Galatians 1:22-24

Have you ever heard of an avid, lifetime fan of a sports team all of sudden switching allegiance to a rival team?  If it happens, it’s shocking.  How about someone who’s served in the highest levels of government on one political side abruptly changing to the other?  This is so rare, that when it happens, it usually makes front page news.  How about someone who hates Christianity and wants nothing more than to see Jesus and his message extinguished becoming one of the most devoted followers and evangelists of the Christian faith?  Again, it would be shocking and not what we might expect.

But this is exactly what happened in Paul’s life.  He says that after his conversion the report went out among the churches that “the man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”  I’m sure that for many people it was shocking to hear that this enemy of Christ was now preaching the gospel.  But really, it shouldn’t have been all that shocking to them, and it shouldn’t be all that shocking to us when God brings someone that we might not have expected to faith in Christ.  It shouldn’t be shocking because even though we might not have persecuted Christians, by nature each one of us was absolutely opposed to the work of God in our hearts.  But the power of Christ was greater than our resistance.  Through the saving message of his life and death in our place, God makes those, who were formerly his enemies because of their sin and unbelief, his own dear children.
 
The church in Paul’s day was not just shocked at his conversion, but “they praised God” because of him.  What a wonderful response!  Instead of being suspicious of this transformation, they rejoiced.  As we consider our own conversion, and also see God continue to bring all kinds of different people into his kingdom, may this be our response as well – to praise God.