Once again, Paul shares the story of how God harshly saved him from religion and rescued him to an intimate understanding of the gospel. (26:4-23)

Paul’s testimony reminds the church-going and the well-decorated Christian that you can saturate your entire life with religion and be vastly distant from being like Jesus. I love how honest he is about this.

What’s your story with God?

I’ve realized if it’s not a prominent memory to you, it might not have happened yet. The first time someone asked me to share “my testimony” (popular conversation topic in church culture), I rambled a long list of religious credentials. Uh, I went to private school? Uh, I frequented Christian summer camp? They rephrased the question. When did God get a hold of your heart?

I didn’t know because it hadn’t happened yet.

Paul shares his story any time he faces a crowd. Why? Because it radiates the gospel. He was a slave to religion, earning his place in a works-oriented world. God radically changed his heart and he is relentless to get the Good News to everyone he can.

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The best way to tell people about how real Jesus is, is to tell them how real he’s been to you. I can’t prove if the Bible is real, or if God exists or whether or not Jesus is the resurrected Messiah. All I know is I once was blind, but now I see. No one can take that away from me or tell me it’s not true.

Take a minute and reflect on where God’s grace has shown up in your life.

-Carly