Recently, I traveled with a group to another country. While there, one of the guides openly shared his story and worldview with us. Not surprisingly, it was different from my own and, I’m guessing, most of the groups. I found it interesting and tried to understand things from his perspective.

I listened, expectantly, for a redemptive analogy, something within his story that would be an opening to share the gospel. After all, God has put eternity in the hearts of all men. He shared a couple things that could serve as that, but it wasn’t the right time. Still, I listened and learned. He had much to teach me about the people and place I visited.

A few years ago I might have responded like some of the group, put off and offended by this man who believed differently than me. As I watched it happen with some of the group, I knew that could have been me. I saw how those action don’t demonstrate the love and grace of the God I claim to serve. God forgive me.

Today, as I was reading through Ephesians again, I remembered this story as I thought about how much I loved Paul and his writings. It struck me: I love Paul, but would I have loved Saul?  Saul, the one speaking against the followers of Christ, even getting letters from the governmental leaders of the day to put them to death. Would I love Saul? The Saul that would become Paul.

It makes me stop and think. Who are the Paul’s hidden as Saul’s? Do I run in fear of them? Fight against them? Judge them? Or do I love them? Praying, asking God to show me the Paul in the Saul before me and trusting His work in each of us.

You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world … All of us used to live that way … we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 2:2-5, NLT).