If you’ve ever felt disqualified by your past—or had someone else try to disqualify you because of it—you’re not alone. One of the enemy’s oldest tricks is to remind us of who we used to be in hopes of making us forget who we are in Christ.
We see this clearly in the life of the apostle Paul. Before he was a church planter and author of much of the New Testament, Paul was a persecutor of Christians. And in the book of Galatians, false teachers tried to use that past against him. They told the early believers, “Don’t trust Paul or his gospel—look at what he’s done!”
Now here’s the thing: Paul really did have that past.
The accusations weren’t entirely false—but they weren’t the full truth either. That’s how the enemy works. He might start with something true, but he always leaves out the most important part: Jesus.
Yes, Paul had a violent history. But he also had a powerful Savior.
Yes, we’ve all made mistakes. But we’ve also been forgiven, redeemed, and made new.
When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he didn’t defend himself. He defended the gospel. He stood on the truth of what Jesus had done, and that’s the same thing we’re called to do.
So maybe the enemy keeps throwing your past in your face. Maybe you hear, “You did all those things—how can you lead, speak, serve, or be used by God?” And you can respond: “Yes, I did. And Jesus still loves me. He still died for me. He still forgave me. And I still belong to Him.”
Because at the end of the day, your story is not about your sin—it’s about your Savior. You don’t have to defend yourself when the gospel has already declared you forgiven.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your love and forgiveness are greater than my past. When the enemy tries to accuse me, help me not to shrink back or try to prove myself, but to stand boldly in the truth of Your gospel. I am forgiven, I am redeemed, and I am Yours.
In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray, Amen.