A change in a lifestyle

Lately i have been thinking about some verses in Galatians 1 (thanks #shereadstruth).

Paul is speaking:
Afterward i went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And i was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy" And they glorified God in me.
{1 Galatians 21-24}

Wow! It just impacts me so so much. Paul persecuted Christians!!! He wanted to DESTROY the faith. Now he is going around and proclaiming the good works of the Lord.
What i love about this is that it says they didn't know Paul.... They just heard about him. It says they HEARD that he was once not living for God (pretty much as opposite you can be) but NNOOWWW after experiencing God He is sharing the faith. Makes me think "let's give them something to talk about..."

And then what did they do?? They GLORIFIED God in him because of it.
Paul's actions DID NOT save him (we are saved by faith through Jesus who died for our sins) but his changes in his lifestyle have glory to God.

Wow.... Let's read it again because it just touches my heart.

The things we do CANNOT save us... But our lifestyle changes will give glory to our Lord.

So don't do things to get a gold star from  God or to work your way into heaven - he already loves you and has paid the price..... But do it to give glory to the One.

If you have made mistakes in your past - which we all have - remember that God loves you with an everlasting love and NOTHING can separate you from Him. You are never to far gone that you can't be used by God. Look at Paul (formerly known as Saul) ... He was persecuting the early Christians but then after encountering the Lord... was so used to preach and give glory to God.

We can do that too. (:

I am made new by love, Monica