Praise God for Your Story
And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:24)
Paul’s reputation definitely preceded him. His story of coming to faith in Christ circulated throughout the east long before he had made one of his “missionary journeys.” Before Christ, Paul was a stone-cold legalist. He even took it upon himself to organize the extermination of early believers. His efforts led to the stoning death of Stephen, one of the first deacons. Paul was on his way to Damascus for more fervent, religious zealotry, when he encountered Christ and was blinded. Struck to the heart, this man who was known as a ruthless henchman for orthodoxy, now would become a proclaimer of God’s sweet grace.
Talk about an about face! His salvation experience was real and some in the early church struggled at first to accept it. When they met him, and saw his changed life and obvious conversion, they knew he had experienced exactly what they, too, had experienced -- salvation.
Before the days of dramatic personal salvation church testimonies, Paul had a dramatic change that rocked the church. His testimony spread widely; and when people did meet the actual man, they were doubly impressed. Now he was preaching the actual faith he had previously tried to eliminate. What a story!
Maybe you have listened to the testimonies of individuals much like Paul who were transformed by the grace of God into an entirely different person. God still does that.
Don’t discount your story…and you have one. Your story doesn’t have to include cinematic characteristics to be worthy of repeating. Your story of coming to Christ is worthy of repeating because it is your story! No one has a story just like yours. God did a unique work within your hardened heart and you changed, and for the better. You were transformed not by a lightning bolt but by the moving of the Holy Spirit within your now-changed heart. Your story needs to be told and you are just the one to do it. Praise the Lord for your story; and let someone else know what you were like before you met Christ. One day, just like Paul, you will be able to say, “And they praised God because of me.”
Paul’s reputation definitely preceded him. His story of coming to faith in Christ circulated throughout the east long before he had made one of his “missionary journeys.” Before Christ, Paul was a stone-cold legalist. He even took it upon himself to organize the extermination of early believers. His efforts led to the stoning death of Stephen, one of the first deacons. Paul was on his way to Damascus for more fervent, religious zealotry, when he encountered Christ and was blinded. Struck to the heart, this man who was known as a ruthless henchman for orthodoxy, now would become a proclaimer of God’s sweet grace.
Talk about an about face! His salvation experience was real and some in the early church struggled at first to accept it. When they met him, and saw his changed life and obvious conversion, they knew he had experienced exactly what they, too, had experienced -- salvation.
Before the days of dramatic personal salvation church testimonies, Paul had a dramatic change that rocked the church. His testimony spread widely; and when people did meet the actual man, they were doubly impressed. Now he was preaching the actual faith he had previously tried to eliminate. What a story!
Maybe you have listened to the testimonies of individuals much like Paul who were transformed by the grace of God into an entirely different person. God still does that.
Don’t discount your story…and you have one. Your story doesn’t have to include cinematic characteristics to be worthy of repeating. Your story of coming to Christ is worthy of repeating because it is your story! No one has a story just like yours. God did a unique work within your hardened heart and you changed, and for the better. You were transformed not by a lightning bolt but by the moving of the Holy Spirit within your now-changed heart. Your story needs to be told and you are just the one to do it. Praise the Lord for your story; and let someone else know what you were like before you met Christ. One day, just like Paul, you will be able to say, “And they praised God because of me.”
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3 Comments
Before I gave my life to Christ I was looking for that missing something. I had accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was 11 years old. But I lived my life as a carnal Christian. There was even a time when I came close to being an alcoholic. Jesus was always looking after me still. I had a classmate that knew I hadn't given my life to Jesus, yet. She gave me some information to read to help me realize that I hadn't given Jesus all of me I was driving on my way to work when I realized this and gave Christ my life. I was so ecstatic that everyone around me knew there was something different about me. I have been ecstatic ever since
I Am Thankful to My Family. God has blessed me each and every Day of My Life. JESUS has shown ME , He is LORD. PRAISE GOD !
The road I was taking was a lost weary life it was in my brokenness I called out to Jesus thank you for your grace saved a sinner like me