Real Hope: Finding Hope Through the Life of PaulSmakprov

## A Heart Transformed If there was one person who has influenced my life besides Jesus, it’s the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul (also known as Saul of Tarsus) was one of the most influential leaders of the early Christian church. During the first century, he was instrumental in bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews). He traveled extensively throughout the Roman Empire on his missionary journeys, and founded more than a dozen churches. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, he is traditionally credited with writing 13 books (letters). But before he was known as a tireless champion of Christianity, Paul was actually known for persecuting Christians. Paul was traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus with the purpose to ‘arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem’ (Acts 9:2) when the resurrected Jesus appeared to him in a great light. This encounter on the road to Damascus profoundly changed Paul’s identity, and it shifted the goal of his journey from silencing Christians to speaking out in support of them. And once Jesus redirected him, Paul continued on this trajectory for the rest of his life. What could turn around a man who was so dedicated to his beliefs and so intent on squashing the beliefs of others? Only the loving power of Jesus Christ. God can change anyone. God granted Paul the strength, perseverance, wisdom and patience necessary to complete the mission Jesus had assigned him. One of Paul’s most famous statements is: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). Paul looked to the spiritual provision of Jesus Christ to find strength, hope, joy, peace, and contentment in even his most dire circumstances. It is this power that’s offered to you and me today that transforms hearts and frees minds. #### Written by HEIDI WYSMAN