April 29 - Jesus Changes Everything

Acts 9:1-19

For many of us, before we turned to Jesus, we were different people. Our attitudes and behaviors would most likely make us cringe if someone played back a tape from that time. For some of us it would be embarrassing, for others of us it could even be criminal. But Jesus got our attention somehow. Perhaps you can remember the season or incident that caused you to accept Jesus and begin to build a new life around that reality.

For Saul (Paul) it literally took a bright light from heaven and then being knocked off this horse and laid out on the ground. This is a familiar story, and one we often hear right after Easter and before Pentecost. Paul's conversion is indeed a miracle. But, what about his traveling companions? "The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone." (Acts 9:7) 

Saul was a Roman, a soldier with a mission to wipe out members of The Way. Christ followers were his enemy and he hated them. I am assuming his companions on the road that day were of the same mindset. They were traveling with Saul on the same mission - wipe out the Christ followers. Put an end to this threat and maybe make a name for themselves too.

Reading this passage my mind to went to these men. What happened to them? Did they desert Saul at that point and resume the mission? Did they turn back to home, leaving Saul behind? Did they stay and see what happened next? Scripture does not tell us any more about these individuals. But think back to your Damascus road experience. The companions you had with you then, are they still with you now? Doubtful.

Just like with Saul (Paul), his friends changed. His life changed. His mission changed when his eyes were opened. An encounter with Jesus will do that.

The Story - Chapter 28 - New Beginnings

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. (Acts 9:1) 

The truth that lies in the 17 verses between these verse 1 and verse 19 has changed the course of Christianity forever.  We begin our reading today learning about Saul's quest to wipe out the Christ followers once and for all.

Why do you think God chose Saul?  Why would God use a man who has persecuted Followers, who has campaigned against anyone who believed in Christ, as His instrument?  Because He is God and He has a plan for each and every one of us.  A plan so far out we could never in our wildest dreams come up with such a fantastic answer.

While God was doing this great work in Saul, using Ananias to reach out and touch Saul, He had to have been working in the disciples hearts as well.  What might it have been like for them to be around Saul.  I would have felt resentment and probably fear and distrust. "Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus." (Acts 9:19)

All this shows us that God is God and we are not.  God's plan is greater than any we could ever imagine, and it is perfect.  How many of us can relate with Saul/Paul?  How many of us had similar feelings for anyone who followed Jesus?  And how many of us now have incredible conversion testimonies?  Like Saul, our stories are meant to be told.  

Read Acts 9:1-19

Listen to Acts 9:1-19

Paul called by Jesus - Acts 9:1-19

It is said most people's worst fear is public speaking.  Many find it disconcerting to get up in front of a group of people and deliver a talk.  But scripture tells us “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15).  This requires some public speaking, sharing of our testimony.

The story in today's reading is a powerful teaching about God using us even when we are at our worst, for His glory.  Saul was imprisoning or killing every Christian he could find.  His goal in life was to halt the spread of the Way; to stop followers of Jesus from talking about His life and His death.  It was this persecution by Saul that actually enabled the Word to spread even faster.

Christians scattered to other parts of the world and they told their story, they told Jesus' story.  Christianity spread world-wide.  Now, in the Scripture today, Jesus wants to use Saul even more boldly. Jesus is claiming him by saying to Ananias "This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. (Acts 9:15)

Jesus wanted to use Paul (Saul's new name) and his past to help us recognize there is nothing we can do to make Jesus love us more and there is nothing we can do to make Him love us less.  God will use us as ‘His chosen instrument’ too. All we have to do is tell our story of how Jesus made a difference in our lives.

Read the text in Acts 9:1-19.