Come with me as we journey back in time about 2,000 years! to view a man who would
become the very center of gentile Christianity.
Saul of Tarsus was definitely on the fast track squelching, rounding up those in the new groups springing up in Israel, putting them in prison, and likely to death. As it was against the chief priests and rulers, a 'sect' that would become called Christianity.
There was some evidence that Saul may have been close friends of Herod growing up, and
he was steeped in the law, in Judaism.
On this day, way back then, Saul was on his way to Damascus, having gotten permission from
the chief priests to enter the homes of those in this new sect and bring them to
Jerusalem.
On the way there, a blinding light struck him down and he fell down and lost his sight.
While down, he heard the voice of 'Jesus' SPEAK to him who showed concern for Saul, asking
him 'Why do you kick against the pricks?'
Saul asked Who He was, and as soon as he heard this was 'Jesus' (Yehoshua in Hebrew)
speaking to him, Saul IMMEDIATELY asked Him what to do!!
Saul was instructed, and did as he was directed, and our story unfolds.
My question to you is 'Why do you think the Lord 'Jesus' selected Saul, given what he'd
been doing? Wouldn't we think that would be the LAST person anyone would ask to do
something as monumental as would be set before Saul, who later would be known
as Paul?
This article gives us some insight, does it not, just why the Lord did this? Doesn't it show us
so many things such as 'do not judge?', and 'love overcometh all things' and many others?
Doesn't it show us that ONLY God knows 'the heart', what is possible?
This article delves into the wonderful writings of Saul. And could we find any braver man
to go up against the Jews and Greeks who constantly sought to KILL Saul?
Fearless, was he not? And Our Lord knew this, knew his heart.
And we must not forget, though, that like all people, all Christians, all of us, we are
not sinless, not without our problems, and so we see Paul going against his own
teachings on 'agape' to 'not seek our own way'. Paul did this, and it led to his
imprisonment and later death.
Paul, the best to bring the message to the gentiles, enduring all for the sake of
the good message, was, like all of us, 'flawed', and only 'Jesus', the Lord was not.
Well, we've come to the end of this part of our journey together, and I hope I've
given you a little to think about, to see how gracious and forgiving is Our Lord
Even though it is utter fantasy to ever think that any but the Christ Himself is sinless and following everything that one preaches themselves, that is exactly the errant mindset I have had.
It is not only fallacious to put Paul on a pedestal, it is unfair to him.
Yet so many of us do this.
Who am I, or who is anyone to have such fantastical expectations of a fellow human?
Even though the apostles and saints were deeply into the process of becoming holy and pure, heretofore the aim is to attribute sinlessness only to the Christ.
Come with me as we journey back in time about 2,000 years! to view a man who would
become the very center of gentile Christianity.
Saul of Tarsus was definitely on the fast track squelching, rounding up those in the new groups springing up in Israel, putting them in prison, and likely to death. As it was against the chief priests and rulers, a 'sect' that would become called Christianity.
There was some evidence that Saul may have been close friends of Herod growing up, and
he was steeped in the law, in Judaism.
On this day, way back then, Saul was on his way to Damascus, having gotten permission from
the chief priests to enter the homes of those in this new sect and bring them to
Jerusalem.
On the way there, a blinding light struck him down and he fell down and lost his sight.
While down, he heard the voice of 'Jesus' SPEAK to him who showed concern for Saul, asking
him 'Why do you kick against the pricks?'
Saul asked Who He was, and as soon as he heard this was 'Jesus' (Yehoshua in Hebrew)
speaking to him, Saul IMMEDIATELY asked Him what to do!!
Saul was instructed, and did as he was directed, and our story unfolds.
My question to you is 'Why do you think the Lord 'Jesus' selected Saul, given what he'd
been doing? Wouldn't we think that would be the LAST person anyone would ask to do
something as monumental as would be set before Saul, who later would be known
as Paul?
This article gives us some insight, does it not, just why the Lord did this? Doesn't it show us
so many things such as 'do not judge?', and 'love overcometh all things' and many others?
Doesn't it show us that ONLY God knows 'the heart', what is possible?
This article delves into the wonderful writings of Saul. And could we find any braver man
to go up against the Jews and Greeks who constantly sought to KILL Saul?
Fearless, was he not? And Our Lord knew this, knew his heart.
And we must not forget, though, that like all people, all Christians, all of us, we are
not sinless, not without our problems, and so we see Paul going against his own
teachings on 'agape' to 'not seek our own way'. Paul did this, and it led to his
imprisonment and later death.
Paul, the best to bring the message to the gentiles, enduring all for the sake of
the good message, was, like all of us, 'flawed', and only 'Jesus', the Lord was not.
Well, we've come to the end of this part of our journey together, and I hope I've
given you a little to think about, to see how gracious and forgiving is Our Lord
and Saviour, 'Jesus, the Christ'.
May I say 'and to all a 'good night'?
Thank you for this vital glimpse of reality.
Even though it is utter fantasy to ever think that any but the Christ Himself is sinless and following everything that one preaches themselves, that is exactly the errant mindset I have had.
It is not only fallacious to put Paul on a pedestal, it is unfair to him.
Yet so many of us do this.
Who am I, or who is anyone to have such fantastical expectations of a fellow human?
Even though the apostles and saints were deeply into the process of becoming holy and pure, heretofore the aim is to attribute sinlessness only to the Christ.
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