My springer spaniel was recognized as one of the most talented, hardworking dogs in our hunting community. He would go out on thin ice to retrieve game when other dogs would turn back. Pursuing a pheasant through the thickest bramble and thorn—areas that other dogs would not enter because it was so dense—wasn’t a problem. His determination was so great that he even made a retrieval immediately after breaking his leg! And yet, when he was just 18 months old, I wondered if he would ever be a good hunting dog. His determined personality seemed impossible to harness and I was ready to give up on him because it appeared he would never become an obedient companion.
Saul of Tarsus once appeared to be a lost cause too. Just look at the darkness of his heart when he “agreed completely with the killing of Stephen” (Acts 8:1). He stood by and nodded approval as an innocent man was battered to death. Then he sought assistance in attacking other men and women and throwing them in jail, simply because he hated what they believed (Acts 9:1-2). His determination to be cruel and hateful knew no bounds. Surely this was a man beyond the reach of God’s grace! Surely the best thing was to sit back and await His judgment, right?
Yet God transformed Saul (later known as Paul) in an instant! (Acts 9:5-6). All the venom and hatred was washed away as he became one of the most influential believers of all time. He simply refused to keep quiet once he came to know Christ (Acts 9:20-22).
Isn’t it amazing how sometimes the worst offenders become the most passionate followers? Perhaps this is because they know what they’ve been saved from (Luke 7:47). No one is beyond the reach of Jesus—no one!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Kings 1:5-27
More:
Read Acts 17:16-34 and see how God used Paul and his zeal to reach others.
Next:
What person have you given up on? Who do you think is beyond God’s reach? Keep praying that they too will find God on their own Damascus road.
BearPair on April 11, 2016 at 1:34 am
And, not only influential, Paul’s passionate love & devotion for the brethren was known far abroad. Yes, God’s grace is often mind boggling… no limits! Thanks Russell!
Gary Shultz on April 11, 2016 at 6:52 am
I had to smile when I saw the picture, this will be Russell, and a good day to you. I agree with your analysis. I think usually, something is driving them so hard in the other direction once that is knocked down the soul is flooded by what they tried so hard to hold back. The other thing I do believe is God can bend and soften the hardest wills, when He has called them. God is the Master of heart, mind, soul, and spirit, there is no place to run no place to hide, at least Jonah found that out. It often takes a special person to initially work with those of thick heart and head. May, God give us strength and patience to recognize and show love to these people. In a small way, you may feel the same way about your spaniel, as God does with a harden sinner who comes to Him. Thanks Russell, good hunting.
Russell Fralick on April 11, 2016 at 8:10 am
Hi Gary. Yes, a number of my posts are very obviously me! God can indeed bend the hardest of wills. I have also found that those who start out as doggedly opposed to the Gospel, once converted, use all the same determination to talk about their Saviour and further His kingdom. God uses our personalities as He made them; we must simply have those personalities trained, honed, and sanctified to be of use to Him. Paul’s determination and passion in persecuting the church became the fuel that drove him to spread the Gospel after his conversion.
samgaskill on April 11, 2016 at 2:57 pm
Good thoughts for the soul. God can soften the hardest of hearts. Perhaps when the revelation of personal sin redeemed only through the blood of Christ comes into the hardened heart; great will be his joy and thankfulness and use to the Kingdom of God. I am reminded of the woman who loved much forgiven of her many sins as she came humbly to her Saviors feet. Imagine how great a love that bloomed with the gift of forgiven sin by her Lord. To this day, her story has availed much to all generations. May we walk humbly in the fruit of God’s spirit showing mercy and compassion for the lost and heartened heart that may be awaiting God’s touch upon them. Amen.
gagirllive on April 11, 2016 at 7:55 am
Russell, I once heard a polling result that stated that most people who come to faith in Christ are exposed to the gospel several times before they are actually converted. That was quite interesting to me. In Paul’s Damascus Road conversion there seems to be no preamble at all. Like you said in your article, it happened in an instant. One moment he was a terrorist, and the next he was calling Jesus Lord. I am desperately waiting for 2 of my children to come home from the “far country”. Some days are very hard when I see no sign of their return. But today I choose hope again because you have reminded me through Paul that God can work in an instant. I know that His irresistible and bottomless grace can save anyone, anytime, anyplace. I appreciate this, Russell. Grace and peace to you and to all who visit here today.
