Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Can we see the zealous nature of Paul? He speaks with passion about a life well lived. Let us set aside what we know will come next in his profession of faith as counting all lost to win Christ. Let us examine the natural passion of Paul in his zealot nature. Paul did not stop being a passionate man. He only changed his love of the law for the love of Christ.

Many times in Paul’s writings to the churches his passion comes through in his words. To a novice those expressions can be overwhelming, maybe even overbearing. Some might embrace his fire while others might want a bit of distance from the heat.

Zechariah 8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

Zechariah’s tone might lack the zeal of Paul but his truth is just as vital as any Paul preached. The issue at hand is over understanding our own nature in the way we express our passion for Christ. Was I abrasive in the way I spoke to others in my past? Was I well received or did people try and distance themselves from me? Do I come off sincere or just full of myself?

Style might be one of the more difficult attributes for an individual to change. One thing I have learned from Paul in his ministry and it serves me well.

1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Know your audience.

Exodus 21:9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.

There is much to be learned in studying the relationship of the son and his betrothed. I want to focus on only one thing at this time and that is the Father’s attitude towards His Sons betrothed. God the Father treats us as a daughter. This is the essence of adoption, we were chosen in Christ by the Father and as such are the children of adoption into the family of God.

“All rights reserved.”

All things under heaven and in earth have been given to Jesus Christ for the faithful work He performed to make all things possible. As daughters we have no rights or ownership in the Old Testament economy. We are now living in the New Testament economy. What changed?

John 13:3-5 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

It is important here to understand how Jesus acted knowing that all things were His. His expression of love said, “There is nothing beneath me.” This washing of the feet was a hireling’s job or perhaps even that of a slave.

The reason I bring this up is to remind us that as His betrothed, we need to see, appreciate and cooperate in what our bridegroom does for those He loves.

John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

I will not go into the meaning behind the washing of feet here. What I want to focus on as His betrothed is this attitude of cooperation, to do what we are asked because we love Him.