June 13
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We read today of the powerful conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Saul's name would be changed to Paul to indicate the great change that would happen to this man. From here on, so much of the New Testament is characterized by the story and testimony of Paul, much of the book of Acts and then so many of Paul's letters. Why is this? I believe that the story of the gospel is made so evident in Paul. Here is the greatest of sinners, a man sitting on, holding the coats of the men who stoned Stephen to death. A man 'zealous' of putting down the Jesus movement. Yet, in God's rich mercy Saul becomes one of the greatest missionaries and authors in Christian history. Paul stands as a kind of ultimate example of what it means for Jesus to take our lives and make them into something that works powerfully for the kingdom of God.
Whenever we run across someone that we think is too far away from God to ever by part of His kingdom, we need to remember how far away Saul was before Jesus impacted his life.
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