Bertholet Flemalle, Conversion de saint Paul sur le chemin de Damas
Paul’s Conversion
Acts 9:1-19
Monday–Paul’s Conversion
“Still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1).
Kyle was not a happy camper. His parents had dressed him in a funny looking white outfit and brought him to church. In the middle of his nap, they had awakened him and carried him to the front of the congregation. To add insult to injury some gal had poured cold water over his head and smeared oil on his brow. Kyle let everyone know how displeased he was. He entered God’s kingdom kicking and screaming. Still God embraced Kyle with love.
Saul was quiet satisfied with who he was and what he was doing—a Pharisee persecuting followers of Jesus of Nazareth. He was proud of his religious accomplishments and the depth of his devotion to God. Saul saw no need to change. The Lord didn’t wait for Saul to change or to waver in his convictions. Instead, God met Saul where he was at.
The good news of the gospel is that God comes to us. Jesus emptied himself of his godliness and took on human form (Philippians 2:6). The Word came and dwelt among us (John 1:14). There are times when we are dying of thirst and we welcome God when God comes to us with a cup of cool water. At other times we are so caught up in our selfishness and rebellion that we reject God’s advances. Still God comes to us where we are at. God comes to us with God’s arms open in love and forgiveness.
Lord, thank you for your proactive and patient love. May your Spirit move within us so that we yield to your movement in our lives, rather than reject it. Amen.
Tuesday–Paul’s Conversion
“Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him” (Acts 9:3).
The Adult Study Group shared how their journeys of faith began. They were surprised by the variety. Jim shared that he was a “classic” Paul. “My friends talked me into going to a Billy Graham Crusade with them,” he said. “It was something about what Billy said. Suddenly the light flashed and I knew I had to have Jesus in my life. Karen’s experience was completely different. She had been baptized a day after she was born because of a medical condition. Her parents had raised her and her siblings in the church and Karen could not think of a time when Jesus was not a part of her life. Bud stated that he had dropped out of the church during college and hadn’t returned until his children were baptized. With a little wonder in his voice, Bud reflected, “It was like I had never left.”
Paul’s encounter with Jesus was a drastic, life changing event. The foundation of Paul’s relationship with God was recreated and his purpose for living was transformed. Paul realized that his conversion experience was not the result of his religious devotion, but was totally the result of God’s grace. God’s grace is the only normal, common element in our experience with the divine. It is so significant, that Paul made it the cornerstone of the gospel he proclaimed.
Precious Lord, grant that we may never cease to be amazed at your grace in our lives and in our world. Amen.
Wednesday–Paul’s Conversion
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me” (Acts 9:4)?
Eli was short in stature, slight of build, shy in spirit, a late bloomer and a nerd. The only way he made it through school was because of his older brother. Izzy, His older brother, was the exact opposite of Eli. Izzy was a star athlete, gregarious and loyal. Izzy believed that an attack on Eli was an attack on him. Few potential bullies made the mistake of targeting Eli twice.
In his conversation with Paul, Jesus makes it clear that Paul’s action are not merely against a group of people, but are against Jesus himself. Christians are “in Christ,” and Christ is in the lives of his followers. We are all one body. In our politically charged world where Christians find themselves fighting other Christians, this might be an important truth to remember. Around the world, Christians—our brother and sisters in Christ—are also being persecuted and martyred. Though separated by miles we are still family—family who are called to “love one another.”
It’s nice to have big brothers like Izzy. Sometimes though, the hardest people to live with are family members. Unfortunately, there are times when families must separate. This does not change the fact that we are all Children of God because Christ has made us his own.
It is easy, Lord, to call people enemies rather than friends. Move within us so we are able to love those we consider unlovable and also encourage and care for our brothers and sisters in need. Amen.
Thursday–Paul’s Conversion
“Though his eyes were open, he could see nothing” (Acts 9:8).
Paul wasn’t immediately healed. His eyes were open, but he couldn’t see. This wasn’t the first time that it took a while before a person could see. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus touched the eyes of a blind man and asked him if he could see. The man replied, “I see people; they look like trees walking around” (NIV Mark 8:24). It took a second touch by Jesus for the man to see correctly.
