Acts 26

When Paul is put on the big stage, of all the things that he could say or teach or do, he shares his own personal conversion to Christ, a personal spiritual experience that changed his life forever.  It made me think about some of the life changing spiritual experiences I have had and the different directions that those experiences led me to go.  I think that we would all be wise to remember the spiritual experiences that we have had so that when the time comes that we can share those with others and stay strong during our own difficulties.

"Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." - These words from King Agrippa are evidence that so many of us know what is true and recognize God's hand in our lives, but we are unwilling to make the needed changes to follow Him or to do as He asks.  We have things that we don't want to start doing and things that we don't want to have to stop doing.  We almost want to have God as a part of our lives, but don't want to allow that complete transformation.

“If we must give all that we have, then our giving only almost everything is not enough. If we almost keep the commandments, we almost receive the blessings” (Elder Hafen, “The Atonement: All for All,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 98).

“A good bishop made an interesting comment about what he called the saddest words that he knows of a man in high station. He read from the words in the days of the Apostle Paul when Paul before King Agrippa had borne his powerful testimony of his conversion. King Agrippa’s reply was, ‘Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.’  Then the bishop said, ‘The king knew the truth but he lacked the courage to do that which would be required. …’

“And then [the bishop] characterized some things that he discovered in his own ward in a short but powerful sermon. ‘In response to the Master, “Come … follow me”, some members almost,’ he said, ‘but not quite, say, “thou persuadest me almost to be honest but I need extra help to pass a test.”’ …Almost thou persuadest me to keep the Sabbath day holy, but…‘Almost thou persuadest me to love my neighbor, but he is a rascal; to be tolerant of others’ views, but they are dead wrong; … to go home teaching, but it’s so cold and damp outside tonight; to pay tithes and offerings, but we do need a new  TV. … Almost! Almost! Almost!’” (Pres. Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Apr. 1964, 23–24).

I want to be fully committed, not just ALMOST committed to Christ!