We've all witnessed someone being humbled. Perhaps they spoke arrogantly before the boxing bout declaring themselves to be the victor before the fight even began only to be knocked out in the first round by their opponent. Or maybe, it was the cornerback who broke up a deep pass followed by excessive celebration, only to be burned two plays later for the game-winning touchdown. These people were humbled in very public ways, while many others have been humbled privately without spectators. Either way, It's not a great feeling to have your overconfidence crushed, yet it is a very real part of life. As humans, each of us has two options in life: We can be humbled, or we can humble ourselves. This cannot be avoided. Every person will face these two options, and often on numerous crossroad occasions throughout their life.

On the road to Damascus, Paul had come to a crossroads. He had been humbled by Jesus Christ himself. So, from that moment on, Paul chose to live his life from a position of willing humility and submission to God. This is why in verse 8, Paul declares himself to be less than the least of all the Lord's people. Something in his heart had changed. How could it not after coming face to face with the risen Christ himself? This idea of the fight between pride and humility had to have been an ongoing battle within Paul's heart and mind. At this point in his life, he was seen as a great leader in the church. He had achieved a list of accomplishments in his ministry that others could never hope to attain in a hundred lifetimes. His name was known in most Jewish and Gentile communities. An envoy befitting a triumphant general had been sent to receive him when he came to Rome. Even Roman commanders had become familiar with Paul. Yet in all of his success, Paul knew that without the grace and mercy of God, he would have nothing and be nothing. And that same grace, mercy, and favor that was given to Paul was also available for everyone. Because of this, Paul's life's work was now only to make that good news of the grace of God known, to make it clear, and to make it practical and understandable. His goal was not to confuse or frustrate, but to announce boldly and with humility that this good news was for everyone. Paul could have easily become puffed up and full of pride, declaring his deserved high status over the churches, many of which he had planted and gathered funding for. He could have easily become a spiritual tyrant, but this was not the case. He did not seek out the comfort of a respected position or to retire in obscurity. He had made up his mind that the rest of his life would be lived in humble pursuit of what God had called him to, even if that calling brought to him the danger of storms, demons, venomous snakes, and pagans.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon preached on this part of Paul's life and said these words: “But while Paul was thus thankful for his office, his success in it greatly humbled him. The fuller a vessel becomes the deeper it sinks in the water. A plenitude of grace is a cure for pride...For I am bold to tell you that my Master’s riches of grace are so unsearchable, that he delights to forgive and forget enormous sin; the bigger the sin the more glory to his grace. If you are over head and ears in debt, he is rich enough to discharge your liabilities. If you are at the very gates of hell, he is able to pluck you from the jaws of destruction.” The more we realize the grace of God, the less likely we will stand in a place of pride. This is the position Paul took when he acknowledged the manifold wisdom of God. The ancient Greek word Polupoikilos, translated to manifold, carries the ideas of intricacy, complexity, and great beauty. It is a type of wisdom that is not earthly or human in origin but could only come from God. This plan, full of complexity and wisdom, would not just be known to those on earth, but also to all heavenly or spiritual beings, whether in God's family or rebellious. Now, even Satan would see what God's plan had been all along and how he had become a willing pawn in it. In that way, even the man of pride himself would be humbled. Eventually, all who hold their heads high in pride will be humbled. All who stand will one day kneel and every knee will bow before God. Better to do it now than wait until you no longer have a choice.