Thanks for Writing

I am thankful whenever I receive a letter from someone... ​

...who has taken the time to let me know how my story of redemption has touched them in a positive way. For some, it gives them hope that they too can be forgiven for whatever wrongs they may have done. While for others it’s a reminder of the goodness and mercy of God.
 
And with this in mind, I am now sharing a letter that I sent to someone who first wrote to me about how delighted she was to learn of my faith in Christ, and how it touched her heart. Encouraged by her words, I replied as follows:
 

"Warm greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for taking the time to write and encourage me in my walk with the Lord. And to learn that you have been touched and inspired by my story of God's having forgiven me for all my sins and crimes.
 
"I always tell people that I am most undeserving of the Lord's mercy. But also how He has chosen to use me as a modern day example of how He is both willing and able to forgive even the worst of criminal offenders.
 
"While in times past, the Lord used a man who went by the name of 'Saul of Tarsus' in similar way. Saul, who was a devout Jew, began to persecute his fellow Jews who'd come to believe that Jesus was their promised Messiah. Outraged that they were now followers of Jesus, Saul set out to arrest them. And by his own admission, Saul even killed some of them, too.
 
"Later, however, Saul would repent of his murderous ways. He himself became a devout follower of the Lord Jesus and spent his remaining years sharing his story of forgiveness wherever he could. Humbled by God's mercy, Saul (meaning "desired"), now renamed Paul (meaning "small or little"), had no problem seeing himself as one of the worst sinners there ever was. And I, too, see myself in the same light. A miserable murderer who has, by God's grace, been transformed ​into a ​minister of mercy and compassion, urging everyone to put their trust in Jesus."
​

D.B.