The Waiting Period...

The Waiting Period: Sharing Jesus After Salvation.

The moment Saul regained his strength, he began proclaiming Jesus. He didn’t wait, he didn’t hesitate, and he didn’t need anyone’s approval. This leads us to an important question 

When is the right time to start telling others about Jesus after experiencing salvation? Immediately.

There’s no waiting period. No checklist to complete, no course to finish, and no need to “earn” the right to share your story. You don’t have to 

There’s also no need for permission from anyone, because you don’t have to “know enough” to start 

In fact, if you wait until you feel like you know enough to evangelize, you never will. 

Saul didn’t wait until he had all the theological answers or until his life was perfectly in order. What did he have? An encounter with Jesus. And that encounter was powerful enough to begin sharing right away. Your testimony—your story of meeting Jesus—is more than enough, even if it’s just beginning. Your Testimony Has Impact 

In Acts 9:21 (ESV)
 And all who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?’

Saul had a reputation, and everyone knew it. They knew he had persecuted Christians in the past, and now he was standing in the synagogue, proclaiming the very Jesus he had opposed. 

The people were amazed 

When Jesus changes your life, people will notice. 

There should be a clear transformation in how you live.

This doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly be perfect. But it does mean that you’re growing, being shaped by God, and becoming more like Jesus day by day. Others will notice the difference as you live out your faith 

Just like Saul, your personal testimony is incredibly powerful. People may know your past, but when they see the transformation that Jesus brings, it has the potential to amaze them, just as it did with Saul. Your story, no matter where you are in your journey, carries the power to make an impact. 

Sometimes, we underestimate the weight of our own experiences with Christ. But it’s important to remember that your testimony can reach people in ways that a sermon or a theological argument might not. It’s personal. It’s real. It’s your encounter with the living God. 

Your testimony isn’t just about who you were—it’s about who you are becoming in Christ. That transformation speaks volumes to those who knew you before. They see the difference, and that difference can open the door for others to encounter Jesus themselves 

When you share your story, you are showing others that Jesus still transforms lives. And that has the power to change hearts, just like it did in Saul’s time 

Living Out Transformation

Saul’s transformation wasn’t just about a change in belief—it was a total life change 

Acts 9:22-23 (ESV)
 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him. 

Here, the word “confounded” comes from the Greek word "syncheō", which means to baffle, confuse, or stir up. Saul’s transformation was so powerful that it baffled the religious leaders. They couldn’t handle how drastically different he had become, and they plotted to kill him 

This tension between Saul’s past and his new life in Christ was intense. 

There should be tension between your old life and your new life in Christ.

When you begin to follow Jesus, your old ways of living—your old habits, relationships, and mindsets—will often try to pull you back. But as Saul’s life shows us, your old life and your new life in Christ cannot peacefully coexist.  

Embrace the Tension for Growth

You’ve probably felt this tension in your own life. The pull of old habits, old mindsets, or past relationships might tempt you when things get tough. But the truth is, you can’t live in both worlds. The tension between who you used to be and who God is calling you to be can feel uncomfortable, but it’s also where spiritual growth happens 

Saul’s story highlights this tension in a dramatic way. He couldn’t be both the persecutor of Christians and the proclaimer of Christ. One identity had to die for the other to fully live. Paul later affirms this his writing 

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Your old life has to die for your new life in Christ to fully thrive. This isn’t easy, and that tension can be hard to navigate. But it’s necessary for growth. You can’t live in both worlds 

Step Out and Share

So, when is the right time to start sharing your faith? Right now 

Just like Saul, you don’t need to wait until you have it all figured out. You don’t need to have all the answers. The transformation in your life is enough to begin sharing your story, even if you’re still in the early stages of following Jesus. 

Remember, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about letting Christ work through you. That tension between who you were and who you are becoming is real, but it’s a sign that God is growing you, just as He grew Saul 

This week, step out in faith. Let’s live as if Christ is living through us—no hesitation, no waiting. Share the story of the transformation He’s working in your life right now 

Because if you wait until you know enough to evangelize, you never will.