Divine Appointments
“… by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.”
1 Corinthians 15:10a (NIV)
I love grace stories! Nothing energizes me more in ministry than hearing the impact of God’s grace on a life! There’s no other explanation for life change but God! One of the most dramatic grace stories was written in the life of Saul of Tarsus. He encountered a Divine Appointment that radically transformed the trajectory of his life! Once persecutor turned preacher, the Apostle Paul, said this about God’s grace, “by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Corinthians 15:10a (NIV)
The word “effect” in that passage means “to cause to change or a change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.” What caused the change in Paul? It was an encounter with grace! Paul was wreaking havoc among the early Church. He was there at the stoning of Stephen. Traveling to Damascus with orders to arrest Christ followers, he became one! Through a Divine appointment, Paul met Jesus, and he was never the same! No longer an enemy of the church, Paul became a church planter! Think of the confusion this must have created in the minds of both haters and followers of Christ! Yet, Paul knew grace had changed him, and the effect of grace would soon be seen by all who knew him! Grace changes everything!
What’s your grace story? At our Super Summer Baptism Celebration, we witnessed hundreds of Christ followers stepping out of their comfort zone and following Jesus through baptism as a public declaration of their faith, just as Paul did when he encountered Christ. It was an incredible experience! Only God can change a life. If you were among those baptized, I want to hear your grace story. Please share it with us! Your grace story is one of the greatest evidence for the existence of God! It encourages others. It was the grace story of an immoral woman from Samaria that met Jesus at a well, one day, that changed her entire city. It was the grace story of a Philippian jailer that saved his entire household! If you have received Jesus, you have a grace story too! You may not understand how He changed your life, but the fact that He did is all that matters. Old things passed away, and everything is becoming brand new in your life with Christ! To help you frame your grace story you may consider following these simple starting blocks.
Briefly describe your life before receiving Christ…
How did you realize you needed Christ in your life?
How did you receive Christ as your personal Savior from sin?
Now that you have become a Christ follower, describe the difference He has made in your life…
Briefly describe your baptism experience at Woodlands Church…
Paul never claimed to be perfect. It wouldn’t be grace if he was. He knew he had been forgiven, and by the grace of God, he was a new creation in Christ! Every day, every moment, every thought could be shared with Christ. God puts His grace on display in our lives to demonstrate His love and power to a watching and skeptical world. Your grace story is unique. Never be ashamed to share it. I would love to read it. Email us at membership@wc.org.
If you wanted to be baptized but were unable to come that weekend we have a special opportunity for you at Super Summer Baptism 2 this weekend, June 24th and 25th, at all our Woodlands Church Campuses. You can register now for the service time that best fits your schedule.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.