I can barely endure the telling of this tale ~ the depraved cruelty, the villainous murder of the innocent. Deplorable. Unimaginable. The telling tale twists the knots tighter and tighter. Torture. Persecution. Imprisonment. The judgement of one to another that crucifies Christ continually. Judgement of another's faith and he deems their crucifixion justified.
I can barely stand the story, can hardly take the telling. Murder. Continual crucifixion.
He was on his way to declare destruction to those who believed (Acts 9:27). He was on his way to murder the masses in whom believed in Him. His journey was wrought with rebellion. He hated with a passion . . . still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desires . . . (Acts 9:1)
He was journeying to Damascus, his intent was death to those who believed.
2,000 years later, he travels again to Damascus. Different name. Different body. Same intent. Death to those who believe.
And knots twist tighter. I tell myself this telling tale twists me tight for it tells the tale of too many today.
And that is certainly truth. But, not my truth in entirety.
For this telling tale twists tighter for the tale of Saul becoming Paul is the truth of us ALL. A truth I can barely stand to face ~ I have judged and condemned into a continual crucifixion of Christ and I have rebelled against Master Redeemer and I have refused to tell the truth of that tale. I was Saul. And on my way to Damascus to kill the innocents and crucify the Christ, on my way my Lord had graciously shown Himself to me. As Saul, I saw Jesus and became a Paul.
Today, I look around and see the world full over of Sauls and I forget my telling tale that I too was a soul-less Saul and on my way I met Jesus. I forget I was a Saul whom He converted into a Paul and in my forgetting I reveal a remnant of that old man, the Saul, whom judged and saw fit to condemn. Jesus be gracious and merciful to this old, nasty once was a Saul, and is desperately trying to work out my salvation into a Paul. But alas, I too soon forget and that is why this telling tale twists tighter. A little Saul still wallows in my soul and hampers the heart from loving wholly as Christ loves. Jesus save me from my old Saul and see the work through to the completed Paul.
And 2,000 years later, literal Sauls are on their way to Damascus again and we pray and we watch as our friends struggle against murder of the innocents. Friends stand in faith, hold ground in courage as cruelty wages war against their Christ. And those who believe die a martyr's death in the midst of Saul's war against the Christ.
I pray for the believers. And yet the telling tale of Saul becoming Paul is the tale of us ALL whom believe.
I was Saul, murdering Christ in a continual crucifixion of rebellion. You were Saul as well and I pray you are on your way to a Paul but make no mistake, you and I both were a Saul.
Paul tells us as much ~ Saul becoming Paul was a pattern into which that we all, all whom believe, will fall (1 Timothy 1:16). His conversion was for my sake, for your sake ~ a pattern, a long suffering pattern.
Sauls becoming Pauls ~ meeting Jesus along their way to death ~ is Jesus' work, Jesus' call. And Jesus is STILL on the road to Damascus ~ blinding the eyes of Sauls and redeeming them into Pauls.
Ananiases are there as well ~ their conversion, their walking out their salvation, just a journey more complete. They are there working amongst the Sauls and laying hands on blind eyes and believing as the scales fall, and trusting in Christ for a multitude of Pauls. Ananiases still live in the land of Damascus. We know a few.
So, you Saul, whom is walking towards your new Paul, will you join with me as we pray daily for blindings on the road to Damascus and persecutors becoming redeemed? Will you pray and fast with us as we beg Jesus to show Himself True to that one - to that Saul - as he journeys on his way- will you pray today? A Saul becomes a Paul, everyday! If I pray and you pray for that man, that woman and today and everyday Jesus meets them on their way ~ a revolution, a generation of Sauls who became Pauls will be birthed.
Some of you are still Sauls, the scales veil your sight. But, others of you know ~ you saw Him along your way. Either way, I pray for you both ~ that one may gain sight in the blinding Light and that the other would daily remember our past as Saul and plead with the heavenlies for untold Sauls to become Pauls.
(Acts 9 & 1 Timothy 1:16)
I can barely stand the story, can hardly take the telling. Murder. Continual crucifixion.
He was on his way to declare destruction to those who believed (Acts 9:27). He was on his way to murder the masses in whom believed in Him. His journey was wrought with rebellion. He hated with a passion . . . still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desires . . . (Acts 9:1)
He was journeying to Damascus, his intent was death to those who believed.
2,000 years later, he travels again to Damascus. Different name. Different body. Same intent. Death to those who believe.
And knots twist tighter. I tell myself this telling tale twists me tight for it tells the tale of too many today.
And that is certainly truth. But, not my truth in entirety.
For this telling tale twists tighter for the tale of Saul becoming Paul is the truth of us ALL. A truth I can barely stand to face ~ I have judged and condemned into a continual crucifixion of Christ and I have rebelled against Master Redeemer and I have refused to tell the truth of that tale. I was Saul. And on my way to Damascus to kill the innocents and crucify the Christ, on my way my Lord had graciously shown Himself to me. As Saul, I saw Jesus and became a Paul.
Today, I look around and see the world full over of Sauls and I forget my telling tale that I too was a soul-less Saul and on my way I met Jesus. I forget I was a Saul whom He converted into a Paul and in my forgetting I reveal a remnant of that old man, the Saul, whom judged and saw fit to condemn. Jesus be gracious and merciful to this old, nasty once was a Saul, and is desperately trying to work out my salvation into a Paul. But alas, I too soon forget and that is why this telling tale twists tighter. A little Saul still wallows in my soul and hampers the heart from loving wholly as Christ loves. Jesus save me from my old Saul and see the work through to the completed Paul.
And 2,000 years later, literal Sauls are on their way to Damascus again and we pray and we watch as our friends struggle against murder of the innocents. Friends stand in faith, hold ground in courage as cruelty wages war against their Christ. And those who believe die a martyr's death in the midst of Saul's war against the Christ.
I pray for the believers. And yet the telling tale of Saul becoming Paul is the tale of us ALL whom believe.
I was Saul, murdering Christ in a continual crucifixion of rebellion. You were Saul as well and I pray you are on your way to a Paul but make no mistake, you and I both were a Saul.
Paul tells us as much ~ Saul becoming Paul was a pattern into which that we all, all whom believe, will fall (1 Timothy 1:16). His conversion was for my sake, for your sake ~ a pattern, a long suffering pattern.
Sauls becoming Pauls ~ meeting Jesus along their way to death ~ is Jesus' work, Jesus' call. And Jesus is STILL on the road to Damascus ~ blinding the eyes of Sauls and redeeming them into Pauls.
Ananiases are there as well ~ their conversion, their walking out their salvation, just a journey more complete. They are there working amongst the Sauls and laying hands on blind eyes and believing as the scales fall, and trusting in Christ for a multitude of Pauls. Ananiases still live in the land of Damascus. We know a few.
So, you Saul, whom is walking towards your new Paul, will you join with me as we pray daily for blindings on the road to Damascus and persecutors becoming redeemed? Will you pray and fast with us as we beg Jesus to show Himself True to that one - to that Saul - as he journeys on his way- will you pray today? A Saul becomes a Paul, everyday! If I pray and you pray for that man, that woman and today and everyday Jesus meets them on their way ~ a revolution, a generation of Sauls who became Pauls will be birthed.
Some of you are still Sauls, the scales veil your sight. But, others of you know ~ you saw Him along your way. Either way, I pray for you both ~ that one may gain sight in the blinding Light and that the other would daily remember our past as Saul and plead with the heavenlies for untold Sauls to become Pauls.
(Acts 9 & 1 Timothy 1:16)
