Saul To Paul
"But the Lord said to [Ananias], "Go, for [Saul] is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;" - Acts 9:15
He was the worst kind of terrorist--a religious terrorist--plotting to kill and hurt people who didn't believe in God like he did. He was brilliant, highly educated, and ambitious. The mention of his name would strike fear in people who didn't believe as he did.
One day on his way to fulfill another terrorist plot, he was stopped by a power he didn't know existed. It terrified him. This person was so powerful that the young terrorist stopped in his tracks. The terrorist was named Saul. The powerful person was Jesus.
And on that day, the terrorist named Saul was changed inwardly and outwardly by the love of Christ. Christ changed his name to Paul and God used Paul to be the greatest theologian and missionary in the history of the church. Christ can change anyone who is hostile to Him and His church--even religious terrorists. He can even change people who are sinners like you and me.
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6 Comments
I love the story of Saul to Paul. What a humbling experience to have Jesus ask you, "Why are you persecuting me?" - Austin
Thankyou again for another great devotion. God CAN change anyone and even though I am already a Christian, there is so much that needs changing. Great book I am reading right now, Bible study with a friend actually, by Max Lucado called "It's not about me". Everyone should pick one up and read it. I am blessed with many caring friends . - julie
I can really appreciate what you said, Julie, about being a Christian but knowing that additional changes are needed. Isn't it great that the Lord keeps working on us? 2 Corinthians 3:18, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is Spirit." There is hope for even me. Praise the Lord for what He does every day in the lives of believers and for what He can do for unbelievers who are willing to accept His Lordship. - Janice
As a missionary friend of mine told us, "God can have a cricket tell the word, but it is the Holy Spirit that does the conviction." - Hal
We are the clay in the potters hand. Thanks Janice for responding to me, you don't know how much support means to me and every Christian. I guess I feel right at this point in my life, like God is breaking me, trying to work on me and I just have to let go and let Him. Thanks for all the positive responses. - Julie
The conversion of Saul is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. If we would stop and think for a moment, we were in the same boat as Saul. We were without Christ just as he was. He might have been better educated than we were but Jesus died for all so that we might live. I have followed the life of Paul in the scriptures and it blesses me how God took this man and is still using him to speak to millions of people even today. God is so good to his children and yet the half of it has not been told yet. Doesn't it make you to wonder just what he does have in store for us when we get to heaven. - Jerry