Galatians 1:11-17: a reflection

11But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. 12For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. 13For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it. 14I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace, 16to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.

As Paul defends the gospel he preaches, he recalls what he had been before God's grace reached him. You have heard of my way of living in time past, he says, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it. He had been a violent enemy of the gospel, zealous against the church. And yet, he says, when it was the good pleasure of God, who called me through his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him. The very man who had persecuted the church was reached by God's grace, called, and made a preacher of the gospel he had once tried to destroy. Grace reached and transformed even the persecutor.

Notice whom God's grace reached and transformed: Paul the persecutor. He had not been a seeker after God, a man of good will drawing near; he had been a violent enemy, persecuting the church beyond measure, ravaging it. Yet God's grace reached even him, called him, and turned the persecutor into a preacher. It was not Paul's goodness that commended him to God; it was God's grace that reached an enemy and transformed him. The very man who had tried to destroy the gospel became its herald, not by his own merit but by the grace of God that reached and repurposed even an opponent. Grace reached the enemy and made him a servant.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's grace can reach and transform even those who have been enemies of the gospel, and that is a hope for us and for others. We can think that God's grace is only for the good, the seekers, those already near; and we can despair of ourselves, or of others, who have been far off, even hostile to God. But God's grace reached Paul the persecutor and made him a preacher; no one is beyond the reach of that grace. Do not despair of yourself, or of anyone, as beyond the reach of God's grace; it reached and transformed even Paul, who had ravaged the church. Take hope that God's grace can reach and transform even those who have been enemies of the gospel, yourself or others, as it reached Paul the persecutor and made him a preacher of the faith he once tried to destroy; for God's grace is not only for the good and the seeking, but can reach even an enemy and make him a servant, and no one is beyond its reach.

Lord, as Paul defends the gospel he preaches, he recalls what he had been before your grace reached him. You have heard of my way of living in time past, he says, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it. He had been a violent enemy of the gospel, zealous against the church. And yet, he says, when it was the good pleasure of God, who called me through his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him. The very man who had persecuted the church was reached by your grace, called, and made a preacher of the gospel he had once tried to destroy. Show me whom your grace reached and transformed: Paul the persecutor. He had not been a seeker after you, a man of good will drawing near; he had been a violent enemy, persecuting the church beyond measure. Yet your grace reached even him, called him, and turned the persecutor into a preacher. It was not Paul's goodness that commended him to you; it was your grace that reached an enemy and transformed him. The very man who had tried to destroy the gospel became its herald, not by his own merit but by your grace. Take that to my heart, for your grace can reach and transform even those who have been enemies of the gospel, and that is a hope for me and for others. I can think that your grace is only for the good, the seekers, those already near; and I can despair of myself, or of others, who have been far off, even hostile to you. But your grace reached Paul the persecutor and made him a preacher; no one is beyond its reach. Keep me from despairing of myself, or of anyone, as beyond the reach of your grace, Lord; it reached and transformed even Paul, who had ravaged the church. Help me take hope that your grace can reach and transform even enemies of the gospel, myself or others.