Before we beat ourself up about all our mistakes, there is something we need to keep in mind. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All. His name was Saul. He was a leader. He knew the law. He honored God. There were some other things about this Saul. He has been described as a very “zealous Pharisee” who intensely persecuted believers in Jesus. He made it his mission to hunt them down and bring them to justice.
He went house to house looking for believers of this blasphemous imposter, Jesus. The one crucified. There was talk that this Jesus reportedly had risen from the tomb. “God’s” people needed to put a stop to this heresy. Saul was present when the first Christian was martyred. He stood close by as the mob threw their cloaks at his feet, turned and stoned Stephen to his death. Saul was steadfast in his pursuit of the followers. He intercepted letters from prisoned believers. Located the recipients of the letters and arrested them so they could join their friends back at the prison.
But then he took a trip to Damascus. Suddenly, a flash of light surrounds him. He falls to the ground. He hears a voice calling him by name. “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?” Saul has a question for the Voice. “Who are you, Lord?” The response, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.” That immediately got his attention. He was instructed to continue to Damascus and he would receive the instructions for his future relationship with Jesus. He has a new problem. He was blinded by the light. His companions would lead him to Damascus. Scripture says his companions saw the light but did not hear the voice that spoke to Saul.
Thought For Today:
Saul was a bad person who thought himself quite good. He studied the texts of the Torah. He believed in God. He was raised by Hebrew parentage. He thought He was defending God by getting rid of these followers of Jesus.
Know anyone like that today? They haven’t started to stone us in this country yet but most definitely there are those in this world who believe their God is telling them to kill followers of Jesus by the knife or stoning. Many try to silence the testimony of christians by other means. The God we know does not condone that.
Saul got his assignment and his sight was restored. His Hebrew name was Saul. His father was a Roman citizen so he also had the Latin name of Paul. He changed to his Roman name. One possible reason for the name change could be that he would be taking his message to Gentiles and his Roman name might make that easier. There was some pretty serious history with the name Saul. I wonder if he would have been successful witnessing to seekers of Jesus, with the name Saul? I would think beginning a dialog about Jesus with that name might be difficult in light Of his previous treatment of believers.
Paul would overcome his past. He was an accessory to murder. A man filled with hate for believers. Terrorizing people. Promoting havoc. Now there is a past! But, he changed. He could not deny his experience with Jesus. He began a preaching and teaching ministry bringing new believers into the body of Christ.He was planting new churches everywhere he traveled. His ministry lasted thirty-two years. He would write a quarter of the New Testament and then he too, would be martyred for Christ.
We have something in common with Paul, other than our sin factor, he was touched by Jesus in such a way that he could not walk away. Our experiences may not have knocked us to the ground with blinding light. We may not have heard a voice from heaven call our name. However, we can all agree that our encounter with Jesus was no less powerful then Paul’s. Our past? Paul’s past was wiped clean by the blood of Jesus. Ours is too. White as snow. Our mission? Again, no less important than Paul’s. Spread the word that Jesus Christ is Lord. He died for our sins. Salvation comes to all who believe. He sits at the right hand of God. He is the only way, to eternal life and He is coming back again.
Scripture For Today:
Acts 7:57
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. (NLT)
Acts 8:3
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. (NLT)
Acts 22:4-5
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. (NLT)
Acts 22:6
6 “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ (NLT)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! Thank You for sending Jesus to a world in the grips of sin. Though we may start out on a despicable path, an encounter with Jesus changes everything. The light He casts on us brings our sins out to be washed in the blood and blotted from our record. Forgiven by the sacrifice of the Lamb. We pray for ministries that lift You up. Give us power to be bold in the face of those who would silence us. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All rights reserved.