God loves a good plot twist—and He’s not afraid to cast the
unlikeliest characters. In Acts 9, God says to Ananias that Saul “is a chosen
instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the
children of Israel.” Hold up—He’s talking about Saul. The very same Saul who
made it his personal mission to crush the church! Not just forgiven, not just
tolerated—but chosen, handpicked by God for a world-shaking assignment.
Let’s not breeze past that. Saul wasn’t looking for Jesus.
Jesus came crashing into Saul’s journey, full force and blazing glory—knocking
him off his feet (literally), blinding him, and then raising him up again
through the healing hands of grace. One divine interruption later, the
persecutor became a preacher. That’s vintage God.
Of course, Ananias was hesitant—who wouldn’t be? From a
human angle, this looked reckless. Saul wasn’t just a skeptic; he was
dangerous. Acts 9:1 says he was “breathing threats and murder” against the
believers. Not exactly Sunday school material! He raided homes, dragged off
disciples, and set fear in the hearts of the faithful. By all accounts, he was
the early church’s “Public Enemy Number One.”
But God doesn’t recruit based on rΓ©sumΓ©s or reputations or “rap
sheets.” He looks beyond the wreckage and sees redemption. He wasn’t alarmed by
Saul’s rage—He was ready to redeem it. Saul’s zeal wasn’t wasted; it was
repurposed for something holy. That same boldness, that same fire? God aimed it
straight into the heart of the mission field.
So here’s the twist for us: If God can use Saul, He can use
you. Your past doesn’t intimidate Him.
Your baggage isn’t a dealbreaker—it might be the backdrop for His brightest
spotlight. Maybe you feel unworthy, unqualified, or unlikely. Perfect! You’re
exactly the kind of person God loves to partner with. He’s in the business of
flipping scripts and rewriting futures.
Truth is, if you’re following Jesus, you are living proof of
this truth. Your salvation—whether loud and dramatic or quiet and steady—is a
miracle of grace. You were dead… but now? You live (Ephesians 2:4–5). That’s
the ultimate divine reversal.
May the God who rewrites stories with mercy and power awaken
fresh courage in your heart today.
And may your life, like Paul’s, become living proof that no one is too far for
God’s love to reach, redeem, and send.