Paul was persecuting Christians, and God wanted him to stop. When light flooded from heaven and blinded the Jew, he obeyed, and his sight was restored. At that moment, Paul experienced God’s mercy.
The converted Pharisee immediately went to work. He stopped murdering Christians and began proclaiming God’s grace, winning new converts all across the Roman Empire. God’s plan was in full motion.
Paul led an adventurous life as a missionary. He understood the need to fulfill his duty at any cost and tried to live in a way that would encourage others to have a relationship with God. He knew his purpose was to serve the Creator.
The missionary called on God’s power. He begged the Almighty to take away a weakness that he called a thorn. But God refused, saying that his grace was all that was needed. Apostle Paul realized that God’s power was best served in his weakness, so he boasted about his shortcoming instead and relied on grace.
Paul’s life is a wonderful example of the mighty work and provisions of the cross. So is Stephen’s life. He lived like Jesus, proclaiming and forgiving all the way to martyrdom. Abraham’s walk of faith shows the power of the cross even before Jesus was born into this world. And, we witness the same in Samuel, who answered the call before Jesus spoke the great commission.
The cross is just as powerful today. When we meet God there, he strips off our dirty life clothes and bathes us in mercy. His plan blooms, giving us purpose to flourish and shine forth his saving goodness into this dark world. To ensure our success, he clothes us in marvelous grace. As a Christ-Follower, we can approach life with confidence because God has supplied our every need.
Rise warrior. Go in grace.
“May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” II Peter 1: 2-3