The salvation of any individual is a MIRACLE of God’s grace! We marvel at the countless miracles Jesus did during his earthly ministry, and rightly so! But the wonder of all those miracles pales in comparison to the supernatural work of God giving new life in Christ to one who is spiritually dead in sin.
This is the miracle that the Apostle Paul experienced when he was converted to Christ, as recorded in Acts 9:1-31 (see also Acts 22 & 26). The Spirit of God, through Luke’s narrative in Acts, holds Paul’s miraculous, unlikely conversion before us that we might behold the greatness of Christ’s saving love, power, and authority.
Beloved, the Apostle Paul never got over the wonder and amazement of Christ’s mercy in his life. He testifies of this in many places throughout his letters, one notable place being 1 Tim. 1:12-17. Notice especially what he says in verse 16:
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Beloved, the Lord wants us to be convinced that if he could save someone like the Apostle Paul, then he could save anyone – including you, me, and the person you think is simply beyond His reach. What great hope we have in Christ’s saving power, and what great motivation we have to faithfully proclaim the Gospel to those who are yet in their sins! No wonder Paul could say:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Rom. 1:16)
Amen!
Because He lives and is returning,
Greg