In preparation for this message I decided to research the following question: “When did the practice of piercing ears begin?” Here is what I found. “Ear piercing practice dates back to about 5,000 years ago. Body piercings have been practiced for thousands of years and can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Rome, and India.” In ancient Egypt, body piercings were seen as a symbol of wealth and status." Today, in the 21st century, body piercings have become all the rage, and they symbolize, I suppose, many different ideas. But in this message we are going to look at a piercing that carried an entirely different meaning than most, if not all, piercings today carry. Today piercing is done seemingly for cosmetic reasons (though I have never figured out how a round ring in one’s nose made them more beautiful or handsome). However, in the verses we are about to read reveal piercing as a mark of love and dedication. Did you know that the Apostle Paul was a man with a hole in his ear? No, it wasn’t a hole put there with an awl as he stood against a door or doorpost. Paul’s “hole in the ear” went much deeper . . . into his heart. The book of Romans was written by the Apostle Paul about 58-60 A.D. The first few verses tell us: The writer is Paul. He was called by God (God calls preachers). He was set apart to preach the Gospel. (We are to preach God’s message.) Jesus was proven to be the Son of God by the resurrection. We who are saved are recipients of God’s grace. And notice what Paul calls himself in vs. 1: “ . . . a servant of Jesus Christ . . . ” (We will come back to that in just a moment.) We know that originally, Paul’s name was Saul. He was Saul of Tarsus. He was born of Jewish parents who were Roman citizens. (If you will study his life you will find that this gave him certain privileges.) He had studied under Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers of his day. As Saul, a devout Jew, he had sought out believers, disrupted churches, consented to the deaths of believers. He held the coats of those that stoned Stephen to death in Acts 7:58. And he had no pity in his heart for those he persecuted. But God used Paul’s activities to further the very cause he was fighting. (Wherever believers were scattered, new churches sprang up, and the Gospel was preached.) Then, in Acts 9, Saul (Paul) met the Master on the road to Damascus. He was gloriously saved and was converted to the service of God. There is a difference between being saved and being converted. In Luke 22:32 Jesus said to Peter, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (CONVERTED = to turn one’s self unto.) At this point, Peter operated in his own strength - Vs. 33: “And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” But, of course, we know of his denial of the Lord. Not everyone who is saved is truly converted to fully trusting and faithfully serving Christ in their everyday lives. But, Saul’s (Paul’s) life and ambition were changed, and he became a man with a hole in his ear. We see:

I. THE LAW OF THE BONDSLAVE.

II. THE LIFE OF A BONDSERVANT (WHAT DOES HE DO)?

III. THE LASTING REWARD OF THE BONDSERVANT.