
Paul's Testimony is Amazing to Me
Here he is owning that he had a personal and intimate revelation from Jesus. He is facing a crowd and admitting how intensely he was persecuting the church.
From Spiritual Revelation to Testimony
As I read these words, I think of the many testimonies I have heard from people who have had an intensely spiritual revelation from Jesus that completely altered their lives. Sex, drugs, and addictive, outlaw behavior are left behind in the dark shadows of a painful lifestyle. Their path in life has changed 180 degrees. In the past they would awake to a new day by the light of the physical sun. Now they wake up with the light of the Son shining from within and to a new day. Honestly, only a divine intervention can explain the testimony of Paul and the countless brothers and sisters who have had similar revelations.
I Stand in Awe of the Lord
He shows us his power by transforming people who no one else would want, into his strongest servants! Saul was responsible for the deaths of many people. He killed them because they followed Jesus and taught the teachings of Jesus. His conversion was totally unexpected. I am sure there were people familiar with Saul who saw this transformation and were at a loss to explain what had happened. Can you imagine being his mother, father, or synagogue teacher?
"It is hard to explain what happened to me. I was blinded by this light on the way to Damascus and the Lord talked to me. He called me to follow Him even though I was killing his people. Then, I had to find my way to Damascus and find a man who could teach me about Jesus and heal my blindness. I know it sounds unbelievable, but I knew it was the Lord. I know I am giving up a lot, but I am following my call."
All of us can imagine the conversations Saul would have had with family members can't we?
Persecutor Turned Teacher
Early church members thought Saul was just finding a new way to seek out Christians to persecute and kill. However, that thought was proven wrong as the newly named Paul began his ministry.
As I sit here reading Paul's words, I gain a sense of how miraculous his conversion truly was.
How does a Roman citizen/zealous Pharisee who is bent on seeking and destroying heretical Jews change like this? At the heart of this question is my personal belief that Saul must have loved the Lord. Yes, he channeled his belief into killing people, but I think he must have had a love of God, too. This is sheer speculation on my part, but it is based upon my own life experiences with Jesus. However, what matters more than my speculation, is that after his Damascus road experience, Paul spent the rest of his life as an obedient servant to Jesus Christ and he shared the teachings of Jesus with others every single day that he was alive.
Saul's conversion experience was indeed a divine appointment.
The persecutor became an evangelist because of his life changing encounter. Many Christians do not have this type of encounter, but that is okay because they do not have to learn lessons the hard way. I was a hard head and had to learn lessons the hard way and when I met Jesus it changed my life forever. Giving your life to Jesus is a life changing experience. Has your life changed since you met Jesus?