I try to pattern my life after the Apostle Paul. He himself said that Christ had made him “a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him (Jesus) to life everlasting”. (1Timothy 1:16) That’s why we call our school “THE ST. PAUL SCHOOL.”

Here are five important things I learn from this former persecutor of the church who became a warrior and champion of Jesus Christ.

FIVE MARKS OF CHRIST’S OWNERSHIP

1) The Surrender

Once Paul knew who Jesus was and the price the Savior paid to die on the cross, there would be no turning back. Acts 9:4-6

“Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?  And he said, who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. it is hard for you to kick against the goads.  So he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what do You want me to do? Then the Lord said to him, arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

2) The Debt

Paul knew the Messiah gave His life for the world. Now Paul felt that he owed a debt of love to reach his world. Romans 1:14-16    

“I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

3) The Discipline

Lazy people are never winners. It takes discipline to faithfully follow Jesus day by day. Here is what Paul did to keep the Lord on the throne of his life and avoid being someone who started a race and could not finish. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.  Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

4) The Work Ethic

Paul was a soldier. Once he knew the Lord, he disciplined himself to be faithful and give his best for the cause of Christ. The Amplified Bible even says that he worked harder than all the apostles. 1Corinthians 15:8-10

“Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

5) The Perspective

Paul knew that total surrender meant that Jesus was now his very life. Paul was dead to the world and alive to Christ. He was also dead to self. It was just Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

CONCLUSION

Now the Apostle Paul challenges us to “be followers of me as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1) I have accepted the challenge. Will you?

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras