February 10

We often wonder how murderers and others who commit egregious crimes receive forgiveness, especially when their crimes are against us. Some find Jesus before they are executed, and others live for him while in jail. God gives us an example in Paul. Here is a fun fact about Paul; he was initially called Saul, but was also called Paul. According to Matthew Henry, Paul means little; that’s a good name for him being he was only 4’6” tall! Maybe people calling him Paul was to keep him humble. God’s forgiveness of Paul is a prime example of how merciful he is. This little man was killing God’s chosen! He was also a scholar and knew his way through the scriptures, and as we know, he wrote most of the New Testament. God had given him skills that he could use to spread the word about Jesus. Paul is a picture of God’s transforming power. Don’t get too mad when a convicted murder or other heinous criminal comes to know Jesus and receives forgiveness; Paul was the worst of the worse.

And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 9:4-5