Saved and Surrendered

For this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience.
–1 Timothy 1:16

When I think about the conversion of Saul, also known as the apostle Paul, I’m reminded of a modern conversion story–that of Charles Colson. He was a successful attorney and special counsel to President Nixon. After the Watergate scandal, a friend led Colson to faith in Christ. Colson went to prison for his part in the scandal, and after his release, he spent decades ministering to prisoners and their families.

One Sunday while ministering in a prison, Colson had a realization: “It was not my success God had used to enable me to help those in this prison. . . . All my achievements meant nothing in God’s economy. No, the real legacy of my life was my biggest failure–that I was an ex-convict. My greatest humiliation–being sent to prison–was the beginning of God’s greatest use of my life; He chose the one experience in which I could not glory for His glory.”

What God did in Charles Colson’s life and the apostle Paul’s life He is willing to do in your life as well.

First of all, God will save anyone who asks. God did not save Paul in spite of his sins; He saved Paul because of his sins. God made Paul exhibit A of His ability and willingness to forgive anyone. In 1 Timothy 1:15–16, Paul wrote, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience.” If God can forgive Paul, then He can forgive anyone.

Second, God will use anyone who surrenders to His will. Maybe you can accept that God has forgiven you, but you think your sins have disqualified you from being used by God. Not according to Paul. His horrendous sins didn’t disqualify him from becoming a great missionary and writing nearly half the New Testament. Paul’s secret was the question he asked God on the Damascus road: “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). When you surrender to God and make yourself available to Him, He will use you in ways you could not have imagined.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “The Greatest Conversion in History,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

Charles Colson, Loving God: The Cost of Being a Christian (Zondervan, 2018), 35.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.