Once I Was But Now I Am

DEVOTION
GALATIONS
ONCE I WAS BUT NOW I AM
Gal 1:13-17
13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
NIV
Now I surely I did not have a former life in Judaism, but I absolutely had a former life before I came to know Jesus. I can recall that former life and it was one of intensely being against God. I opening opposed even the idea of God. I hated organized religion and verbalized by opposition whenever I had the opportunity. One of me sayings was “I am not going to pay to pray”; after all, they only wanted my money. I was advancing in my hatred beyond many people my own age and I was extremely zealous for the traditions of sin. But when God, who set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so I might preach him among my friends, I did not consult any man either, nor did I go up to any authority, but I began sharing my faith, living out my new life in Christ. Now that is want I call personalizing the word. It makes so much sense to me, I was like that and now I am changed. God has done an incredible miracle in me, being me one hundred and eighty degrees from the direction I was traveling. I am convinced if it were not for his intervention in my life, I would have been died years ago. I am not talking about his restoration of my life after my heart attack ten years ago, but my death from a life being destroyed by the sin within it forty years ago. If God had not called me out of that darkness into his glorious light I would not be here today, of that I am sure. How can I not be grateful? How can I not be open about my faith? How can I get my mouth shut up when I am with unbelievers? How can I silence myself when I have been given so much? How can I not be the light and the salt and the mirror who reflects God to those around me? It seems unconscionable to be anything else other then the light, the salt and a mirror, after all that is what God has called me to be. I do not have a calling by man, but by God. I am not licensed by man, but by God. I am not ordained by man, but by God. One I was but now I am.