When people speak ill of you how do you respond? When others accuse you falsely how do you react? What or who is your go-to? Do you go seeking evidence? Some form of credential that supports your life, your work, the person you have become? Is that what you do?
Paul finds himself in this predicament. He will create a defence for sure. But before he does he turns to the One who his whole life is centred around. He turns to Christ.
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Galatians 1:10
“No. I’m not what those rival preachers have said about me. I used to try and please people, (If I were still …) but that was in my past.”
Paul will combat these allegations but first he speaks of the new foundation of his life. Before any other person and even before his own opinion his life was about and for Christ. He sees himself as a servant/slave to Christ. It’s what Christ says of him that matters more than people.
He uses the word doulos. Our English translators (most probably to combat the negative implications regarding the modern slave trade) use servant or bondservant but it is slave, doulos.
After God had rescued His people from slavery through the Exodus He gives them His law. One of the first things God starts to unpack in His Law to Moses is the freeing of slaves. The rule was that slaves were freed every 7 years. However if the slave loved working for their master they could stay and be paid for their work and enjoy their life within that household. If that happened the master would, “…take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.” (Ex 21:6) They became a bondservant, doulos, one who has chosen to be owned.
Paul had been to the door and had his ear pierced, he was a slave of Christ Jesus, for life.
Who is the door? Jesus. (John 10:9)
Jesus is the portal, the doorway into a new season for your life.
There is no breakthrough without pain. Paul was already aware that he bore on his body the marks of Jesus (Galatians 6:17). Perhaps you bear those marks also? Maybe you have marks that no one can see? Marks are healed wounds and they become the vehicle of hearing God; our earlobes become pierced and He speaks powerfully and intimately as He would also tell Paul later that, “my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).
There is no other way for more of God and more of His power and work in our lives. You don’t live to please people but Him. There is only one prayer: “…pierce my ear …”
I have chosen to be owned by Christ Jesus. I belong to Him. Tell Jesus this today. He has your ear. That mark is now the opportunity of intimacy. It repositioned you. Those who understand what I am saying know that the Lord opens the door of new seasons to those who have been pierced to the door.
That is the greatest introduction of yourself that you will ever give and the best rebuttal to those who may look down on you.
Missions Paul 