An Amazing Grace Story!

“... last of all He (Jesus) appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.”
1 Corinthians 15:8-10a (NIV) 

One of the final post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus is among my favorites. All the other apostles saw Jesus in the flesh when He lived among them and led them. Paul was in the next generation, yet the risen Christ appeared to him personally on the road to Damascus. Paul was traveling there with orders from the High Priest to capture and imprison Christ followers. When he encountered Jesus on the road, it transformed his life from a persecutor of the church to an apostle of the church! That’s the power of the resurrection with grace to change any life!

Paul’s conversion is a remarkable story of grace! We are first introduced to him in Acts 8, where he had given his approval when Stephen was stoned to death for his faith in Jesus. Even still, Paul would experience grace from the risen Christ. It was so humbling, he never really got over it. In 1 Corinthians 15:9, he calls himself the least of the apostles, not even deserving to be called an apostle. In his letter to Timothy, he calls himself the chief of sinners. (1 Tim. 1:15).

Paul had wreaked havoc on the church, breathing out murderous threats against Christ followers everywhere he went! Because of his past, he knew better than anyone what forgiveness meant. His grace story offers hope to all of us! No matter who we are or what we’ve done, no one is beyond God’s grace! The same power that raised Christ from the dead transformed his life and can transform yours today! Paul used his own life as an example. In 1 Timothy 1:16 (TLB), he says, “But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as an example to show everyone how patient He is with even the worst sinners, so that others will realize that they, too, can have everlasting life.”

Have you ever felt that you had messed up so badly that not even God could fix it? Not even God would forgive you. It was too late. You crossed the line of no return. Don’t believe it! As long as you’re occupying space and taking in oxygen, God’s grace is greater than your sin! My favorite part of our key passage today is when Paul declares, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Corinthians 15:10a (NIV) The word “effect” in that verse means to cause to change. Jesus changed Paul’s life! He can change yours! He didn’t appear to condemn or berate Paul for all the bad things he had done and the people he had hurt. Instead, Jesus appeared to him, offering grace! He offers that same grace to you today, even to those who have hurt you. That’s what makes grace so amazing! Never write off anyone!  If he can transform the likes of Paul, there’s hope for anyone! What’s your grace story?

---

Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.