In life we have many choices. We can do what we think is the right thing for the wrong reasons. We can do the wrong thing for what we believe to be the right outcome OR we can do the right thing for the right reason according to Jesus the Word of God made flesh.
Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Paul was to find out that what he thought was right was totally wrong. It took a great move of God to make him see the error of his reasoning and to turn his passion into action for God’s plan for his life.
Acts 9:1-6
9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. The New King James Version
Saul may not have been the actual executioner, but his arrests led to the imprisonment and deaths of many in the Church. Damascus was a city in modern-day Syria, northeast of Jerusalem. It was an important commercial center and a key stop along the trade route between Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Way was an early name for the community of those who confessed Jesus as Messiah.
Light suddenly and overwhelmingly enveloped Saul. This experience of Jesus’ glory is so overwhelming that it forces Saul to the ground. Jesus’ repetition of Saul’s name may suggest a sense of urgency or of compassion. Jesus both confronts Saul’s sin and commissions him for apostolic ministry. In persecuting the Church, Saul persecutes Jesus Himself.
Saul’s question, as well as Jesus’ response with the words “I am” (egō eimi in Greek), may be an allusion to Moses’ encounter with Yahweh in the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). Like Moses, Saul is here being called by Yahweh to rescue a people (in Saul’s case, the Gentiles). Faithlife Study Bible
Saul was still restless in his zeal to defend his Jewish faith from the new, supposedly dangerous Jewish messianic sect.
Christians were originally referred to as “disciples” and “belonging to the Way.” Jesus Himself had used both of these titles. Disciple means a follower, an imitator, one who has a master.
The letters were documents authorizing Saul to arrest Christians in Damascus, 140 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Rome permitted the Jewish Sanhedrin to control Jewish affairs. At this time the new church was a Jewish affair. The early Jewish believers in Jesus were still attending the synagogues. The synagogues in Damascus had to cooperate with anyone who had the authorization that Saul possessed. Saul planned to take the followers of Jesus who had escaped to Damascus back to Jerusalem to stand trial before the Sanhedrin, and probably to face a death sentence. The NKJV Study Bible
Acts 9:7–22 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus…
Acts 22:3–16 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women…
Acts 26:9–18 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them…
1 Peter 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Living a common sense life as believers shows up in good relationships in all areas of our life. We should live in humility, caring for others without prejudice, and upholding law and order in Christ’s name. In doing good we can silence unbelievers opinion of the Church. We honor all men, even our enemies, and especially our fellow believers and we respect authority. Man in their flesh will always try to use others to their advantage. It should never be that way in the life of a follower of Christ.
If we do wrong apologize and if we do well and suffer for it be patient and let God handle it. Christ suffered for us leaving an example that we should emulate. Holy Spirit within us will guide us in the right way to handle adversity and prosperity. Jesus who knew no sin was reviled and suffered He did not retaliate but bore our sins on His body for our redemption.
Redemption rest our faith in believing the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer King.
Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
What does God require of us? We need to forgive others as we have been forgiven. We do not show partiality to anyone but live humble lives guided by the very Spirit of God that resides in us.
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God.
Luke 18:31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.
Jesus took the Apostles and them told all that He would suffer to fulfill Scripture. He knew that He would put Him to death and that He would rise again conquering it. They did not understand what He was saying. They did not yet realize that the suffering, death and resurrection would be for their salvation and for all of mankind.
Isaiah 53:11
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
The suffering of Christ was prophesied by Isaiah saying that all nations have gone astray but the Lord will lay on the suffering servant the sins of the world. Carla
Recognizing God's sovereignty, His power and authority over everything, is essential to our relationship with Him. This feels easier when life brings joy and comfortable circumstances, but the more challenging question is whether we surrender to God's sovereignty in trials and hardships. In moments that don't make sense, will we turn our hearts toward Him and say, Lord, I trust You? Yet when we put our faith in Jesus, through His death on the cross and His resurrection, we "are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ" (Romans 3:24). in Christ, our spiritual prosperity is guaranteed! We are made righteous, our sins are forgiven, and eternal life is ours. But repentance will become the rhythm of our hearts as we desire to honor our sovereign God.First5
So, how did I replenish my emotional and spiritual savings account this week?” Meister Eckhart says that if you only learn one prayer in your whole life, learn this one: "Thank you.” Sabbath Moments
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NKJV).
The Holy Spirit comes with power. Power to make good choices, to keep promises, to silence the inner voices of fear and failure. Power to get busy about the right things in the right way. Power. This is what Jesus promised then, and this is what Jesus promises still. Max Lucado
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