Russell Fralick on April 11, 2016 at 8:13 am
Paul’s conversion gives hope to us all. The secret to our efforts has to be prayer, and also a Godly example set by us to all we interact with. Who knows the people who may have been praying for Paul, and surely Stephen’s example of both his steadfast defence of the Gospel, plus his grace as he was killed, must have affected Saul prior to his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road.
gagirllive on April 11, 2016 at 9:55 am
Yes, I am well aware that God is often doing a thousand things that we can’t see. He moves in seemingly quiet and invisible ways among us. I trust that He is working while I am waiting.
sandy229 on April 11, 2016 at 10:04 am
They will return home from the “far country”. I know how hard this is for you and I will keep them in my prayers. Today’s words are so encouraging!! Nothing is impossible with God.
gagirllive on April 11, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Thank you, Sandy229. I appreciate your kind words!
samgaskill on April 11, 2016 at 3:08 pm
Happy you are comforted today by the promises of God and His ability to do anything He wills. And to even give us far more than we can know to ask. May He draw your children unto Himself and also do much more in them and through them than any of us can imagine. We shall ask; for it is His will that none be lost. Thank you Lord that you hear the prayers of your daughter for her children. In Your mercy, bring our loved ones home from the “far country” and into the safety of your pasture. Amen. Grace and peace to you as well friend.
gagirllive on April 11, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Thank you, Mary. 🙂 Yes, He is more than able!
Tom Felten on April 11, 2016 at 9:21 am
Such an encouraging message from Acts, Russell! Yes, from some of the thorniest, most challenging people, God can bring forth a beautiful bloom—a loving, transformed heart that graciously reaches out to others in humility and compassion.
sandy229 on April 11, 2016 at 10:02 am
Such an encouraging word today Russell. I have been praying for my husband to come to know God for who He truly is and to accept Jesus as His Savior. He told me the other day that God has always been with him and carried him through when he couldn’t make it alone but he can’t seem to grasp that God created this world and that Jesus came to die for him. I will never give up on him and today’s post is so encouraging also for my oldest son to come back to the fold. He said he didn’t believe in God anymore but I know he still does because when his Father died in November, he went to the Pastor to get help for the service. I know that anything is possible with God but today’s post is so encouraging. Thank you so much Russell for your words. Also I am praying for Mike, my step son who refuses to accept God as His Savior. I have shared the good news with him. He is a lot like Saul before he became Paul.
samgaskill on April 11, 2016 at 3:15 pm
Sandy, I join you in prayer for your loved ones. There is no lie that cannot be exposed. I ask God to protect your loved ones specifically from the lies of the enemy in this area. That as these lies are exposed, the existence of God will fill this place in their thoughts and in their hearts and will be as real to them as the air they breath. God is able and you are counting on that. I join you in faith and prayer my friend!!
sandy229 on April 11, 2016 at 5:03 pm
Thank you Mary 🙂
godlove on April 11, 2016 at 10:33 am
I like the wonderful story of Saul’s conversion because it shows that no one is ever too broken for GOD’s Grace, absolutely no one. If Saul, who cold-heartedly approved the murder of GOD’s faithful servants could be saved by GOD’s infinite Grace, then we all too can trust in His Goodness. All the more reason why we must never cease to pray for our enemies and for those who persecute us, and also we must never give up hope for ourselves (I’m preaching to myself here) for “God, who began the good work within us, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philipians 1:6). Thanks Russell, and sorry, I may have taken your message a little bit off-track.
samgaskill on April 11, 2016 at 3:20 pm
AMEN and AMEN! We all need constant and daily reminders of this lest we become prideful and lean on our own understanding. NO ONE is ever too broken. Is that not just the most awesome concept. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. We cannot yet fathom it all; sure glad to have been shown this personally. Bless you and all the forum. Nothing is ever wasted here. thankful mary : )