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But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace (Galatians 1:15, ESV).
Paul’s calling preceded his birth. God does amazing things. As Paul writes, “He who had set me apart even before I was born.” Can you imagine the conversation the Trinity had before Genesis 1:1, when they were planning history into eternity, before God said, “Let there be light?”
They said, “We know humans will rebel and that only the Son being sacrificed can restore creation, after Jesus ascends back to heaven. Let’s do something unusual. Something that shocks the too religious, and demonstrates how great Our grace can be.”
“Let’s call a Jew who is advancing in religious works more than anyone, with an education totally opposite to the path of Christ, and so zealous that he persecutes believers. Let’s create the Apostle Paul for this job, and everybody will be astounded after he leaves Jerusalem to imprison Christians and then comes back professing Christ as Lord and Savior.”
Let’s stop for a minute and consider you. Yes, you — because God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit had a similar conversation about you before creation. Psalm 139:16 indicates this …
God’s eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
And the Apostle Paul confirms this “God’s-conversation-about-you” before Genesis 1:1 in Ephesians 2:10 …
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
I can imagine God’s pre-creation conflab about me …
“We want to reach young people in Springfield, Ohio, in the early 1970s, so let’s call a young hippie who was a rascal and reprobate in high school. Let’s get him saved and delivered from drugs in Florida on New Year’s Eve 1971/1972 and call him back to Springfield, where he leads many to know Jesus as soon as he arrives in town.”
“What fun employing a hippie to be a believer and a pastor to those recently converted hippies in the same month. Far out! This will blow people’s minds about Our grace.” (Note: I realize that God probably didn’t use “hippie speak” in heaven, but I couldn’t help myself.)
As Paul wrote about his conversation (and I echoed with my decision to follow Jesus), “Who called [Paul and Grant] by His grace” (Galatians 1:15).
From the conversion of Paul and Grant, we learn that our past mistakes can never overwhelm God’s grace. A murderer and persecutor, and a drug-addled hippie were both called and made useful for God’s Kingdom. It’s not common sense, and the Jews laughed at Paul, while the religious in the sedate churches of Springfield smirked at me.
Grace doesn’t consider your past sins or others’ incredulity.
God’s favor overwhelms your past sins and gives you a future of serving Him. But as Paul did, and by grace I continue to do — you must walk in this calling. Paul summarizes in Ephesians 4:1, “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of your calling!”
Amazing grace for all of us in 2026!
(Please note the Hippie motif graphic!)
Well noted graphic! I want one!!