After Failure

I was thinking about the way God used Paul.

Paul was a murderer. According to Acts, he persecuted and killed Christians. I imagine he probably thought his hands were unclean — stained beyond use.

And yet, God used him mightily.

Paul suffered greatly, but he persevered as a servant of Christ. That alone tells me something: your past does not disqualify you from purpose.

James 2:10 says that whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at one point is guilty of all. The One who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not kill.” In other words, sin is not graded on a curve. A murderer stands guilty. So does the sexually immoral. Because at the end of the day, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

But thank God for mercy.

Thank God for grace.

Thank God that He says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

So if you’ve disobeyed.

If you’ve fallen into wickedness.

If you’ve backslidden.

Come back to Jesus — your first love.

And pick up right where you left off.

Scripture References

• Acts 9:1–6

• 1 Timothy 1:12–16

• James 2:10

• Romans 6:23

• Hebrews 8:12

• 2 Corinthians 5:17

• Micah 7:8

• Psalm 103:10–12

• Luke 22:31–32