We sing the glorious conquest before Damascus gate,
When Saul, the church's spoiler, came breathing threats and hate;
The rav'ning wolf rushed forward full early to the prey;
But lo! the Shepherd met him, and bound him fast today.
O glory most excelling that smote across his path!
O light that pierced and blinded the zealot in his wrath!
O voice that spake unto him the calm, reproving word!
O love that sought and held him the bondman of his Lord!
O Wisdom ord'ring all things in order strong and sweet,
What nobler spoil was ever cast at the victor's feet?
What wiser masterbuilder e'er wrought at thine employ
Than he, till now so furious thy building to destroy?
Lord, teach thy church the lesson, still in her darkest hour
Of weakness and of danger, to trust Thy hidden pow'r:
Thy grace by ways mysterious the wrath of man can bind,
And in Thy boldest foeman Thy chosen saint can find.
-John Ellerton, quoted in Paul: Missionary Theologian by Robert Reymond, p.55
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy be cause I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life...
1 Timothy 1:12-16
How do you respond to what can only be described and explained as a pure work of sovereign grace? Doxology:
...To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17
Therefore, let us continue to pray boldly and without ceasing to the immortal King who overflows with grace for the conversion of the most rebellious and hardened unbelievers we know and love, whose salvation right now seems unimaginable.
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