Joy and StrengthSample

The Light

No spiritual transformation in history compares to the apostle Paul’s. Within only three years of his conversion, he went from persecuting Christians to their death, to debating religious teachers and astonishing listeners with his fearless preaching of Jesus as the Son of God.

He could do these things because he immersed himself in the teaching of Christ as a new believer. “I received my message from no human source,” he explained later. “I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12 NLT)

Like us, Paul didn’t have the advantage of knowing Jesus while he walked the earth; he had what we have: the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and a relationship with Christ. That was his seminary, so to speak. Through that training, God equipped Paul to instruct pastors, plant churches, and evangelize the unsaved all over the ancient world, and the ripple effect of his ministry reaches to us today.

His experience excites me so much! What might God do through us as we invest time in Bible reading and prayer? 

Clearly, God doesn’t care how long we’ve been a Christian. He doesn’t disqualify us because we’re in the early days of our faith. He can teach us, purpose us, use us from the start of our salvation or at any point thereafter.

His Word makes the difference, illuminating who Jesus is and God’s incredible plans for us. Nothing else turns up the light so quickly.

What a gift Your Word is! Knowing that the Holy Spirit will take Your teachings and enlighten my soul every time I open up my Bible is a game changer.