Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Psalm 51:13

King David and the apostle Paul had one terrible thing in common — they were both murderers.

King David murdered Uriah, and Paul murdered Stephen. David didn’t shoot the arrow, and Paul didn’t throw the stone, but both were guilty. Making the cold-blooded decision to end an innocent life is a heavy load of shame and regret to bear.

Thankfully, David and Paul also had something wonderful in common — both experienced God’s amazing grace. Both were awakened by grace. Both were convicted by grace. Both were empowered by grace to confess. Both were forgiven by grace. Both were empowered by grace to offer submission to God. Both were transformed by grace. Finally, by grace, both experienced the full redemption of their failed lives.

Redemption

David and Paul both testify to a miracle of redemption — their crimes (the very things that should have destroyed them) became the launching pad of their message of hope to others. I can hear them yelling at the top of their lungs, “If God’s grace could save me, then God’s grace could save anyone, including you!”

Paul understood redemption and the opportunity it gave him to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason, I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12-17)

This is the full redemption of God’s amazing grace. Not only does he forgive our sins, but he also redeems them from the kingdom of darkness! He takes the same failures that could have destroyed us and repurposes them until we become the living illustration of the good news of Jesus Christ.

What is the worst thing you have ever done? Whatever it is, know this: God is ready and able to redeem it. The day will come when someone confesses to you the worst thing they have done. When they do, you can share the story of how God took the worst of you and made a masterpiece of grace out of it. Your story will be a source of hope and awakening grace to them. That’s redemption! It is the repurposing of our fallen lives to illustrate the amazing grace of God to others! Yes, my friend, through your redemption story, the word grace takes on flesh and becomes tangible through you. You become the living representation of what God’s miraculous power can accomplish.

Only the redeeming grace of God has the power to turn a life-taking man into a lifegiving man. God is extending that grace to you today, and today is the best day to receive it.

Prepare Your Testimony of God’s Grace

Your testimony is a powerful way for others to experience an awakening. People can argue with you about many things, but they cannot argue with your testimony. It is your first-hand account of what grace can do. Every time you share it, your story is redeemed.

Have you ever written your testimony? If you haven’t, I challenge you to do so. Someone needs to hear it; when that moment comes, you want to be ready to tell it. When you have it ready, pray that God will bring someone your way who needs to hear it. God loves to answer that prayer, and they are longing to be at rest in God’s grace. That’s the miraculous power of redemption.