December 30, 2021

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 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. Acts 9:1-2

Jesus had said: “They will put you out of the synagogues.”  John 16:2a

Present at the stoning of Stephen and approving was Saul. The event that brought the dramatic and decisive close to the seventy weeks also precipitated the profound conversion of Saul, that highly trained and educated Jew of Jews, regarded as a young man of great promise to become a most able and zealous defender of the “ancient faith.” Although Saul was a Jew by descent, he was also a Roman citizen by birth. With considerable power at his disposal, he brutalized the infant church. In order to carry this out, he placed his education and prejudices, his great respect for his former teachers, and his pride in his own reputation and popularity ahead of the voice of conscience and the gentle grace of God. Saul’s internal rebellion against grace and conscience rendered him extremely bitter as he opposed the doctrines that were taught by the followers of Jesus.

But Saul, now called Paul, would be the very first to tell us that the direct and frightening confrontation by Jesus was the best thing that ever happened to him. God’s gentle pursuit of His children necessarily develops into a full-blown crisis when they live in rebellion. Paul was greatly humbled and lived the rest of his very fruitful life facing threats and hardship. But the joy in his heart cast out every trace of that old bitterness. Each of us may be personally blessed by the light given to this humbled man. Paul looked earnestly toward the return of his beloved Savior, just as we do. These words in Paul’s prayer display love for his fellow man and a great desire for our keen discernment in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ. Paul’s prayer for us can and should become ours for those around us:

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” Philippians 1:9-10