Saul: my chosen instrument

I believe that way too often we let our past dictate the role that God plays in our lives. It’s easy to look back at who we were before we became believers and think about how much we sinned and cringe about the things we said and did. 

Even if we believe with all our hearts that we are made a new creation through Christ, those doubts often don’t leave. It might be like an accidental tattoo for some, there really is no getting rid of it. 

I think about my past, there was never anything crazy that I was doing that was causing me to live a life completely removed from Christ. I just always put things before my relationship with God. 

I was greatly encouraged this morning reading the story about Saul’s conversion. Saul was the ultimate persecutor against Jesus and believers.  He was having believers killed, and he was going door to door having believers thrown into prison. He was a bad dude and really had no remorse for what he was doing.

I won’t summarize the entire story of Saul, but essentially one day he has his crew were walking to Damascus and out of nowhere a light from heaven shone down and Saul fell to his feet. A voice from heaven spoke to him and he was made blind for three entire days! Jesus then sent someone to heal his eyes and when he could see again, he got baptized and immediately started preaching! 

Because so many people saw how Saul persecuted so many believers, his story was almost unbelievable and because of God using Saul, there were more believers than ever! 

Here is what the Lord said: “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16)

I share this with you this morning because we are God’s chosen instruments. We are sinners saved by the grace of God. Don’t let your past play a role in discouraging you, let it encourage you because the work God is forever doing in your heart is something more powerful and greater than we will ever be able to fully understand.