Glory be to God for Paul

But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me. (Galatians 1:23-24)

The apostle Paul did not confer with flesh and blood after he had received the revelation of Christ and his mission to preach among the Gentiles. Also, he did not go up to Jerusalam to meet with the 12 apostles. Instead, he went to Arabia. After some time there, he returned again to Damascus.

It was 3 years later that he went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and James, the Lord's brother.

After that, he went into the region of Syria and Cilicia.

The apostle Paul insisted that he was telling the truth; he did not lie when he made all these statements.

The apostle Paul was unknown by face to the Christians in Judea. But they had heard of him:  “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in him.

The apostle Paul needed no introduction. He was in full view. His life was in the open.

We have here Paul's full submission to the lordship of Christ.

We have here Paul's total dependence on the sufficiency of God.

We have here Paul's continued faithfulness to God's mission that was revealed to him.

Paul was fully committed to the Gospel.

Even the Jewish Christians in Judea heard about him, though they had never seen him face to face.

They knew him once as an enemy of Christ, bent on destroying Christians.

Then, they heard about him again. This time as a fervent preacher of the faith, preaching Christ and planting churches everywhere he went.

God has done a great work in the life of Paul.

He had chosen him before the beginning of time.

He had called him and revealed His Son to him. 

He had saved him from His wrath and eternal death.

He had called him to be an apostle to the Gentiles. 

He had called him to preach to kings and rulers. 

He had put a heavy burden on him for the salvation of his fellow Jews.

The apostle Paul was committed and faithful to God. 

He preached and labored more for Christ everywhere he went.

People everywhere were talking about him. 

He needed no introduction. He needed no publicity.

Once they looked down on him because he persecuted the Christian.

Then they looked up to him as hero of faith.

Glory be to God for Paul!

May God use us also for His Glory! Amen and Amen!