If you read about Saul of Tarsus in Acts 8, killing and persecuting new Christians, entering houses, dragging off men and women to prison . . . you realize God’s incredible mercy.

Mercy you say? How merciful is that for God to allow His own people to be persecuted?

No, not them, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake… I’m talking about His mercy for Saul. He loved him so much, in spite of his past that he appeared to him on the road to Damascus, blinded him, and led him to the home of new Christians.

The Lord then told Ananias to go pray for Saul of Tarsus at the house of Judas. He argued a bit with God explaining that this Saul guy hated Christians and was fond of killing them… but he went anyway.

Well we know the rest of the story… Paul became one of the greatest Apostles, responsible for spreading the Gospel to the world. I am rejoicing that God’s mercy has touched the heart of many unlikely converts and that His incomparable love is far greater than ours.

Part of redemption is forgiveness… but most of all… love.

This is Nina May, welcoming new believers to the Body of Christ . . . whoever they are . . . and no matter what their past is.