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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Unbelievers need to hear the stories of converted Christians of what their lives were like before. Unbelievers think they are unworthy to come to Christ. Of course they are, but there is hope for each one. All they need to do is accept Jesus and His salvation
May the all transforming power of God encounter all working for the kingdom of darkness so that they become full time Evangelists,Teachers,and apostles of the word of God thereby adding to the team doing soul winning in this day and era of thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.in Jesus name let there be light