Unlike many Christians today, Paul's obligation to preach the gospel was not due to the guilt and condemnation associated with not sharing Christ among peers, family and friends. Paul's desire to share the gospel came from the overflow of his heart.
Paul's obligation came from His love and devotion to the Lord. In the very first verse of this letter Paul declared that he was servant of the Jesus Christ even before he mentions his apostleship. The Greek word used was 'doulos', which literally means bondman or slave of Jesus Christ. This word depicts the most slavish term possible. It is not by chance that Paul used this word to describe his love relationship with the Lord.
In the Old Testament, a Hebrew slave was by law, set free after seven years of service to his master. If however the slave, loved his master and did not want to be free, then he became a bond-servant of his master for the rest of his life.
Paul by describing himself as a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, was declaring his free choice to remain His slave forever by this expression of love. Such a great love would never preach Christ out of guilt or condemnation, but this attitude did motivated him to continually teach, write and travel so that the world would know what Jesus did for it. Paul was buried and obligated to preach the gospel, but it came from knowing the Lord and his kindness and grace.
As Christians, we have a great commission to fulfill. We do need to walk in the footsteps of those who have gone before us sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and how we have been reconciliation to God the Father through the death and resurrection of His son. But sharing this must stem from knowing God and having a sweet fellowship with him. Today, I pray that you seek the Lord and discover, through His word, who He is and how wonderful He is. Jeremiah 29:13-14a promises us, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD..."
