Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Paul appears to be on an island here - not a literal island but a symbolic one.  He did not hang out with Jesus, and he wasn't one of the twelve apostles.  He did not have the stamp of approval. None of the churches know who he is other than “that guy who terrorized Christians.”  How does one acquire preacher cred with this background?  

But Paul knew he was forgiven, washed clean, a new creation, and a man on a mission! God called Paul with a specific purpose in mind and that is all that mattered.  

Wait a second here.  Does Paul not remember what he did?  Does he not recall the families he dragged off to jail? 

Unfortunately, like us, Paul does remember these deeds.  But more importantly, he remembers an even greater deed. Jesus traded places with him. The just for the unjust.  Do you not think Paul believes this? Look what he wrote in Colossians 3:3 - “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Wow! When God looks at me, He sees Christ. That is certainly a bit of good news.  When Satan reminds me of the stupid things I have done in the past, the things I have already confessed and forgiven, God says, “Sorry, can’t see it. My Son must have hidden it.”

What about the arrests? Surely God can’t use this guy.  In Acts 20:26, Paul says, “Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am innocent of the blood of all men.”  

Let me tell you, this is a struggle for me.  It can be hard not to hear the negative comments from the accuser, Satan. I keep reminding myself of Paul's story and how he never let it deter him. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 tells us, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Paul saw himself as forgiven from the moment of salvation. A new creation!  Hidden in Christ!  That, my friends, is what allowed him to preach like he did. Instant, confident, preacher cred. 

Grace is a game-changer.  Paul got it.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Do you have a past sin in your life that Satan likes to remind you of?
  
• Memorize Colossians 3:3 and remind Satan that not only are you hidden in Christ but that your sins have been cast as far as the east is from the west. Try measuring that.
• Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making me a new creation. Because of Jesus Christ and the finished work on the cross, I can begin to see myself the way You see me! In Jesus' name, Amen.