¹³ even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, (1 Timothy 1:13 CSB)

There are many places where Paul denotes his life before coming to the saving grace of Christ. Paul was a religious man before, but in the tradition of the Jews and one who pursued Christians with a vigor. Until his experience on the road to Damascus he was the roughest sort of man.

I have had the privilege of ministering to some rough men and women who the world has cast aside. When I got to see the transformation in these people’s lives when they finally came to Christ is was a miraculous thing to behold.

I can have a rough edge, but over the years Christ has helped me to blunt that just a bit. He has also sharpened it so that it can be used in positive ways. You see, God does not use just a portion of us, he uses all of us, even the rough bits just like he did Paul.

God often uses the roughest parts of our lives to give us a unique insight into how to minister to others in a similar state. God waste nothing. He uses every part of who we are and who we were to further His message and reach others. He also uses it to manifest grace in our lives.

Never think you are too rough, too lost, too bad a person for the saving grace of Christ. Never think that you cannot be rescued and your rough bits cannot be used for Christ glory. As I said, God waste nothing.