By F. D. Adkins
What can God do?
When I think of extreme transformations, I think of Paul. Known as Saul at the time, he consented to and watched Stephen be stoned to death. Saul arrested Christians and had them imprisoned, and through the wording used to describe him in Acts 9:1, we can conclude that Saul did not only dislike followers of Jesus but rather seemed to be enraged by them to the point that his primary agenda was to destroy them. Acts 9:1 details Saul’s behavior as, “…breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord…” (KJV).
But… God had other plans. “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.” (Proverbs 19:21 KJV).
On his route to arrest more Christians, Saul had an eternity-changing encounter with the Lord. He spent three days without his sight. When his vision was restored, and his eyes were opened, so was his heart. From then on, Paul went about preaching the Gospel, starting churches, and found himself on the receiving side of persecution. And from a prison cell, Paul wrote, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 KJV).
Last week, as I continued toward my goal of committing scripture to memory and sharpening my sword of the Spirit, I memorized Ezekiel 36:26. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit I will put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (KJV).
What can God do? He can transform a Saul into a Paul.
What can God do? Our God can do anything. He can heal our brokenness. He can transform us and give us a fresh start. He can fill us with hope and joy despite our circumstances. He may use a hardship to open our eyes or chisel away at our hearts. But if we allow Him to work within us, He can make us new.
