No one is too far gone for the Lord.

The apostle Paul wrote about his calling from God in a letter to the church in Galatia. Rumors of his dramatic conversion preceded him as he began to communicate his newly discovered faith. He wrote:

I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.

Paul bulldozed lives and tormented the faithful. Then Jesus slammed him to the ground, blinded him by his light, and reversed his trajectory. The oppressor went on to write most of our New Testament.

No one is too far gone for the Lord.

The life of Paul is a great testimony to the power of God. Even those most opposed to the faith convert. No one is beyond the reach of the Holy Spirit.

Who am I praying for who seems lost beyond hope? Who vehemently hates the things of God? Whose humble conversion would make waves? Who in my world needs a bolt from the blue?

We all know people like this, either loud and proud as they voice their complaints about God, or silent, brooding and angry. Pray the light of Jesus blinds them, rolls them on the ground, and pulls them in. Pray for a few more “Pauls” to walk among us today.

Galatians 1 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Matt Seymour