Persuasion That Leads to Salvation

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Short time or long — I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’” Acts 26: 28-29 (NIV) King Agrippa asks this probing question to the Apostle Paul that is common to all mankind: Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian? Paul was standing before the king, who was very knowledgeable of all Jewish customs and controversies (vv. 2,3), and he was standing there because he had been powerfully proclaiming the Gospel throughout the region (vs. 20). This was the same Paul who, before coming to Christ, was not only traditional, but a religious zealot for the Jewish faith, persecuting, imprisoning and even killing Christians. He was bold to share the Christ that saved him and transformed his life, taking opportunities that presented themselves at any place and any time, even before a king who could do to him what Paul had done to Christians in his old life. Don’t you just love Paul’s response to the king’s question in verse 29! He said, “I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am” . . . a transformed follower of Christ who boldly proclaims the Gospel anywhere and at any time! Friend, remember who we were before coming to Christ — we were just as lost as King Agrippa. But now we follow the example of Paul, who didn’t waste any chance to share the gospel with others. We may see an immediate response, but sometimes it can take time. Short or long, we must passionately share the gospel with others! — Craig Stephen Smith   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org