August 16, 2012 - Acts 26:11

            “Many times I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme.  In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.”  Acts 26:11.

            In telling his story, Paul painfully recounted his zealousness against the followers of Jesus.  He called what he had an “obsession” against these people.  This was the harsh truth about the life he lived while he was a young Pharisee.  At that time, he honestly thought that he was following God’s will, so he felt justified in his attempts to keep his religion pure.  The only way he could do this was by arresting them, harassing them, and killing some of them.  In relating this story, he was demonstrating the dramatic change that occurred in his life.  In telling his story, he didn’t “candy-coat” the story, nor did he glorify his misdeeds.  Instead, he spoke directly and with only brief detail about those times he was most ashamed of in his life.

            There have been times in my life when I have been tempted to embellish my story.  I wanted to change the details of my life because I didn’t think that my story was dramatic enough.  I thought that I needed to tell of some amazing transformation that occurred when I became a follower of Jesus.  Fortunately, I don’t think that I ever gave in to that temptation.  Each of us has a story to tell, and each is uniquely ours.  My story is unique, and there is no reason for me to feel the need to change it.  I don’t need to go into great detail about how bad I was in my old life.  As Paul modeled, I only need to state briefly to describe the  darkness that I was caught in and to state how Jesus brought me out.  Telling our true story is the clearest way that we can share about Jesus, and there is no need for us to change what God has done.

            Questions to consider: What is your story?  Have you ever been tempted to add or embellish your story?  Have you ever spent too much time talking about your old life and not enough time on how Jesus changed you?  What changes do you need to make to your story?

            Prayer: Father, I am so grateful to You for sending Jesus to show me the way out of my old, destructive lifestyle.  Help me to share my story of Your great love in a manner that gives glory to You.  Amen.