The power of a changed life is seen in the life of Saul after he placed his faith in Jesus and was baptized. Saul, who we know as Paul in the Bible, was a Pharisee who thought believers in Jesus were heretics who deserved to be persecuted. Then Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and God set him on a new path that would lead many people to the Lord.
Saul had no idea that God planned to use him as a missionary to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. For God’s plan to unfold in our lives, it takes His ongoing intervention and the work of the Holy Spirit. God gave Ananias a vision to pray for Saul. He was reluctant until God gave him insight into who Saul would become. Acts 9:15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” [1] Ananias found Saul and prayed over him, and scales fell from his eyes as he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then Saul got up, was baptized, and began a changed life.
From Persecuting Jesus to Preaching
An encounter with Jesus can change a person’s life, which requires leaving the old life behind. As you read the book of Acts, Saul(Paul) went on three missionary journeys and planted churches several years after his conversion. These mission trips changed the world to the point that people in Thessalonica complained about Paul (Saul) and his companions. Acts 17:6b “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.[2]
Paul indicates how much his life changed. Philippians 3:“8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.”[3]
Jesus can change your life, regardless of your life situation or age. He can give you peace, hope, and joy in desperate circumstances. Like the story of Saul, He can turn your life completely around.
A Changed Life Affects Others
Several years ago, I led a group of adults and teenagers to Mexico on a mission trip. One young lady came with a friend but did not know Jesus as her Savior. On that trip, the Lord planted seeds in her heart, and later that fall, she became a believer. After college, she went to Africa as a long-term missionary and met a man she would later marry. For many years, they ran a Christian orphanage for blind girls, leading many people to faith.
When was the last time you had a life-changing encounter with Jesus? If it has been a while, He wants to encounter you in a fresh way. Our daily encounters may not be as dramatic as Saul’s, but each encounter is significant because it propels us forward in our journey with Him.
To learn more about the power of a changed life, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/god-arrests-saul
[1,3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ac 17:6). (2016). Crossway Bibles.