Greatness That Comes Through Total Surrender

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:18

When it came to credentials, the apostle Paul didn’t have to apologize. He had traveled thousands of miles, preached countless sermons, faced criticism and persecution, all for the sake of the gospel. Yet some people accused Paul of selfish motives and self-serving methods. Paul’s defense was to boast—not about his accomplishments, but about his Lord.

As G. Campbell Morgan points out, letting the Lord work through him made Paul great.

WALK WITH G. CAMPBELL MORGAN
“The apostle’s greatness was created in the first place by the absoluteness of his surrender to Jesus. On the way to Damascus—surprised, startled, and stricken to the earth by the revelation of the living Christ—he in one brief and simple question handed over his whole life to Jesus. ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ (Acts 22:10).

“The greatness of Paul as an apostle is further to be accounted for by his attitude toward all the things of his former life. ‘But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ’ (Philippians 3:7).

“Finally, his greatness is to be accounted for by the resulting experience which he crystallized into one brief sentence, ‘To me, to live is Christ’ (Philippians 1:21).

“Truly this was the great apostle, the great pattern for all time for those who would desire to be messengers of the cross of Christ.”

WALK CLOSER TO GOD
Paul served Christ. Paul sacrificed for Christ. Paul lived for Christ.

Once you have met a truly great man like Paul—a Christlike man who could not care less for money or fame—you will know how poor you really are … until you respond as he did. By seeking the commendation of God, not man. By counting all things as loss for the sake of your Lord. By living only for his glory.