\'This is a trustworthy saying, and"); document.writeln("everyone should accept it: \'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners\' \'“"); document.writeln("and I am the worst of them all.\'1
"); document.writeln("The apostle Paul is one of the greatest"); document.writeln("influences in the New Testament. It is likely that his writings are among the"); document.writeln("most read in human history! God used, and continues to use, Paul\'s ministry to"); document.writeln("reach many and to bring them back to the feet of Jesus. However, before being"); document.writeln("known as Paul, he was referred to as Saul of Tarsus. He was a man who"); document.writeln("persecuted Christians, and in so doing, persecuted God. Acts 7:58 tells us that"); document.writeln("the witnesses at Stephen\'s death by stoning, laid their coats at Saul\'s feet, which"); document.writeln("means he was in full approval of these murderous actions. Later we see how Saul"); document.writeln("begins to destroy the church, going from house to house, putting both men and"); document.writeln("women in prison.2 He was a man to be feared.
"); document.writeln("Then one day, God knocked him to the"); document.writeln("ground (literally!) and Saul\'s life was transformed. His education, his"); document.writeln("background as a pharisee, and his Roman citizenship were all used by God in making"); document.writeln("Paul\'s missionary journey successful. Paul had been many things, and had done"); document.writeln("many things, which I am sure he was not proud of. He referred to himself as the"); document.writeln("\'worst of sinners\', but God forgave him, and Paul became a devoted missionary"); document.writeln("and a great example of faithful service in the face of persecution.
"); document.writeln("Friends, there is no sin too big and"); document.writeln("no evil too wicked, to keep us from the grace and love of Christ. If, like"); document.writeln("Paul, we repent of our sins, God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us. He can"); document.writeln("take all of our messy experiences and use them for his glory. If you have"); document.writeln("thought of yourself or someone else as the \'worst of sinners\', keep faith and"); document.writeln("take hope in knowing that we serve a God who transforms and makes all things"); document.writeln("new. When we are forgiven much, we will love much. And God\'s love is the foundation"); document.writeln("for a successful ministry.
"); document.writeln("Suggested prayer: Dear God, whatever the"); document.writeln("situation is in our lives right now, thank you for the reminder that no sin is"); document.writeln("too great to prevent us from receiving your forgiveness and grace. Your love"); document.writeln("covers a multitude of sins! You take even the \'worst of sinners\' and use them"); document.writeln("for your glory when we confess and turn away from our sins. Use my past"); document.writeln("mistakes and experiences to be a testimony to others and bring them to you. Thank"); document.writeln("you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus\' name, amen.
"); document.writeln("1 Timothy 1:15 (NLT).
Acts 8:3.
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Today\'s Encounter was written by:"); document.writeln("Crystal B.
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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.
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