"But I was being unknown to the face to the assemblies of Judea to the [ones] in Christ... But only hearing they were that 'the [one] persecuting us formerly now is good-newsing the faith which formerly he was destroying'... and they were glorifying the God in me."
-The Lord gave Paul not only a call but a story as well - a glory story! This highly placed Jewish religious leader who was at one time vigorously trying to destroy Jesus and His Church was now actually promoting and building up the same. Saul the Destroyer - that’s what they used to call him. Well, perhaps not. But his was a fascinating story, to be sure, no doubt incredibly encouraging to the hearts of those early Christ-followers who still lived under the ever-present shadow of persecution and death. In the midst of a rising tide of persecution, one of their would-be tormentors has been turned! The crucifixion itself was still a fairly recent event, fresh in their minds. So was the stoning death of Stephen which launched the first great persecution against the Church (Acts 8.1). They wouldn’t have recognized him had Saul shown up in their village, these Judean believers. But his story, this word of Saul’s conversion and of his powerful preaching ministry, gave their hearts courage and hope. Believers were celebrating God’s goodness in and through his life. It showed off in stark relief the magnificent glory and unfathomable wisdom of God. His ways are not our ways, so much higher. He so knows what He is doing, not wasting a single blessed thing, working all together for good and to reinforce the truth that He is indeed breathtakingly good and deserving of all glory and honor and praise. Such is the effect that Paul’s story had on these early believers.
-Is it not true that the Lord likewise gives a glory story to each and every person who comes to trust in Him? Perhaps not quite similar to Paul’s in particulars of background and circumstances of conversion and subsequent call, but a God-given story nevertheless, one uniquely designed to show off how breathtakingly good He truly is. I once was lost, but now am found, amazing grace how sweet the sound - that theme - same-story-different-chapter - is repeated countless times over in the lives of those whom the Lord reaches down and rescues. And with that motif He crafts a true work of art, a one-of-kind tapestry, weaving together all the details of who we are and what we’ve experienced, wasting not one moment or facet, not one wound or misstep but working all together for good and crafting a story for the ages - one which will indeed echo into eternity and show off God’s goodness like no other. Not one bump or bruise, not one hurt or misstep, not one tragedy or triumph will be wasted. Are others celebrating God’s great goodness because of His work in and through my life, because of my glory story? Perhaps it would make a difference if I actually got that together and started sharing it...?
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