But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.
In this short reflection on Paul’s relationship with God, we learn much about how the Spirit works in us. These verses are a great encouragement to me because they show that we have so much more in store for us than we could ever imagine. Notice that Paul says he was chosen by God long before he ever chose to follow Him. In fact, the God who knew him before the foundation of the world chose him (or set him apart) in his mother’s womb. Even before Paul knew God, he was known by God and chosen in Him. This election was not based on any good in Paul’s life but simply on God’s grace. His next statement is that after being set apart in his mother’s womb, he was called by the grace of God. This means that even when Paul lived in disobedience, even when he longed to please God as a zealous Pharisee, even when he persecuted the church and kicked against the very grace of God, he was chosen and called. Then at the time that pleased the Lord, the Son of God was revealed “in” him. This is when Paul understood who Jesus was, this is when he repented of his sin, and this is when he responded in faith.
I am greatly moved by this because I can remember when I lived in rebellion against God, and yet even then, I had been set apart and was being called, but I didn’t know it. It had not yet pleased the Lord to “reveal his Son in me.” God had a plan for me, but I just couldn’t see it or understand it. Yet, at the right time, God orchestrated the circumstances in my life and opened my eyes so I could respond in faith to the Son. Paul considered himself the chief of sinners, yet even back then, as he persecuted the church, he had been set apart and called. Think about that. The person you think is the farthest from God right now could be someone who has been set apart by God from birth. Two takeaways from this text are: One, you never know all the amazing things that God has in store for you someday. It only gets better. Second, you never know the end of a person’s story. That one you think won’t listen… that Jehovah’s witness sitting there selling books on the corner… that Muslim or Hindu that you struggle to engage with the gospel… that brother you pray for but who seems so far from the faith… they could all just be people in whom the Son has not yet been revealed. Don’t give up, stay faithful, engage them with the gospel, no one is beyond God’s grace, perhaps their time is today!
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