“不过听说，那从前逼迫我们的，现在传扬他原先所残害的真道。他们就为我的缘故，归荣耀给神。” - 加 1:23-24
保罗在加拉太地区建立了新的教会，但现在他们陷入了困境，因为有一些假教师把他们引入了歧途（加 1:6-10）。所以，他们需要被鼓励和被接纳，牢记耶稣的福音，单单为祂而活。
因此，保罗简要地讲述了神是如何将他从一个迫害基督信徒的人转变为一个完全委身耶稣的使徒（见徒 9章）。他的转变不是关乎他自己，而是关乎耶稣。最终他去了耶路撒冷，与住在那里的教会领袖会面。然后，保罗继续前行，将福音传播到犹太以北的地区。当犹太地的教会听说了他的事迹后，圣灵清楚地表明，保罗是真实的归信，“传扬他原先所残害的真道”。这使得所有听见的信徒都归荣耀与神。他们不再惧怕保罗，而是因着他的翻转而欢欣鼓舞。
相信耶稣为救主的人，需要我们怀着为他们赞美神的态度来被接待。他们已经从黑暗中得救，被带进了光明的国度。他们需要祝福他们、鼓励他们的朋友。
你知道有谁需要以这种方式鼓励他们吗？一定要去这样做！
祷告
满有恩慈的神，求你感动我们来感谢和赞美你，因为你把罪人带到你的儿子耶稣面前，求你引导我们去鼓励和拥抱他们。阿们。
加拉太书 1:11-24
11弟兄们，我告诉你们，我素来所传的福音不是出于人的意思。
12因为我不是从人领受的，也不是人教导我的，乃是从耶稣基督启示来的。
13你们听见我从前在犹太教中所行的事，怎样极力逼迫、残害神的教会，
14我又在犹太教中，比我本国许多同岁的人更有长进，为我祖宗的遗传更加热心。
15然而，那把我从母腹里分别出来，又施恩召我的神，
16既然乐意将他儿子启示在我心里，叫我把他传在外邦人中，我就没有与属血气的人商量，
17也没有上耶路撒冷去见那些比我先做使徒的，唯独往阿拉伯去，后又回到大马士革。
18过了三年才上耶路撒冷去见矶法，和他同住了十五天。
19至于别的使徒，除了主的兄弟雅各，我都没有看见。
20我写给你们的不是谎话，这是我在神面前说的。
21以后我到了叙利亚和基利家境内。
22那时，犹太信基督的各教会都没有见过我的面，
23不过听说“那从前逼迫我们的，现在传扬他原先所残害的真道”，
24他们就为我的缘故，归荣耀给神。
Hearts Transformed
"They only heard the report: 'The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.' And they praised God because of me." - Galatians 1:23-24
Paul had started the young churches in the region of Galatia, but now they were floundering because some false teachers had led them astray (Galatians 1:6-10). Instead, they had needed to be encouraged and enfolded to remember the good news of Jesus and to live for him alone.
So Paul tells briefly how God changed him from a persecutor of Christ-followers to a fully committed ambassador of Jesus (see Acts 9). His transformation was not about him but about Jesus. And eventually he went to Jerusalem to meet with the leaders of the church who lived there. Then Paul moved on to spread the gospel to regions north of Judea. And when the churches in Judea heard about him, the Spirit made clear that Paul was truly converted to "preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." That brought all the believers to praise God. And instead of fearing Paul, they rejoiced on account of him.
People who come to know Jesus as their Savior need to be received with praise to God. They have been saved from darkness and brought into the light. They need friends who will bless them and encourage them.
Do you know someone whom you can encourage in this way? Be sure to do so!
Prayer
God of grace, move us to praise and give thanks to you for bringing sinners to your Son, Jesus, and guide us to encourage and enfold them. Amen.
