Reach • Devotion #3: Your Story
Dr. Randy T. Johnson
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:21-23
I am blessed. I was raised in a Christian home. My mom was a “bus kid.” She and her older sister went out by the street when they were just out of kindergarten. My grandparents did not go, but they let the girls hop on a bus to church and eventually hear and heed the Gospel. My dad accepted Christ in his late teens at a Billy Graham crusade. Therefore, I was raised in a Christian home, going to church, having morning devotions, and praying together. The concept of a “Loving Father” made sense to me and I accepted Christ as Savior at age seven. I was baptized at age twelve, rededicated my life to Christ in 10th grade, and felt the call to ministry while still in high school.
Although I accepted Christ early, I was a sinner in need of as much salvation as any murderer. I am thankful God saved me early in life and protected me from many scars.
This Colossians passage gives every believer’s story. We “were alienated and hostile in mind” which Jesus saved “by his death” and made us “holy and blameless.” It is by “faith” and is “the hope of the gospel.” A testimony consists of what we were, what He did, and who we are now.
The readers knew Paul’s story. He killed Christians, met Jesus, repented, obeyed Jesus, and “became a minister.” He went from Saul to Paul.
What is your story? Think through the details. Who did God use to point you to Jesus? Did God use an event in your life that seemed horrible but He turned it into something beautiful?
Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”