Be Not Afraid...

SCRIPTURE

Conversion of Paul
Acts 9:1-22 (NRSV)

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." All who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?" Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.

DEVOTION

Today I am struck by the phrase, “Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went…”

I’m sure we all know someone who lives in this place of “breathing threats and murder” against people.

Perhaps the person is your husband, wife, mother, father, boss, best friend, or enemy.

I’ve often worried and wondered about people who are in such an angry place; I’ve despaired as I have watched Christian people shove them to the side, ignore them, or pay them back 100 fold.

I think it is an incredibly sad thing that most Christian people do not have at least one acquaintance like Saul.

How are we to share the good news message if we are never around people in need of it?!

It seems to me that far too many Christians live isolated in glass houses away from the “Sauls” of this world. In fact, when such people come to our attention, we often act like Ananias, afraid, and determined, not to go to a person who has such a terrible reputation!

But, go we must! For we do not know if the person who is “breathing threats and murder” today, will be the person who proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God on tomorrow.

Here’s what I know; all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, there is none righteous, no not one!

We are called as Christians to go to our unlovable enemies and bring them the good news message that Jesus saves and he saves to the utmost and that all of us can be filled with the Holy Spirit when we confess our sin and put all of our faith in Him!

Hallelujah!

Today, I want us to make up our minds not to turn away from the person in our lives who constantly “breathes threats and murder.”

They may huff and puff, but they cannot blow our house down for it is built upon the solid rock of Christ!

Be not afraid to go into their darkness, and lift up a light…

Let us pray:

Oh God! I have been so afraid of the people in my life who have rejected you. Their nasty ways and nasty temper have kept me at a distance. When you have asked me to go, I have refused saying that they simply cannot be changed. Please forgive me this day! If you can change Saul, you can change anybody! Since you have changed me, I know that you can change my brother or sister. I love you. I truly do. Please help me to share our love with others. Please fill me with a Holy Ghost boldness that sends me to the Sauls in my life with the good news message, “Regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” I pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.

THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @

http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html