YOUR BURDEN, YOUR CALLING AND YOUR FAITH – 1 Timothy 2:7
I Timothy 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
God had separated Paul out to preach the gospel unto the Gentiles. God called Paul and Paul heeded God’s voice and obeyed. Paul understood that Christ was truth and as such, Paul could not lie to those he was called to minister too. It would do Paul no good to preach the gospel of Christ and misrepresent to others who Christ really is. If Paul lied, Satan would be quick to expose the lie and Paul’s ministry for Christ would be diminished. Paul desired to be used of God and as such, the truth was an important part of his ministry to the Gentiles.
Paul became a teacher to the Gentiles by simply following God’s direction for his life. God instructed Paul to teach and Paul did the will of God. Paul’s obedience to the will of God demonstrates Paul’s faith and trust in God. As Paul learned to hear God’s voice and obey, his ministry grew and Paul saw the Lord using him in ways that were beyond his comprehension. Paul became a teacher to the Gentiles because of his faith in God and because the truth needed to be shared with the Gentiles.
God allowed Paul to see the importance of the Gentiles being saved. Because of this truth that was revealed to Paul, Paul centered his ministry on the truth that God had given him. Paul also desired that he preach the truth of the gospel to the Jews but while Paul had that burden, it was not the door that God opened for Paul. Peter on the other hand while he understood that the Gentiles needed to receive the gospel, he was not burdened with the truth of preaching to the Gentiles. Peter instead was burdened to preach to the Jews. Both Peter and Paul were used of the Lord and they both followed the faith and did as God requested them. However, they had two different ministries because of the difference of the burden of truth that was laid upon their lives.
God does not give each Christian the same burden of truth. God does not give to each Christian the same burden of ministry. If God gave everyone a burden to be missionaries to one particular country, then who would be around to support all the missionaries, who would preach to the other tribes and nations, who would disciples believers in the local church. God gives different burdens of truth to each Christian. Paul’s burden was the truth that the Gentiles needed to hear the gospel of Christ.
What is the burden that God has laid on your heart? It is this burden that is designed to assist you in following God�s will for your life. By fulfilling your burden, you will find true peace. However, just because you are following God’s will and fulfilling your burden as given to you by God, it does not mean that life will be easy. Paul still faced persecution as he preached the gospel with the Gentiles. However, Paul had an inward peace because HE knew what God was requiring of HIM.
God has laid a burden upon your life. Seek HIM for ways that you can fulfill that burden. Allow HIM to lead you and guide you because you understand that if you do not fulfill that burden, you will lack the inward peace that passeth all understanding. God desires to use you, will you allow your faith to grow as you look unto HIM and do HIS will. Do the will of God in all faith and all truth.