majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him in Galatians 1:22-24,
"I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
They only heard the report: 'The man who formerly persecuted us is now
preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.' And they praised God
because of me."
Paul recounts for the Galatian believers the response of the churches
in Judea when they heard that their arch-enemy, Paul, had converted to
the faith he once persecuted. I'm not sure what the Judean's thoughts
were of Paul, but it was God they praised because of the
transformation they had seen in Paul's life. Of this Paul tells
Timothy, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,
that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even
though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I
was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace
of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and
love that are in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 1:12-14. Paul goes on to
tell Timothy that he had been the worst of sinners and that the
transformation the Lord made in his life was a message to all: "Here
is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for
that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of
sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an
example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."
1 Timothy 1:15-17.
Here is the cause of the Judean's praise of God. God makes new
creatures out of us. Here, Paul, a violent persecutor of the church
became its most ardent, active and productive promoter of the gospel
among the Gentiles. He personally established countless local
assemblies, which secured the future of the church for all ages. He
wrote thirteen of the New Testament's twenty seven books, clarifying
and preserving the gospel message for all eternity. All this from the
man whose previous life's zeal was to destroy every trace of the
church.
But... the Lord stepped in. He confronted Paul and changed him from
the inside out. No longer was he a persecutor of the church, he now
carried a huge personal care and concern for it. In the letter to the
Galatians he spends himself to insure the gospel not be adulterated
with false teaching. In another place he speaks of the burden he bore
for the health and welfare of the churches, "Besides everything else,
I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is
weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not
inwardly burn?" 2 Corinthians 11:28-29. In Paul's life, in the lives
of those around us, in our own lives we see the masterfully,
magnificent work of the Lord making new creations of us!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd
love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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