"PAUL’S THREE" I AMS"

Doubtless the outstanding gospel preacher and missionary of all times was the Apostle Paul. Many others have left a mark on this world for Christ, but Paul excelled them all in zeal as well as in results. This being so, we may reflect with profit and blessing on the great soul-winner's three "I ams." These are found in that epistle which is a divine treatise on the gospel, the letter to the Romans. There we learn what the gospel is, and what it is capable of doing for all who believe.

First of all, Paul keenly realized that he was in debt.

"I AM DEBTOR

both to the Greeks and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise"" (Rom. 1:14). Perhaps it may not be clearly understood by all young Christians what is meant by this admission of the Apostle. From the Book of Acts we learn what a character he was in his unconverted state. An avowed enemy of God, and God's Son, he breathed out threatenings and slaughter against all who believed in Jesus. Not content with doing this in his own locality, he persecuted the saints even to strange cities. It was his determination, if possible, to blot out the name of Jesus from the earth. But I am sure we are all familiar with the sudden and remarkable conversion the mad persecutor experienced when on his expedition to Damascus for this purpose. After such a marked deliverance from sin and Satan's power Paul's whole outlook on life was changed. At once he felt that he was in debt, in a sense never known hitherto. He had had the great debt of sin cleared before God, but found that now, as a saved man, he was under love's obligation to proclaim the emancipating gospel to all who were once like himself, sinners led captive by Satan. To Paul the Lord had committed the word of reconciliation, and this sense of debt to humanity so weighed on his heart that he could say:"Necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is me if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Cor. 9:16).

Every young believer should seek to be a soul-winner. The Apostle's attitude, in measure, becomes every one saved by grace. Since the Lord has wiped out the debt of our sins, we should compassionately regard the condition of those still under the authority of darkness. It is true we may not be called to fill the same office as Paul, or even that of some who now devote their whole time to the ministry. We are, however, saved and left here by the Lord to witness for Him. This can be done in various ways. First, in importance, is that our daily life should speak for Christ. If our ways be not righteous before others our testimony will have no weight, but rather will be a stumbling-block. Life and lip should correspond. If we are exercised about the need of souls, and pray like Paul, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" we can be assured that the Lord of the harvest will not fail to open up some avenue of service. Let us not fail to speak to those nearest us. Have you spoken a word for the Lord to your work-mate in the factory, or office, or at school? Remember you owe it to them. Let your "lower light be burning," and some one will catch the gleam, and be attracted to the Saviour you have found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Next we hear Paul enthusiastically affirm:"So, as much as in me is,

I AM READY
to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also" (chap. 1:15).

It is commonly admitted that it is only righteous to discharge one's debts. To be in debt, and unconcerned about it, is certainly not a good sign. Not only was Paul a debtor to all, but he also stood ready to fulfil love's obligation to all that were at Rome, and preach the gospel to them. We know this would involve much personal cost to the Apostle. He no doubt anticipated all that when he voiced those words, which reveal a purpose of heart that nothing could turn aside.

We do well to thoughtfully enquire of ourselves:Am I ready, as far as enabled, to do what the Lord would have me to do? Am I willing, despite the personal sacrifice, to do the Lord's will? A willing mind and heart is of first importance. Then, too, we need to give a serious thought to personal qualification, because the Lord only uses ready vessels. How needful that our souls be in a healthy spiritual condition! If we are to sow the "good seed," and "preach the Word," that plainly implies we must first have the Word of God dwelling richly in our own hearts, so that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak. Let us seek to hold ourselves as vessels sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Lastly Paul adds:

"I AM NOT ASHAMED

of the gospel of Christ:for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (chap. 1:16).

These decisive words disclose to us the secret of Paul's lion-like boldness as a proclaimer of the glad tidings. Whether before friends or foes he faithfully held forth the Word of Life. He was not ashamed of the gospel he preached; for it was-and still is-the power of God unto salvation. If believed, Paul's message could take up a degraded heathen, save his soul, and will finally conform him to the image of the Son of God. The firm conviction of this truth in the Apostle's soul inspired him to plod on as a faithful herald of God's good news. Before rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, he witnessed for the Lord, and many souls were turned from idols to serve the true and living God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.

It is a spirit like Paul's that must mark us if we would be used of the Lord. How often we seem to be halfhearted and faint-hearted in the work of the Lord! When this is so, need we be surprised that the task set before us becomes difficult and tedious, and barren of results for God? Surely this lamentable condition of things is due largely to failure to realize how great in God's sight is the value of a soul. If we would move and persuade others we must ourselves be fully persuaded that the gospel is of a truth the very power (dynamite) of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. This would certainly lend boldness and effectiveness to our testimony before the unsaved, whether privately or publicly.

May the beloved Paul's three "I ams" be ours also. Observe that each one is personal. Let us not be looking to or depending on someone else. How about ourselves? May we all endeavor to do with our might what our hands find to do for our Lord Jesus Christ. -S. STEWART.