As a Pharisee, Paul had lived life in rebellion against God. He had persecuted the church of God while claiming to uphold the Law of God. He had given his assent to the stoning of Stephen and gone on to imprison Christians all around the region. His zeal for persecuting Christians was unmatched.
But God showed mercy to Paul through the gospel. Paul called himself the “the worst of sinners” but said that Jesus came into this world “to save sinners”. Jesus said that it is not the healthy who need a doctor but rather the sick (Mark 2:17); and as the Great Physician, Jesus came to heal Paul of his sin-sickness through the gospel. The gospel had changed Paul from being a terrorist to an evangelist; from persecuting the church to preaching the gospel!
But why? Why did God show mercy to Paul? Why did Jesus heal Paul?
The answer is found in 1 Timothy 1:16: the reason why Paul was shown mercy was “as an example for those who would believe and receive eternal life.” We should look at Paul, see his rebellion against God, see his evil life of persecuting the church, then see the mercy and forgiveness God gave him, the change made in his heart and life, and think:
“If God can be merciful to a terrorist like Paul, he can give me mercy too!” That’s the very thing God wants us to think.
And so it becomes clear that God wants to give people hope through the sharing of a gospel testimony. As you consider sharing your testimony, remember that God wants to give hope to other people that they, too, can be free from all forms of media addiction.
So tell your story here to encourage others. Share what you were involved in with media, how it affected your life, the results and consequences of it.
But then turn a corner in your story and show how you are coming to know Jesus and are experiencing the eternal pleasures that are in Him. What does Jesus mean to you? How is He affecting your former way of life in media? Remember, we’re not just here to share our story about media addiction but also how Jesus is changing us through the gospel.
Take your time with this, enjoy it, and see if God would use you to give hope to someone else.
"Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies" (Psalm 107:2).
Question 2. Please share your story here. If you do not wish to share your testimony with others at Setting Captives Free, please include the statement, "I do not wish to share" at the end of your testimony:
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
If you would like to share your testimony via audio we do those through an interview with Mike and/or Jody Cleveland. These are very important because they give so many other people hope! Please write to us at scfggm@gmail.com. and let us know you'd like to do an audio interview with the Clevelands. Here is a link to some sample questions we would ask you, so that you can prepare for the interview. Click here. Ben writes, "For a really long time in my life I thought that I needed media in my life. Mostly video games. I got the things I longed for by playing video games, acceptance, escapism, stress relief, feelings of being part of a community. But these were all temporary and fleeting. I realize now that it was and is an addiction that I desperately needed Jesus power to break. I'm thankful for God's grace that never leaves me or forsakes me. I'm not perfect but slowly God is showing me how He is so much better than media, how He is more beautiful and addicting then media. I'm a slow learner though but I'm grateful for the patience of Jesus."
Charlene writes, "Where do I begin? The Setting Captives Free course on media addiction couldn't have come at a better time for me. I had just relocated to a new city and knew God was calling me to disconnect from social media in order for me to really hear from Him concerning the direction He wanted me to go in my life, in this new city and my purpose. Although I used social media mostly for marketing my business, blogging to encourage women to become God's best now even while waiting to stay connected to family and friends, I knew in my heart it was becoming an unhealthy addiction. God began highlighting areas through this course and His Word where I often sought out media when I was bored, lonely, needed a pick me up, needed to unwind from a rough day or just for pure entertainment. I soon realized that I was finding a lot of my significance in how many likes, followers and/or responses I received for what I posted. I would also spend countless hours binge watching my favorite shows. Yet, God was calling me away from that for a while to rediscover my first love-Him. And discover that I did. While I was only supposed to be off social media for a month, after my month was up I truly didn't have a desire to go back on it. I was also reserving watching my favorite shows to weekends only. The hours I once spent on media had been traded in for time spent with Jesus, sitting at His feet, looking at Him on the Cross, drinking from the spring of water of the Holy Spirit that He was offering me, and allowing Him to quench my thirst. I was reminded again through this course just how much He loved me and as the song, 'What A Beautiful Name' says, "He didn't want heaven without us". He went to the Cross for all of my sins and my addictions, bearing the guilt and the shame that was due me. In exchange, He only wanted all of me and my undivided heart, for a lifetime of eternal pleasures that flow freely from His well. The pleasures of this world have lost their shiny appeal when I think about the goodness of Jesus and all He sacrificed to give me. Thank you Lord for giving the best gift over and over to me, Yourself. No one and nothing compares to you."
Christian writes, "Jesus has become more important to me than the fantasy world that was once my refuge and hiding place from the Problems of life. With the Lord I can face reality and overcome the Problems in my life with his help step by step, one day at a time. I want him to become more important to me every day so the things of this world will continue to lose their Appeal for me more and more.
Thank you Lord for dying for the multitude of my sins. I do not deserve such enormous love, grace and mercy."