In this lesson, The Surrendered Life, Paul had been a Jesus-hater, a self-righteous persecutor of Christians. He said he literally breathed hatred toward Christ's followers. He was also a man of great self-will and ambition. From the very start, Paul was on his way up, headed for success. he had his whole life planned out, knowing exactly where he was going. Yet the Lord took this self-made, self-determined, self-directed man, and made him a glowing example of the surrendered life. Paul became one of the most God-dependent, God-filled, God-led people in all of history. Paul declared his life a pattern for all who desire to live fully surrendered to Christ: "For this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting" (1 Timothy 1:16). May our hearts be like Paul's, as we seek The Surrendered Life!