The apostle Paul used to be known as Saul. Before becoming a devout Christian and before writing many letters to churches, which later became books in the New Testament, Paul vigorously persecuted followers of Jesus. God’s word says, “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9: 1-4). He betrayed those who believed in Jesus. When God revealed Himself to Paul, Paul repented and turned from his sin. Only then did the Holy Spirit enter his heart and Paul began proclaiming to others that Jesus really is the Son of God.

This was an amazing transformation. Paul wrote thirteen books in the New Testament. These books take the form of letters to different churches in order to encourage them in their faith and teach them God’s commandments. Paul writes to the Roman church, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). From being so hateful towards followers of Jesus, he became one of them. Previously hating the gospel, Paul dedicates his life to sharing it with the people around him.

In our world today, we encounter people like Paul’s former self. Hateful to Christians and hateful to what is righteous. In Isaiah we read, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). I’m used to facing others who condemn Christians. And unfortunately, whenever I encounter another Christian, I’m shocked. Going through my daily life, hearing someone claim to be a Christian is out of the ordinary. I rarely hear someone share their faith. And I'm prepared for others to think the worst of me when they find out I'm a Christian. Society today doesn’t want us to share the gospel. People know Jesus existed, but they don’t want to believe and follow Him. People live immoral lives, and sometimes it seems as if no one is good at heart anymore.

When I was younger, I had a hard time telling others about my faith. People in society just want to conform and as a high school student with little confidence, I definitely didn’t want people thinking of me as an outcast. But I realized, as Christians, we are outcasts. We are different from society. We believe Jesus is the Son of God. We believe He was crucified and rose three days later. What is so shameful about that? Why can Paul write that he isn't ashamed of the gospel despite facing such violent persecution? The persecution Christians face in America does not compare to the life threatening level of Paul's time.

In the bible, God commands his people to share the gospel. In the book of Matthew, Jesus says, “‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:19-20). On the morning of His resurrection, Jesus commands His disciples to continue the work of ministry. He was just crucified on the cross yet, He commands for His disciples to have bold faith and continue to spread the message. We may risk facing persecution, but if sharing our faith saves just one person, isn’t that worth it?

When we tell others about God, we allow His love to invade their lives and change their hearts. This world can mock me, hate me, and kill me, but the only way the gospel can change the lives of those in my life is if I go out and tell them. We need to be more like Paul and boldly proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.