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From Saul to Paul

    There are always times in our walk when we believe and we are not worthy of anything God could give us or even to be used by Him. When we mess up and choose the world over Jesus we wonder how He could ever take us back. How could He even love us when we've messed everything up? Remember that no one is worthy of the grace of God and Jesus uses us regardless of our mistakes. The Bible is full of screw-ups to prove it!

    My favorite "screw-up" in the Bible has to be Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul. How can you mess up worse than vocally denying Jesus and killing everyone who worships Him? Paul was even referred to as Saul the Persecutor. He killed God's people until Jesus literally blinded him while he was on his way to Damascus... to kill even more Christians! After that day, Jesus radically changed Saul's life. He got a new name and a new identity through the grace of God. However, when Jesus asked his disciple Ananias to go pray for Saul's restored vision, Ananias questioned Jesus. 

Acts 9:13-15 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” (NIV)

    The point is this-- no matter how many mistakes we've made, no matter how severe, Jesus is the one who chooses His instruments. It doesn't matter if you think you can't be used. It doesn't even matter if others, like Ananias, see us as unworthy or undeserving of a role in the Kingdom. Jesus brings us from Saul to Paul and radically changes our lives. He chose us long before we were ever born, even knowing our decisions before we ever made them. Don't beat yourself up over past mistakes, but instead be confident in the Lord's calling on your life and allow Him to use you as He sees fit. 

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