Honorbound Devotions
We All Have A Story
George Fessler
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"You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion --
how I violently persecuted the Christians. I did my best to get rid of
them. I was one of the most religious Jews of my own age, and I tried
as hard as possible to follow all the old traditions of my religion.
But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to
choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy! Then
he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about
Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out
to consult with anyone else; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with
those who were apostles before I was. No, I went away into Arabia and later
returned to the city of Damascus. It was not until three years later that
I finally went to Jerusalem for a visit with Peter and stayed there with
him for fifteen days. And the only other apostle I met at that time was
James, our Lord's brother. You must believe what I am saying, for I declare
before God that I am not lying. Then after this visit, I went north into
the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. And still the Christians in the churches
in Judea didn't know me personally. All they knew was that people were
saying, 'The one who used to persecute us now preaches the very faith he
tried to destroy!' And they gave glory to God because of me" (Galatians
1:13-24, NLT).
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Paul takes time to share part of the story of his life before he
encountered Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus (three other accounts,
Acts 9:1-30; 22:1-21; 26:1-23). He was a religious fanatic, to the point
that he zealously sought to destroy those of "the Way" who were following
Christ. Paul was a man driven by his religion as a matter of doing things
and making them happen -- which fortunately is only part one of his story,
written by his own hand. The second part is written by God who, in Paul's
own words, "revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News
about Jesus to the Gentiles." What a story -- Saul the persecutor becomes
Paul the preacher!
God's grace is so amazing; no one is beyond reach and hope. What's
your story? Think about how the Lord came into your life. Take time to
write out your story on paper, reflecting on God's grace to you. Then pray
that God
will lead you to someone with whom you can share your story and
the good news of Jesus Christ.
Prayer response: Father, I thank you for your unending love and boundless
grace, how you rescued me from my former way of living and gave to me complete
forgiveness and eternal life. Thank you for resetting my course in a new
direction, which now has real purpose and new meaning. I'm grateful to
have been born, but also to know the reason I was born -- to glorify You
in all I am and all that I do. Amen.
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