Friday, March 29, 2024

Devotion Page

Posted

“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest...” Acts 9:1 (AMP)

I know this is a weird excerpt, and you’re probably wondering why I selected it, but it jumped out at me today. In case you don’t know who Saul was, let me give you a bit of back story. Saul was a Jew’s Jew. He was very devout in his belief and devotion to God. He hated Christians and the fact that they represented Jesus because, as a Jew, he didn’t believe Jesus was really the Messiah. He fought against it. His zeal was so great that he not only tortured and murdered Christians, he enjoyed doing so and he felt that what he was doing was 100% correct.

This same good-for-nothing Saul, who loved killing Christians, ended up being Paul. Yes, that Paul. The Apostle Paul. The one who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament, and who we reference regularly. The very same Paul who wrote the beautiful words, “Love never fails,” in 1 Corinthians 13. The same guy who hated and tortured Christians, was eternally changed into a different man, down to even his name! All it took was one encounter with Jesus on a road called Damascus.

Who are the Sauls in your life? Who are those who abuse and torture you? Not necessarily physically, but emotionally, verbally, etc.? The ones who have it out for you and try to ruin you on a regular basis. Who are the ones you would rather slap across the face as look at them? Did you know that they aren’t beyond The Father’s reach? Did you know that the Sauls of today could very well end up being the Pauls of tomorrow? Have you considered the people who wreck your world right now could end up being the world changers of the future?

Pray for those who make you cry. Love those who use you, those who torture you. Never underestimate the power of His great love. It never fails. When you choose to really live this Christian life, you’re in good company with the Christians of old whom Saul abused and martyred. Your actions of faith and your following the example of Jesus could be the encounter on the Damascus road those “Sauls” in your life need to ultimately become the Paul they’re destined to be.

- Jessica Spencer