A Devotional by B. Anne Stevens
After Jesus’s resurrection, Saul, a Pharisee, set out to persecute the newly birthed Christian church. He participated in arresting Christians and sending them to their death. But God had other plans for Saul, when divine intervention on the road to Damascus radically transformed him into the great evangelist known as The Apostle Paul. Paul then spent the rest of his days preaching the Gospel throughout all of western Asia, Europe and within the Roman Empire.
During Paul’s travels, he wrote letters to churches and individuals, and these documents make up a large part of our New Testament. In additional to the profound instruction on the Christian life, these letters tell us much about who Paul was as a person, and about his passion for spreading God’s word. As I read through these books during my daily quiet time, I am struck by how much of Paul’s experience applies in terms of who I am as a writer. While the Pauline epistles contain limitless applications to our daily life, here are eight lessons we might glean from Apostle Paul:
1. God can use ANYONE
Paul was outspoken about his own limitations. In 1 Timothy 1:12-15, he says, “I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and a violent man.” Paul asserts that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners- of whom I was the worst.” Our past does not define us. It doesn’t matter what our story is, God can use it to change lives.
2. Paul understood his priorities
Paul was determined to please God, not man. He writes in Galatians 1:10: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” At some point in every writer’s journey, there is the realization that we can’t worry about what other people think. We have an audience of One. Jesus.
3. Paul engaged with his audience.
In 1 Corinthians 9:20, Paul writes, “To the Jew I became a Jew, a Greek to the Greek.” Additionally, during his travels to Athens, when he found the “unknown god,” Paul was intentional about engaging with the those who had no prior knowledge of the one true God. As writers, we are consistently told to “engage our audience.” As Paul demonstrates, it is important to understand our message and learn how to best communicate the words God puts in our hearts to write.
4. Paul was content.
Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty … I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13). As writers, so many variables are out of our control. But in Christ we can be content with what we have at the moment. We should strive to do our best with whatever is in front of us each day, trusting God to bring our writing goals to fruition.
5. Paul was selfless.
Philippians 1:21 shows, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 3:7-9: “But whatever gains I had, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” Writing is a selfless endeavor. We die to ourselves, don’t we? We put all of ourselves on the page for the sake of our calling, our message, our reader. It is our living sacrifice. Be encouraged that in Christ, our efforts will not be in vain.
6. Paul was focused on the calling of God and did not give up.
Paul teaches us as believers to run the race with perseverance and not be weary in doing good, for we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Hebrews 12:1; Galatians 6:9). How many times, as writers, do we feel as if there is no fruit for our labor? However, God promises, that if we persevere in the calling he laid on our hearts, we WILL reap a harvest, and He WILL reward us if we do not give up.
7. Paul was humble, and he understood he was imperfect.
1 Corinthians 1:27 shows, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; and the weak things to shame the strong … so that no one may boast before him. Let he who boasts boast in the Lord.” If you think about it, writing fiction is quite foolish isn’t it? We make up stories and then attempt to sell them! Additionally, we get caught up in trying to be perfect in all the right things to get the attention of agents, publishers, social media engagement, etc. Yet if you really reflect on those successes — the times you got a book contract, or you had just the perfect meeting at a conference, was in your own power? Or was it God? He promises He will do it. He will make things happen for our writing careers in His time. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul quoted Jesus’ words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
8. Paul used his personality to teach God’s truth.
Even Paul admits that he was “timid when face to face, but bold when away.” Paul was an introvert! Go figure. Just like every other writer I know, including me. Even others said Paul’s letters were “weighty and forceful, but in person he was unimpressive.” Whatever personality God gave us, and whatever our individual style, we can be free to communicate His message in our writing.
I’m sure there are many more lessons we can take from Paul but remember: God uses the written word. He uses writers like you and me. In fact, He needs writers. It’s His plan. Be confident in your writing. God put everything into writing – the Bible. Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, or whatever your genre, remember this one final scripture from Philippians 1:6: “… being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
B. Anne Stevens is an aspiring author of Young Adult Christian fiction, with the heart to share
God’s love through fiction, inspirational stories, and daily life.
