Year in the Bible Daily Reading:
Genesis 43-44; Psalm 24; Galatians Listen to Today's Reading
Galatians 1
“Once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken.”
There are moments in life when we feel absolutely certain we are right. Our convictions feel immovable, our beliefs airtight, and our sense of purpose unquestionable. That’s exactly where Paul stood before Christ intervened. In our verse today, Paul describes his former life with striking honesty: he “intensely persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” He wasn’t half‑hearted. He wasn’t confused. He was convinced—deeply and passionately—that he was defending the truth. He was “extremely zealous for the traditions of (his) fathers.”
Paul’s conviction was real. But it was wrong.
And when Jesus revealed Himself, Paul’s entire worldview shattered. He writes that the gospel he now preaches is “not of human origin” but came through “revelation from Jesus Christ.” In a moment, everything he believed and defended was overturned. The cause he once opposed became the very mission of his life. This did not go unnoticed by the early churches he preached to and ultimately gave credence to his message. “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
Paul’s story is not just about repentance—it’s about transformed conviction.
“Once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken.” The line, often attributed to Edward Abbey’s character Seldom Seen Smith in The Monkey Wrench Gang, is humorous—a boast of never being wrong. Yet beneath the humor lies truth: we all cling to our own rightness.
Paul could have said the same before his transformation at Damascus. His certainty was absolute, his zeal unmatched. But certainty without revelation can blind us. When God interrupts, He doesn’t just correct our thinking. He transforms our purpose.
In our own lives, we may defend ideas or causes with the same intensity Paul once had. We argue, and persuade, convinced of our correctness. But God’s Spirit can whisper, “You were mistaken—but I’m not done with you.” That whisper isn’t condemnation; it's an invitation. It’s the moment when pride gives way to grace, and certainty gives way to truth.
So the next time you find yourself clinging to your own rightness, remember that paradoxical line. It’s funny—but it’s also prophetic. When God steps in, even our mistakes can become the starting point of transformation.
Questions for Reflection:
- Where have you been so sure you were right that you stopped listening for God’s correction?
- How might humility open your heart to revelation?
Prayer:
Lord, open my eyes to the places where my convictions need Your correction.
Give me courage to release what I’ve clung to and embrace the truth You reveal.
Transform my heart the way You transformed Paul’s, so my life reflects Your grace.
Amen.
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