Rejoices That God Can Save The Worst Of Sinners

A HERO’S TALE

An evil smile spread across Saul’s face.

He watched as large rocks —thrown by a hateful, angry mob —flew through the air and slammed into Stephen’s body. Stephen, a godly leader in the early church, was being stoned to death for his faith. And Saul, a young Pharisee, couldn’t have been happier. As Stephen’s life ended, Saul nodded in sinister approval. (See Acts 6:8–8:1 for the full story.)

Inspired by Stephen’s death, wicked Saul made it his life mission to destroy Christianity, a new faith in the first century AD (originally called “the Way”) comprised of people who believed Jesus was God’s Savior. Like a hungry wolf hunting his prey, he traveled far and wide, searching for followers of Jesus to imprison.

But God had other plans for Saul.

One day, as Saul was traveling toward the city of Damascus to persecute the local believers, the risen Jesus suddenly appeared to Saul, knocking him down and blinding him with brilliant glory. That moment changed Saul forever.

Saul (who changed his name to Paul) went from a devoted Jesus hater to a devoted Jesus follower. He dedicated his life to spreading the gospel worldwide, taking at least three missionary trips and writing 13 New Testament books.

By God’s power, Paul was a completely new man!

DECODING THE MESSAGE

Think about your life. How many times have you sinned? If you’re honest, it’s too many to count.

Now think about the worst things you’ve done: Lying? Cheating? Stealing? Hitting? Screaming in anger? Even worse? It’s probably a pretty terrible list.

But before you get discouraged, remember Paul. He once hated Jesus (because if you hate Jesus’ disciples, you hate Jesus, too). Yet God saved Paul and radically transformed his life.

Now look at today’s verse. Later in life, Paul admitted that he was the “worst of sinners.” But God was greater than Paul’s sins. He can radically transform even the worst of us.

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 IMMENSE PATIENCE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD BELIEVE IN HIM AND RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE.

—1 Timothy 1:15-16, NIV

He can do that for you, too. It doesn’t matter who you are or how bad a sinner you think you are. God loves you, and he wants to save you and use you for his glory. Trust in the risen Jesus, like Paul did, and let God start changing you, too!

BATTLE PLAN

To learn more about Paul’s remarkable conversion, read Acts 9:1-31 and Galatians 1:11-24.

Rejoices That God Can Save The Worst Of Sinners