Profundities From the Apostle Paul

Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. KJV Romans 1:14 I have a debt to Greeks and to the nations outside; to the wise and to those who have no learning. BBE

The Apostle Paul's calling led him to many and varied individuals. In Philippi he ministered to the Jailor and those in his house, the young woman with a divination spirit, and the disciple Lydia. In Ephesus he ministered to "certain disciples" who had not received the Holy Ghost. In Corinth he joined Aquila and Priscilla who were also tentmakers. He reasoned with Jews and Greeks in the synogogue on the sabbath and persuaded many in Corinth to accept Christ as Savior and Lord. He preached to the Athens people with passion and compassion when he saw the "city wholly given to idolatry." Acts 17:16 He preached Christ in the Synogogue at Thessaloniki and devout Greeks and leading women of the city were converted to Christ ("not a few" says the scripture, Acts 17:4). God performed miracles through Paul on the island of Melita and he preached Christ to the "barbarians," says the scripture.

Everywhere he went, his message was Jesus Christ and Him crucified and risen from the tomb. He did not shun anyone and when he was in prison he continued to share Christ with those around him. I can imagine his testimony to each one as he would share how that he once persecuted Christians but Christ met him on the road to Damascus as he went to get others for persecution and transformed him into a genuine child of God and eventually, a dynamic Apostle. I can easily imagine this was part of his witness to Onesimus, who was a runaway slave. He pled with Philemon to forgive Onesimus for running and to receive Onesimus back as a beloved brother.

Do we feel the same burden for those we come in contact with? Do we realize each one we see or come in contact with has a "charge" against us that we owe. We owe a "debt of love" to each one that we see. The Apostle Paul did not forget that debt. Everywhere he went he taught and preached Christ. He said to the Corinthians, ". . .I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." 1Co 2:2

Will you reach out? Who will you come in contact with today? Whose door will you knock on? Who will you meet at the supermarket? Who will you visit at the hospital, at the jail or pass on the street? Will you pay your debt? May God help each one of us who know Christ as Savior and Lord to pay our debt. . .