Tuesday, August 11 — When the Chaser Becomes the Preacher
We all know someone we've quietly written off — the one we're sure will never change. Today's passage is about a man everybody had written off, until God did the writing.
Galatians 1:13-24 — KJV
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.
Galatians 1:13-24 — WEB
13 For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it. 14 I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn't immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord's brother. 20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I'm not lying. 21 Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, 23 but they only heard: "He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God in me.
Explanation
Paul is writing this letter to churches in Galatia who are being told he isn't a real apostle. So he tells them his story plainly, and he doesn't clean it up. He names who he used to be: a man so zealous for the traditions of his fathers that he hunted down believers and tried to wipe the church off the map. He was, in his own words, out ahead of everyone his age — the star student, the enforcer, the one going places. And he was using all of it against God's people.
Then comes the hinge of the whole passage in verse 15: "But when it pleased God." Notice Paul doesn't say "when I got my act together" or "when I finally saw reason." The turnaround wasn't something he engineered. It pleased God to separate him, to call him by grace, to reveal His Son in him. Paul's entire résumé — his zeal, his brilliance, his religion — did not save him. Grace interrupted him.
And look at how the neighbors responded. The churches of Judea didn't even know his face. All they knew was the report going around: "The one who used to hunt us down is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy." Their reaction is worth sitting with. They didn't get suspicious. They didn't demand he prove himself for years first. Verse 24 says simply, "they glorified God in me." They saw a changed man and gave God the credit.
This is the heart of where our week is heading. On Sunday we study how a Pharisee became a Christian, and today we get it told in Paul's own hand. The takeaway is not "try harder to be good." It's that God's grace can reach a person we'd consider a lost cause — including, some days, the person in our own mirror.
So here's the practical question this passage presses on us. First, is there someone you've decided is beyond changing? Paul's life says be careful; grace has a longer reach than your judgment. Second, when God does something new in you, don't let embarrassment about your past silence you. Paul's testimony wasn't "look how good I've always been." It was "look what grace did with someone like me." That's a story people still need to hear across the kitchen table and the checkout line.
Thought for the Day
Grace can turn a persecutor into a preacher.
Reflection Question
Who have you written off that God may not be finished with yet?
Prayer
Father, thank You that Your grace reached the last person anyone expected, and that it can reach me too. Forgive me for writing people off as if I know the end of their story. Give me eyes to see what You're doing in people, and the courage to tell what You've done in me. When others see the change, let them glorify You. Amen.
This week we walk toward Sunday's lesson: Saul of Tarsus, How a Pharisee Became a Christian.