Acts 9 reminds me of Geneva. She was a cantankerous client that was long past retirement age. She always seemed critical and generally difficult toward me. I began to avoid, and then resent her, until the day she took the time to explain her situation. Her husband of nearly 50 years had dementia, so she returned to work to pay for his medical treatment. When she spoke about Robert, she had a sparkle in her eyes, and I was deeply moved. From that day on, I gained a profound love for her selfless decision. In today’s lesson, perspective changes everything. We begin with “Saul… breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples”. After imprisoning many in Jerusalem, Saul asked for permission to continue the hunt in Damascus that “if he found any there who belonged to The Way… he might take them as prisoners”. On his way, a bright light from heaven flashed around him, “He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’” Stunned, he asked, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”. I have most certainly treated some people poorly, but I never considered that Jesus might take my words or actions personally. Saul was a teacher and student of God’s Law, but I do not think he imagined this level of intimacy with God. Jesus continued, “get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”. I doubt he was quite ready to comply. Pride does not fade easily, “but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus”. He needed time to ponder. “For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything”. Friend have you pondered the way God sees you?
We don’t think that divine appointments might appear on two calendars. “In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias”. He probably had friends that were imprisoned for their faith. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, “Go to the house of Judas… and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying”. Saul was well known. Ananias protested, “he has come here with authority… to arrest all who call on Your Name”. The Lord answered, “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to proclaim My Name to the Gentiles”. I am so often afraid to follow God’s leading, but Ananias placed his hands on Saul and prayed, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road… has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit”. Immediately his sight returned, “He got up and was baptized”. Saul was transformed by the love of Christ toward those that hate Him.
As soon as Saul regained his strength “he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God”. Surely many did not believe his conversion was real, but Saul used his vast knowledge of scripture to prove “that Jesus is the Messiah”. He returned to Jerusalem, “but they were all afraid of him”. Yet Saul persisted “speaking boldly in the name of the Lord”. The church flourished with a balance between “fear of the Lord” and encouragement “by the Holy Spirit”. Saul would continue revealing Christ in the Law to the Jews, and forgiveness through faith to believers throughout the entire known world. What changed him? Saul stopped seeing “us and them”. Instead Saul recognized every one of us have fallen short of God’s perfection. He offered a simple solution; the love of Christ will overcome sin. The chapter ends with Peter offering physical healing to the sick and lame, and even raising Tabitha from death. As a result of these miracles, “many people believed in the Lord”. My friend perhaps you are God’s chosen vessel to bring hope and healing. Maybe you are the answer to someone else’s prayer. Here is a new perspective; the cantankerous in your life may be dealing with difficulties that you cannot imagine. Is it time to put your faith into action?