Paul encountered Jesus and his life was changed in a blinding flash of light. It took a little longer for Paul to see correctly. It was necessary for Paul to be baptized, to become a part of the fellowship of believers—followers of The Way—and to hear the teachings of Jesus. Paul regained his sight, but it took longer for him to gain the spiritual insight he needed to carry out his calling.
Our growth as Christians is a lifelong processes. The Holy Spirit uses a vast array of educational opportunities to shape us into God’s image. They range from somewhat boring sermons to exciting adventures to other lands and cultures, and from mountain top experiences of God’s love and grace to dismal failures. Through them, all we see differently and more clearly. There will be a time when our vision will be 20/20. Paul writes, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that [we] know now is partial and incomplete, but then [we] will know everything completely, just as God now knows [us] completely” (NLT 1 Corinthians 13:12).
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. Amen.
Friday–Paul’s Conversion
“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” (Acts 9:11).
They are called suicide missions. In times of war, in order to achieve an objective, it is necessary to place military personnel in harm’s way. The odds of injury or loss of life is significant. Most certainly Ananias believed he was being led on a suicide mission. Ananias knew who Saul was—that Saul had been persecuting Christians and had come to Damascus in order to continue the persecution. That fact, however, did not stop the Holy Spirit from directly Ananias, as a follower of The Way, to meet Saul. Responding to God’s love and grace, which he had experienced, Ananias journeyed to Judas’ house.
Rarely are we, as followers of Jesus, given suicide missions, but we are given difficult assignments. God’s Spirit may lead us to forgive someone who has hurt us deeply. We don’t want to do it, and we are afraid of what will happen if we do. The Spirit may lead us to take a step of faith and significantly increase our financial support of our congregation, or make the commitment to participate in a mission trip. We respond to the leading of the Spirit, not because we fear God’s wrath, but because we are driven by God’s love.
Move within us, Holy Spirit, so that we may have both the will and the ability to accomplish what you call us to do. Amen.
Saturday–Paul’s Conversion
“He is an instrument whom I have chosen” (Acts 9:15).
Stan had a significant repair project on his hands. Not having the genetic disposition to be a handyman, Stan had neither the desire nor the tools to accomplish the repair. Undaunted, Stan plunged ahead with the tools that he had and struggled to complete the project. After an hour of making little headway, Stan realized that he would need a different tool, if he were to successfully complete the repair. The trip to the hardware store was brief, and Stan was amazed at how easy the repairs were made when he had the right tool.
Paul was a tool in the hand of the Holy Spirit who was used to share God’s love and grace and to accomplish God’s will. We too are God’s tool. The Lord has given us specific talents and abilities and placed in specific times and places so that the Holy Spirit can lovingly and graciously use us to touch others and transform their lives. We are the right tools for the right occasions.
Lord, make [us] an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let [us] sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that [we] may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Sunday–Paul’s Conversion
“I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16).
The cost of replacing tires and brakes on her car and the major repairs on her home’s air conditioner had left Callie financially strapped. She had been praying that the Lord would somehow help her pay off her debt. The Lord, however, had been slow to answer her prayers and the stress had been mounting for Callie. Frustrated and depressed, she yelled out to God, “If you aren’t going to answer my prayers and help me out, what’s the purpose of following you!” Gene felt much the same way. The pastor, of the congregation where Gene worshiped, had assured his flock that God would richly bless them because they were God’s Children. Gene was led to believe that blessings came in the form of comfort, affluence and success. That wasn’t happening in Gene’s life and he was beginning to wonder what the purpose of this “Christian stuff” was.
Guaranteed answered prayers and worldly success was not what God had in mind for God’s servant, Saul. Nor is that necessarily God’s will for us as well. Through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we have been reconciled with God. God has showered love and grace upon us. At the same time, God calls us to share the love and grace, which we have received, in service to others. That costs. We may not suffer to the extent that Paul did (2 Corinthians 11:21b-29). Still, when we share our financial wealth we won’t have as much for ourselves, and volunteering for a service project will make our calendars a little more hectic. Sometimes our love will be rejected and our service will not be appreciated.
We will, however, experience what Jesus calls the “abundant life.” As people who have been reconciled with God, we have a new purpose in life—to serve. Filled with God’s love and grace, we overflow and impact the lives of others in a positive manner. God is glorified and people are loved. This is well worth the cost.
Lord, grant that the cost of serving you never take away the joy of being followers of Jesus. Amen.