July 8

Acts 26

Paul stands before King Agrippa and tells his story. He doesn't deny his past, he owns it, but what always stands out to me the most was is when Paul retells the story of the day he met Jesus. It was the day his life changed. Stop for a moment please and think about the first day you met Jesus. My boys both met Jesus at Grace, on two separate occasions. They were in tears and asked me "what just happened?" The day we meet Jesus, we are changed for life, but it isn't a one and done. It is far from a quick hand shake, nice to meet you, let's meet for coffee one day, see you later.  It becomes the beginning of a relationship and a journey that lasts a lifetime. The day Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus he was knocked to his feet, and then Jesus told him to "get up". Paul stood on his feet a changed man. The day we encounter Jesus, we renounce and repent of our past and our sins, we cry out to God, receive His forgiveness and "get up and stand on our feet". We are changed for life for we are then called to be witnesses to the living God. That's what Paul experienced. What a beautiful message, there is forgiveness, redemption, and a new way to live when you realize you are God's son or daughter and your life takes on new meaning as we see our life and purpose through God's eyes.

Randi