Acts 9:1-9 The Conversion of Saul

Saul of Tarsus, later the apostle Paul, was determined to take down Christians "breathing threats and murder" against them. He went to the high priest to ask for letters to capture them in the surrounding towns and bring them back to Jerusalem. It is not certain what the nature of the letters were, but it could have been   some sort of a license to capture and transport Christians. There are many people like Saul in the world today. I have to admit the reality that the Sauls of this life will persecute believers around the world.  Am I ready if it becomes my turn? I pray that I will be ready.

Paul's target was the city of Damascus, a very important city in his day. It was a center of Greco-Roman culture and trade in the Near East. Christians were thought of as people belonging to the Way. This word refers literally to a road, but metaphorically to a path, way of life, a lifestyle. In the midst of a very pagan culture at the time, Christians stood out as people who had a very different lifestyle. Their ways were not the world's ways. Is my lifestyle different than the world in which I live today? Could someone watch my lifestyle and say that I am different than the world in which I live? If my lifestyle is not any different than the world's, what kind of Christian am I then? Nominal? One who gives lip service to Christ, but whose lifestyle is not a reflection of his teachings, but the world's.

Saul was going his own way persecuting people belonging to the Way when a light from heaven flashed around him. This was a very bright light and he was knocked to the ground and he heard a voice that asked: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?" Our Lord Jesus Christ's identification with his church, his body is so intimate that to persecute a Christian is to persecute Christ himself. Anyone who comes after me to persecute me is actually persecuting Jesus. When I am persecuted, ridiculed, or simply left out in this world, I must remember that they are doing it unto him and not just me. I am not alone!

From other accounts we know that Paul not only heard Jesus' voice, but saw him as the resurrected Christ and received instructions from him to wait. By his compliance to the voice is clear that Saul was disarmed and completely surrendered to Christ. The man that was breathing threats and murder was tamed by the power of the presence of the Lord. The self-sufficient and self-righteous Saul was brought to his knees and blinded to the point of needing others to guide him by the hand. When Christ steps into somebody's path, he changes its course forever. I must not forget that it does not matter how difficult someone may seem for Gospel, my Lord is capable of transforming hearts with his powerful presence.

Father, prepare my heart to stand strong against those who persecute you. Help me to evaluate my lifestyle and transform it to be different from the world and pleasing to you. May I never give up on anyone who rejects you no matter how difficult they may be. Amen.