Blinded by sins, Saved by grace

Through the eyes of Chantelle (age 13)

A loyal disciple to Jesus who had great determination, a pillar of the early Christian church who encouraged all to walk by faith. This is how Chantelle sees the apostle Paul. Paul has inspired many to follow Jesus and dedicate their lives to the mission. When Chantelle picked Paul for character study, I was excited. I couldn’t wait to hear from the new generation, how they could relate to Paul. Read on to discover what Chantelle thinks about the man who was once blinded by his own sins but saved by Christ so he could go and lead many to Jesus.

Q&A with Chantelle

Which message from Paul’s letter impressed you the most?

Paul wrote in Philippians that he was “pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” The main message in chapter 3 is about having confidence in God instead of ourselves. All of our properties are useless in comparison to Jesus. In this way, we can also apply this in our lives. God is the most valuable thing that we can gain.

What have you learned from Paul’s letter that you can apply in your life?

One advice that I could apply in my life right now is to avoid grumbling and to do everything with a cheerful heart. [Philippians 2:14-16] It not only encourages my mood while helping others, but makes others feel relaxed and joyful as well.

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain." (Philippians 2:14-16)

How DID God bless Paul in his ministry?

God was always with Paul. Even when Paul was persecuting christians, God appeared to him personally. He always kept Paul safe during his travels, especially when he was bitten by the viper on the island of Malta. God lead him to many people that needed God, such as Timothy.

Are there any aspects of Paul’s life that is similar to yours?

Paul and I are quite different, however something that I share is that we both have the same purpose in mind, to tell others about God.

What would you ask Paul when you meet him in heaven?

One question that I would ask Paul in heaven would be: How did you have the strength to stand up for your faith while you were being tortured?

I trust that you have been blessed by the life of Paul through Chantelle’s eyes. Thank you for following this blog post series. If you have any questions for Chantelle, please leave your comments down below.

Next week we will explore the life of one of Israel’s sons. Until then, please continue to open the bible and spend time reading and searching the truth.

“Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth”, John 17:17

Blessings,
El