Pastor Wilna Pierre, a Chaplain on our team in Haiti, has written a series of short devotions to encourage those who support our ministry. Today’s devotion is about the transformation offered in Christ.
Devotions were translated by Denise Dent.
“Frèm ak sèm yo, nenpòt jan lavi w ye. Jezi kapab chanje w”
Galat 1:11-24
M’ap di nou sa, frè m’ yo, bon nouvèl m’ap anonse a pa soti nan moun. Paske mwen menm, mwen pa t’ resevwa l’ nan men pesonn, ni se pa yon moun ki te moutre m’ li. Men, se Jezikri menm ki te fè m’ konnen li.
Nou tande pale sa m’ te konn fè nan tan lontan, lè m’ te nan relijyon jwif yo. Nou konnen jan m’ te san pitye lè m’ t’ap pèsekite legliz Bondye a, jan m’ t’ap chache kraze li. Nan relijyon jwif yo mwen te pi fò pase anpil moun nan ras mwen ki te menm laj avè mwen. Mwen te pi cho pase yo pou defann koutim zansèt nou yo.
Men, Bondye fè m’ favè l’, li mete m’ apa depi nan vant manman m’, li rele m’ pou m’ te ka sèvi li. Konsa, lè se te lide l’ pou l’ te fè m’ konnen Pitit li a, pou m’ te ka anonse bon nouvèl li a nan mitan moun ki pa jwif yo, wi, lè sa a, mwen pa t’ al mande pesonn konsèy. Mwen pa t’ moute Jerizalèm non plis pou m’ al wè moun ki te apòt anvan m’ yo. Men, mwen te pati la menm pou peyi Arabi. Apre sa, mwen tounen tounen m’ lavil Damas. Sou twazan, mwen moute lavil Jerizalèm pou m’ te fè konesans ak Pyè. Mwen rete kenz jou lakay li. Lè sa a, mwen pa t’ wè okenn nan lòt apòt yo, esepte Jak, frè Seyè a.
Sa m’ap ekri nou la a, se vre wi. Mwen pran Bondye pou temwen, mwen p’ap bay manti. Apre sa, mwen te ale nan peyi Siri ak Silisi. Pandan tout tan sa a, manm legliz Kris la ki te nan peyi Jide a pa t’ ankò rekonèt mwen. Yo te sèlman konn tande moun ap di yo: Nonm ki t’ap pesekite nou nan tan lontan an, koulye a men l’ap mache anonse bon nouvèl li te vle kraze a. Yo t’ap fè lwanj Bondye pou tèt mwen.
Pòl di se pa moun ki moutrel bòn nouvèl la se Bondye menm ki chwazi l. Frèm ak sèm yo, nenpòt jan lavi w ye. Jezi kapab chanje w. Fèw vin vin yon moun de byen pou w itil lòt yo. Pèp la te sezi wè menm Pòl ki tap pèsekite legliz yo vin ap preche kounye a. Sa se gras Bondye.
Ou menm ki gen yon move konpòteman Bondye kapab chanje w epi transfòme w.
“…Jesus can change you and make you a better person”
Galatians 1:11-24 (ESV)
But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews` religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it. I advanced in the Jews` religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother`s womb, and called me through his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn`t immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter and stayed with him for fifteen days. But of the other apostles, I saw no one, except James, the Lord`s brother. Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I`m not lying. Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy. They glorified God in me.”
God chose to save Paul. Brothers and sisters, whatever your life is like, Jesus can change you and make you a better person. Become a good person to help others. The people were astonished to see that even Paul, who was persecuting the churches, was now preaching God’s Word. That is God’s grace. God can change you and transform you if he chooses.
This is such an amazing portion of scripture. God can use anyone for his plans and purposes. Thank you so much for all you do in Haiti for God. Thank you for writing these devotions so that we can be blessed.