I read of Paul’s testimony given in defense.

Proving his theology, while giving no offence.

A powerful argument. that nobody can refute.

A life that proves the theology, nobody can dispute.

A life transformed, from doing what was right.

Discovering not good enough, not in God’s sight.

Everything he believed was totally stripped away.

Confronted by a risen Christ, he now recalls the day.

What devastation, all his efforts had been in vain.

Determined to do God’s work, instead had caused him pain.

From that day on this man really had no doubt.

It’s by God’s gift alone, that our salvation comes about.

Our efforts to win God’s favour dispute this very claim.

Pride would tell us otherwise, instead it leads to shame.

This truth so easy to forget, as Christians we often will distort.

God’s blessing deserved, with all those ticks on our report.

My testimony tells like Paul’s, something I cannot deny.

Confronted with my total failure, and crying out a why?

The risen Christ turned up, my failure now did not seem the same.

Instead I looked and saw his success, was now mine to claim.

Each one of us have had God turn up in a special way.

So transforming our lives, that ever since that day.

When people suggest , obey some rule, then God will bless.

No! God showed up when we were failures, we have to confess.

Had “leaned on our own understanding” to control my fate.

Now ” in all ways acknowledging him, he made my paths straight”

No longer “wise in my own eyes” yet so wanting to obey.

Somehow all my troubles are no big deal, I have to say.

How blessed I feel, others see and sometimes ask why.

The answer, my confidence is only in Jesus I need rely.

They cannot then refute the life I live out every day.

May Christ reveal himself to them that very same way.

Asaw Miller