The Sweet Designs of God

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace. . . (Galatians 1:15)

Ponder the conversion of Paul, the sovereignty of Christ, and what Paul’s sins have to do with your salvation.

Paul said that God “set me apart before I was born,” and then on the Damascus road “called me by his grace” (Galatians 1:15). This means that between Paul’s birth and his call on the Damascus road he was an already-chosen but not-yet-called instrument of God (Acts 9:15; 22:14).

This means that Paul was beating and imprisoning and murdering Christians as a God-chosen, soon-to-be-made-Christian missionary.

As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 22:6–7)

There was no denying or escaping it. God had chosen him for this before he was born. And now he would take him. The word of Christ was sovereign. There was no negotiating.

Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do. (Acts 22:10)

Damascus was not Paul’s final, free will yielding to Christ after decades of futile divine effort to save him. God had a time for choosing him (before he was born) and a time for calling him (on the Damascus road). Paul yielded when God called.

Therefore, the sins that God permitted between Paul’s birth and his calling were part of the plan, since God could have done Damascus sooner.

Do we have any idea what the plan for those sins might have been? Yes. They were permitted for you and me — for all who fear that they might have sinned themselves out of grace. Here’s the way Paul relates his sins to you.

Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy . . . for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:13, 16)

O, how sweet are the designs of God in the sovereign salvation of hardened sinners!-John Piper

O, what encouragement I get from this devotion. God is in control. When the person I have been praying for refuses yet again to listen to the Gospel and respond I can trust that God is in control. When I share my faith with others, I can trust that God is in control using my feeble words to draw His elect to Himself. When I lay my children down at night I can trust that God is in control and will use His plans and purposes to draw them to Himself.

Praising God this morning that we do not worship a limp wristed Savior left powerless next to man's free will but we worship a God who is mighty to save. Praising God this morning that salvation does not depend on my words but is the power of God onto salvation. God is moving in this world and drawing His elect to saving faith. I praise Him today.