Saul to Paul to You
Saul saw the light and it left him flat on the ground helpless, yet in his helplessness he realized the very truth of salvation - God's grace.
Saul thought he was doing God’s work persecuting Christians until one day Jesus appeared and knocked him off his horse. Not an accusatory growl of angry thunder, but an attention grabbing light and a compelling voice from heaven point Saul to search his own soul and ask himself, “Am I really doing a work that serves God and helps his people? Or is this life of searching out Christians and killing them something that God hates with all his being?”
With his mouth full of dirt the humbled warrior inquires, “Who are you?”
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”Jesus replies, identifying himself with his disciples - their pain is his pain, violence done to them is violence done to him. Saul was not patronizing God but persecuting him. Saul had it wrong all along. As a message of how serious he is, Jesus blinds Saul and tells him he’s now playing for a different team.
The brutal persecutor boldly marching his way to Damascus to imprison Christians is now led to Damascus as a prisoner of blindness. The powerful leader is now helplessly lost. And therein came his conversion.
Therein the merciful and mighty Lord turned this rebellious sinner to repentance and faith. Saul saw the light and it blinded his dependence on himself so that he had to rely on others, on Jesus, on forgiveness. Saul saw the light and it left him flat on the ground helpless, yet in his helplessness he realized the very truth of salvation - God's grace.
Grace. A word he would later write over 100 times in his missionary letters. Grace. It meant Jesus had new life for this new man. Saul became Paul, the persecutor transformed into the preacher, who later wrote with astonished yet confident faith, “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy … The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:13-15).
And, my friend, if Jesus forgives this murderer (his own evil persecutor!) will not Jesus forgive you? If Jesus gives new meaning to this most wayward soul absolutely confused about his path in life, cannot Jesus give new meaning and direction to your life? If Jesus makes something out of Saul’s dead-end career, can he not make something out of yours? If Jesus quiets the frustration and resentment raging in this madman’s soul, will not Jesus quiet yours?
Search your soul like Saul. Put your finger on those misguided missions of zeal you think are right and God-pleasing but they’re wrong and God-persecuting. Fall to the ground, repent and see the light of Jesus, let it blind you to your sins of yesterday and your self-security of tomorrow so that you only see the grace and mercy of Jesus who died and rose again to give you a new life that begins again every time you helplessly call to him in faith.
PRAYER: I am often so bold, Jesus. I am so confident in myself and the paths I have chosen, even as I have forgotten to consult you. I carelessly venture out thinking I am serving you but I am only serving myself. In your mercy, Lord, interrupt my self-chosen ways with your blinding grace. Help me see less of me and more of you, less of what I think is best and more of what you promise for those who believe in you. I need your grace. I want your grace. And more than that, I need and want to share your grace with others by letting them know how you have changed me. Lead me to such an opportunity today. Amen.