22And still the Christians in the churches in Judea didn’t know me personally. 23All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” 24And they praised God because of me.
I was once talking to someone who was having tremendous personal problems. I mentioned that he needed to make some pretty significant changes in the way he dealt with people. He understood that to be true, but he didn’t know if it could truly happen.
“After all,” he asked, “can a leapord change its spots?”
Of course the answer to that question is a resounding “NO!” And the truth is we have no more power to change ourselves than a leapord does. But what we too often discount is the power God to change us.
God changed Paul from persecutor to preacher. He changed Peter from coward to captain. He changed Gideon from wimp to warrior. He changed David from shepherd to soldier. He changed Rahab from harlot to hero.
If the Good News of Jesus can change all those people, it can change you too. And even more, it can change anyone–that means anyone.
That’s the power of His Good News.
I’m willing to bet that there is someone in your world right now that you think would be the very last to come to Christ. This person is so rude, so difficult, so anti-everything you believe in and love that it is next-to impossible for him or her to respond to the love and truth of Jesus Christ. It would take a miracle for him or her to make a change.
Here’s the good news: God is into miracles. God does the impossible all the time. He’s just waiting for someone to act out on the belief He’ll actually do something. He’s waiting for you to radically love that person who is so unlovable. He’s waiting for you to step out and step out and be a part of the miracle. The question isn’t whether God’s going to do something incredible: that’s a sure thing. The question is, are you going to be a part of it?
Related Articles
No user responded in this post