06/17/2026
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
I Timothy 1:12-15 NKJV
There have been many awful things done in God’s name but not all of them were motivated by a hatred towards God. Some people have been sincere in their passion for God but have been sincerely wrong.
It’s amazing to me that God got a hold of such a man.
He persecuted God’s people, dragging men and women off to prison. He began a campaign to travel to other cities to seek out and eliminate the followers of Jesus. In fact, the first time we meet him he is approving of a mob stoning a man to death just because he was a committed follower of Jesus. All the while, he thought he was doing God a favour.
Saul of Tarsus is now more commonly known as Paul the Apostle.
I just can’t help but think that if God could get a hold of Saul, surely He could reach those today who are enemies of the cross.
Do you ever wonder how the early church prayed for him? I would think many people would have been praying against him.
“Stop him, Lord”. “Remove him, Lord”.
“Let his plans be thwarted, Lord”.
I just really wonder if anyone was praying “Save him, Lord. Have mercy on him, Lord. Reach him, Lord”.
I wonder if the words of Jesus from the cross would have been a very appropriate prayer.
“Forgive him, Lord, for he doesn’t know what he is doing.”
I’m very glad God reached him.
Sometimes we only pray about those who are opposed to the kingdom of God, especially when they are in places of power and authority, such as the political leaders of our day.
It’s time to not just pray about them, but it’s time to pray for them, that God would have mercy on them and save them, for he is not willing that any should perish.
Even Paul will tell us praying for those in authority is of ‘first importance’.
So let us pray.
Following Jesus Together,
Pastor Barry