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April 26 Daily Devotional

Of Me Also

Frans Bakker

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. —1 Corinthians 15:8

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 15:3–8

Devotional

Paul, as one born out of due time, miraculously saw the Lord Jesus Christ after His resurrection. He was the last to see the resurrected Savior, and can, therefore, include himself among the apostles of Jesus.

Paul calls himself “one born out of due time.” That is someone who is born and receives life, but whose birth does not happen in the normal way. A child who is “born out of due time” is born prematurely. In such cases life is a double miracle and double care is needed to keep that child alive. That is why Paul calls himself, “one born out of due time.” It is for him a double miracle that he receives life and is kept alive. He is spiritually born in an impossible way, because he persecuted Christ and His church. On the road to Damascus Paul is blinded in order to receive spiritual eyes. It is on the road to Damascus that Paul is born as one out of due time.

How is it possible that Christ appeared to Paul? This was a miracle of God’s grace. The appearance of the glorified Christ translated Paul from death to life. An enemy, a persecutor, an ungodly man who thought he was pious, arose from the dead. For whoever is brought into contact with the living Christ, is awakened from mortal slumber. Everywhere that the risen King appears, death has to depart, regardless if one is born in or out of due time.

“Last of all,” Paul says. He first mentions the other apostles to whom Christ revealed Himself. Finally he mentions himself. It seems as though he wants to say: “I am the least. It is a double miracle for me. It was possible for someone else, but not for me.” This is a precious attitude, to know oneself as one born out of due time, one who is the least and the last of all. All those who have become recipients of salvation say the same thing. It is by the strength of the living Christ that they are born as one out of due time, as one who is prematurely born. Their spiritual birth is actually against their own nature. It happens in spite of impossibilities. It happens when nothing except death could be expected. This is God’s free grace.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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