Leadership through Discipleship #19

Paul, The Power of Timing

“Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:8).

Our ways are vastly different than God’s. We seldom see things the way God does. Have you ever questioned God? Have you ever asked, “God, why did you let this happen now?” His timing is always right; His ways are perfect!

From Paul’s perspective he had come along late in the day. Pentecost was past, the church was established, believers were being attracted, and miracles were being performed. In fact the church grew so fast that the religious order of the day was desperate to stop it. They approved persecution of these new followers of Jesus and labeled them with a term of derision – “Christians!” Paul (originally, Saul) was caught up in the religious zeal of stomping out this new movement before it contaminated even more of the masses.

After Paul’s conversion to Christianity he realized how blinded he had been to the genuine move of God in the earth. He often regretted his past life as a persecutor of Christians and did not consider himself worthy to be called an apostle (1 Corinthians 15:9). From his writing it seemed that he felt he had come along late, “one born out of due time” (vs. 8). Perhaps he felt he was always playing “catch up” after his late, however spectacular, introduction to Jesus.

When he defended his apostleship to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 9), distinguished himself from the false apostles (2 Corinthians 11), or magnified his ministry (Romans 11), it seemed he was always trying to compensate for a late start. He continually spoke of his inadequacies. Paul saw himself as the “least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9). “God has displayed us, the apostles, last” (1 Corinthians 4:9). He spoke of other apostles who “were in Christ before me” (Romans 16:7).

Even when he had to defend his calling he quickly followed by acknowledging the grace of God working through him to perform the work of the Lord, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul said, “For in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing” (2 Corinthians 12:11).

God’s purpose was fulfilled in Paul. A late arrival became an on-time blessing! He may have seemed to come on the scene late, but in God’s timing and purposes Paul was at the right place, at the right time. We must trust the master in our quest for discipleship. He will bring us where we need to be at the time we need to be there. There are no mistakes with God. He is never late. He is always right on time!