Daily Devotional for Tuesday, April 18

Paul’s Post Conversion

“And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee,” Acts 22:17-19.

A local church was compiling pictures of church members to include in a new church tract and brochure. A certain church member requested that his picture not be included on the brochure. He was concerned because he had grown up in the community and lived a public and sinful life before he was converted. The pastor reassured him that his testimony of salvation and a renewed life is just the gospel testimony that the church wanted to proclaim. Should anyone see his picture and remember his sinful past, he could share his testimony of the change Christ had made in his life.
In our key verses, Paul was in the midst of sharing his testimony of conversion as a means to proclaim the gospel. He was incarcerated for preaching the gospel, yet he seized this opportunity to proclaim the life changing power of the gospel. Paul had a deep conviction that he could offer no help to anyone apart from the gospel. If there ever was a case study of how the gospel could change a life, Paul’s life would be the one.
Christian, you may grieve about who you were before you were saved, and you should. But you should never cease to proclaim how Jesus saved you and how He has changed you for His glory!

THOUGHT: Never stop telling the glorious story of how Jesus saved your soul from sin!

Steven Ridings