Text: Acts 9:1-19
So you know the Paul we read about yesterday? Today we’re taking a step back in time to learn more about his story.
The Saul we are reading about today is the same man we read about named Paul. Have I completely confused you yet?
Talk about a fresh start—an amazing story of redemption and new beginning.
Let’s first look at how God used Paul, a changed man. A man covered by grace from the Most High.
- He took 3 long missionary journeys, planting churches, preaching the gospel and encouraging his fellow believers.
- Paul had a gift of explaining the gospel in a way that resonates with us today just as it did many years ago.
Would you believe that this same man was at one time persecuting the believers? Paul wasn’t just a non-believer, he was actively seeking out men and women who were following Christ: throwing them in jail or worse, killing them.
But God chose Him. He met Saul and blinded him, so that he might see the truth.
Do you look at your past and believe the lies that you’re too messy to clean up? Too broken to be fixed? Are you struggling to believe that His grace and forgiveness covers whatever is in your past? Paul tells us later on in Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-” [NIV]
It is a gift. It is by grace.
There is nothing you can do to make Him love you more.
There is no sin too great for Him.
There is no stain He can’t wash away.
Saul was walking down a path of destruction: God met Saul where he was.
Ask Him today to meet you where you are.
He will.
It may not look the way you expect it to look—you may be blinded, so that you might see clearly. Sister, there is a fresh start and a new beginning just waiting to be given to you.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:38-39, NIV, emphasis added]
This is the verse that I chose for my baptism this Sunday! Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-” [NIV] this is exactly the same verse that brought me to The Lord in January. So Paul's letters are still bringing followers to Christ today
Oh to serve a gracious God!
Good Morning,
I'm still trying to hear from the Lord about this trial I must be in. I have be made to wait on financial aid and do nothing.I can't order my books nothing…so I'm getting behind in my class and I'm so full of questionsI I could have lied and tried to BS my way through my class but I've had to do that before because I didn't have the funds to but the textbook. So I'm learning about my intergrity and honesty through this….I took myself off all online dating sites and I won't go back either ..IT IS a SCAM any way if you really look at it. Does HE just want to spend time with me? and I'm freaking out?…I do have bills to pay…need this and that especially my car….I know the funds are coming..but it's the waiting ..will it be here today or it should be here today no..up and down that just drives you nuts!Thanks Ladies for just letting me tell my story..:} Karen
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-” [NIV]
It is a gift. It is by grace.
There is nothing you can do to make Him love you more.
There is no sin too great for Him.
There is no stain He can’t wash away.
…………These words are music to my ears!! Our God is great! & to think that God blinded His child to help him see clearly in the end is astonishing. This is somewhat harsh but not harsh at all! God treats us like He did with Paul with much grace. Even the hardships we go through now are probably sprinkled with grace. Gods plans are master plans that have purpose and splendor. He knows what He is doing.
Amen! <3 this! Definitely ready for my fresh new start! Me me here Lord…
This is so encouraging to me because it reminds me to never get weary in evangelism. You never know how or who God will use for good and he might use us to reach him. I struggle with giving over the control. I get discouraged when there are people I am trying to reach for him tat seem uninterested. But the fact is that, that is out of my control. He works in amazing ways and if. Those individuals are meant to know him and be his followers, they will, in His timing!
I loved this today!! I had a very rough 2012 and ONLY by the GRACE of GOD I made it through! I now know this to be oh so true!
Thank you!
I love that story because it really lets all of us know that no matter what we have done or where we have been thru Christ all can be forgiven and He can and will use us in a mighty way!