Galatians 1:22-24. 22And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified God because of me.
The conversion of Paul is considered by many apologists as one of the best proofs of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul was not merely ambivalent to Christianity; he didn’t tolerate it like he did paganism or stoicism. He hated it with a passion. His desire was to completely destroy the church. To wipe it out of existence. He persecuted and even murdered Christians, breathing out threats against them at every turn. But then the persecutor became the preacher – preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.
Assuming you can accept that Paul was an actual person who isn’t lying in his letters, and whose life was truly turned around, you would be hard pressed to give an explanation for such a radical transformation. The truth is something happened to this man. Something that made him do a complete “180.” The answer is that the resurrection is real. How else would we explain Saul becoming Paul?
And how else would we explain your conversion? Though maybe a bit less radical, your conversion is no less of a miracle. Your “before and after” is not less than the amazing grace of God. Your union with Christ is not a lesser revelation of Jesus in you. If Paul’s life is proof of the resurrection of Jesus, then so is yours and mine.
What did Paul do with his conversion story? He shared it. Why? So that others might glorify God. Christian, your story glorifies God! Every Christian’s story is different and every Christian’s story is the same – saved by grace, Christ in me. And that story needs to be shared. Remember, people can argue with theological facts, but they can’t argue with your story. They can’t argue against your personal salvation experience, or your experience of your union with Christ.
Every Christian has a freedom story. A former life of bondage that has been transformed into a life of freedom in Christ. You have one too. Share it to the glory of God.
You: What is your freedom story? Do you ever share it with others?
You in Christ: What has been your experience of union with Christ? Could you describe it to others to the glory of God?
Christ in you: Consider where you can share your story this week. Ask God to give you opportunity to speak of his grace.
Pray: O Lord, may everything I say be for your gory alone. Amen.
To Live is Christ 