These are Jesus’ words to Paul at his conversion on the road to Damascus. Our Lord sent Paul to the Gentiles, to those who did not know God, to those who were not from the long line of Abraham’s descendants. Paul was to make disciples in the places he least expected to do so.


I hear a lot of Christians say they are dismayed and confused about what message they can communicate to their non-believing family and friends. A friend of mine has said, “I have a simple message to others: I am forgiven!” And that is the very message that Jesus gave Paul to give to the Gentiles: “that they may receive forgiveness of sins.”


“I am forgiven” was a personal truth for Paul, one which would grow to mean more and more to him as time went on. He knew himself as the chief of sinners, a persecutor of Christians, a condoner of the murder of Stephen. Yet he knew he was forgiven.


You are forgiven. I am. Your family and friends also can be forgiven. Give them this personal, simple message, praising God for His loving, merciful ways.