Who Praises God Because of Me?
There’s a verse in Galatians 1, in fact the very last sentence, that I’ve tried to wrap my head around (1:24, NLT). It states, “And they praised God because of me.” This verse comes at the end of a section where Paul recounts his transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted apostle of Christ.
Transformed for His Glory
This simple yet profound statement invites us to reflect on the nature of our own transformations and how they can lead others to glorify God.
Paul’s journey from Saul the persecutor to Paul the apostle is a testament to the power of God’s grace. An unlikely man. Perhaps an undeserving man,, experienced a radical transformation. No one is beyond the reach of God’s love and redemption. Our response to God’s call is what matters.
Our past should not define us!
The grace of God changes everything! Americans used to believe in redemption, that men and women who repent of their sins could be made new.
Now, the emerging national conscience seems to be that a person must be defined by the worst moment of their life. Politicians spend an inordinate amount of time digging up dirt on their opponents, even if they have to go back 20 or 30 years to find a mistake they made at age 16
Honestly, it had to be difficult for some to forget that a man named Saul, stood there and did nothing but consent and approve when Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian Church. His encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road changed everything! Some just couldn’t’t gets their heads around the drastic change they saw .
The purpose of transformation
The verse highlights the purpose of transformation. Our transformation in Christ is not just for our benefit; it serves a greater purpose. When others see the change in us, it should point them to God. Our lives should reflect His glory, encouraging others to seek Him.
Do they? Only you can answer that. If I try to answer that for you, I am guilty of assuming a position only God can assume (Matthew 7:1). I know. We have our cleverly disguised ways of sidestepping this command. We call ourselves “fruit inspectors” (Matthew 7:16). Jesus affirms that people should be judged by their outcomes, not by how they look.
The people who glorified God because of Paul’s transformation were likely his former adversaries and the early church. Shouldn’t our testimony bridge the gap and unite people in worship and praise?
The ripple effect of transformation
It gives me pause to think about what got me to where I am today? After all, we are not turtles sitting on top of fence posts for all to see. Essentially, if you see a turtle on top of a fence post, you know that it didn’t get there by itself; it had to be placed there by someone or something else.
I am what I am by the grace of God. Nothing more; nothing less. As Mother Teresa once opined, “Make sure you let God’s grace work in your souls by accepting whatever He gives you, and giving Him whatever He takes from you. True Holiness consists in doing God’s will with a smile.”
Unlike those who claim to have “pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps,” a believer understands that the skills and resources that led them to their current position will not necessarily take them further.
This perspective serves as a reminder that, although individual effort is valuable, many people owe their achievements to the support and guidance they received along the way. It also underscores the importance of humility, encouraging individuals to recognize and appreciate the contributions of others in their journey.
As we consider our own lives, we should ask ourselves: Do our actions lead others to glorify God? Am I a living testimony of His grace? Do my daily choices reflect a life that points back to Him? In other words, am I a “worthy reflector” of Your beauty, Lord Jesus? Do I carry the beauty, the power, the brilliance and the substance of who You really are (Ephesians 5:8)?
Galatians 1:24 serves as a reminder that our transformations in Christ have a ripple effect. When we live authentically of rHim, we not only change our own lives but also inspire others to glorify God. Let us strive to be vessels of His grace, leading other to praise Him through our stories and lives.
Or even more sobering, what do other people think whenever they think of me? There is little room for boasting when it comes to God’s grace. Read on in Galatians and you will find this concluding word: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (6:14).
Be a worthy reflector of Christ our Lord!
We should probably close with a prayer. The prayer of Saint Patrick comes to mind. Why not pray it with me today:
“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man (woman) who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”
