These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not
be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that
Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are
too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to
become the refuse or “filth of the world.” “Fill up in my flesh what is
lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” (Colossians 1:24)
is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence
of consecration-being “separated to the gospel of God . . .” (Romans 1:1).
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is
to try you . . .” (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we
encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay
such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out
of the mire and say, “I won’t submit; I won’t bow or bend.” And you
don’t have to— you can be saved by the “skin of your teeth” if you like.
You can refuse to let God count you as one who is “separated to the
gospel . . . .” Or you can say, “I don’t care if I am treated like ’the
filth of the world’ as long as the gospel is proclaimed.” A true servant
of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the
reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with
contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by
the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the
offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the
worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love.
Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He
could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me. . .” (Galatians 1:16).
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