My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I write to you with a heart full of love and a deep desire to share with you the calling that God has placed on my life and on all of us as His followers.
I want to take you back to a significant turning point in my life, one that has defined my journey and my mission to spread the Gospel to all nations. As many of you know, I was once known as Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee of Pharisees, zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. My zeal led me to persecute the followers of Jesus, believing that I was doing God’s will. I stood by approvingly as Stephen, a faithful servant of Christ, was stoned to death. My heart was hardened, and I sought to eradicate the followers of Jesus.
But God, in His infinite mercy and grace, had other plans for me. As I was on my way to Damascus to arrest more Christians, a light from heaven suddenly shone around me, and I fell to the ground. I heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” I asked, “Who are you, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:4-5).
From that moment, my life was forever changed. I was blinded and led into Damascus, where Ananias, a faithful disciple of Christ, came to me. He laid his hands on me, and immediately something like scales fell from my eyes, and I could see again. I was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. I knew then that I was called to be a witness to the Gentiles, to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.
After my conversion, I spent three years in Arabia, seeking the Lord and learning from Him. During this time, God revealed to me the mystery of the Gospel, that through Jesus Christ, salvation is available to all people, both Jews and Gentiles. As it is written, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Upon returning to Damascus, I began to preach boldly in the name of Jesus. The Jews plotted to kill me, and I had to escape by being lowered in a basket through an opening in the wall. From there, I went to Jerusalem, where I met with Peter and James. Initially, the disciples were afraid of me, but Barnabas, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, took me to them and shared how I had seen the Lord and preached boldly in His name. They accepted me, and I stayed with them, moving freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.
My journey eventually led me back to Tarsus, my hometown, where I waited for many years. It was during this time that I continued to grow in my faith and understanding of God’s calling on my life. The Lord was preparing me for the mission ahead, to be His chosen instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Brothers and sisters, I share my story with you to encourage you in your faith and to remind you that God’s plans are far greater than our own. He can take even the most unlikely person and use them for His glory. As followers of Christ, we are all called to be His witnesses, to share the Good News of salvation with those around us. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Let us embrace this calling with boldness and faith, knowing that the same Spirit who empowered the early Church empowers us today. We are ambassadors of Christ, entrusted with the message of reconciliation. Let us go forth in His name, proclaiming the Gospel with love and compassion, that all may come to know the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
In His love,
Paul
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