passes as a Christian matures, we begin to realize and appreciate who we are and who God is and what He has done for us.  When we realize the holy nature of God, our prospective changes.  We no longer see ourselves as the important prideful person that our human nature tells us we are but that our Holy God is mighty and powerful. This Great God, Creator of the universe made me and you. I am but nothing except for His grace and love.  He alone is worthy of praise.  This God provided the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.  This Jesus, who is God and with God provided the ultimate sacrifice for my sin.

^"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.  ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John 1:1-3

It is only through Jesus that we can come to the Father. This is the path of life.  It is only through Jesus that our sins can be forgiven.  Paul was humbled by that sacrifice as he drew nearer and nearer to His Redeemer.  And so am I.