Paul told the Galatians and us yesterday the origins of his message. Over the next few days we will see how his life has proven that this gospel could not be manmade, but only could come from God. He begins by reminding them of who he was. That Paul was not always a missionary for Jesus Christ. In reality, Paul was trying to destroy the beginnings of the Early Christian Church. Even back in his childhood, he was preparing for this by being under the tutelage of the famous Gamaliel. He was raised to be a proper Jewish man in leadership. He was doing exactly that. As he began to persecute the church and do things like presiding over the stoning of Stephen, his stock in the Jewish community began to rise. He describes himself as being extremely zealous for the traditions of his fathers. This description in most parts of Israel would have been the achievements of achievements. In the culture’s eyes, he would have been outstanding, but this is who Paul was. He reminds the Galatians, us, and himself that he has been transformed. Paul time and time again shows us that it is good to remember who we were before being transformed by the gospel. Not to remember and be plagued with the same guilt and shame that we have already received forgiveness for, but to remember because our stories are powerful. There are people out there struggling in the same darkness that we were in. Our stories have the ability to bring hope to the lost and glory to God. Our stories can be used as powerful instruments for spreading the gospel in our homes, in our workplaces, and for all those searching for light in the darkness.