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"Why do you persecute Me?"

March 6, 2007 10:22 by author

Can you picture the scene? As Stephen prayed for the forgiveness of those who mercilessly stoned him, Saul stood by watching with approval.

"I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished." Acts 22:4-5

"Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them." Acts 26:11

"For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it." Galatians 1:13

As I've been reading through the Bible this year, I can see why Saul was so passionate about silencing this band of radicals. To him, they were a blasphemous group threatening the only way of life he'd ever known. Jesus...the Son of God? He didn't buy it. That is, until one day on the road to Damascus:

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a 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?"

"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. Acts 9:1-9

In a matter of moments, Saul's life was completely changed. Blind and frightened, Jesus gave him instructions to meet with a disciple. Saul obeyed and he was transformed. Despite being a murderer, God chose this man for a purpose. He cleansed Saul and gave him a new name...Paul. After this experience, Paul became equally as passionate about spreading the Word, but this time through love rather than violence. He became the persecuted and yet, he knew what he believed. He knew he was forgiven. He knew his Savior. And yet, we often walk about as though we are unforgivable. We think God can't use us because of our pasts. We're handicapped by our sin. Don't you think that there might be hope for us if God could free Paul, who by the standards of man might seem unforgivable? When Paul was fighting against Christ, he was willing to kill to uphold his beliefs....However, when he surrendered to Christ, he was willing to die telling others about the day Jesus asked him, "Why do you persecute me?".

They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
Galatians 1:23

THE BEAUTY of SAUL/PAUL_{hosted by Amanda}

Note: THE BEAUTY of FRAGRANCE will be hosted here next week.

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March 6. 2007 12:45

So I have to ask, how do you "read" the Bible? Where do you start? I'm in a Bible Study but I always feel like I don't know enough and when we read passages and reflect on them, more than half of the time I don't understand them or know how to interpret them. So, do you have some study guide that you read the Bible with?

Cristina

March 6. 2007 13:23

Hi Cristina, this year I've been reading the Bible through with no study guides or commentary. I just wanted to read the entire thing without stopping.

Where do you start? Well, you start small. Your knowledge of the Bible grows the more you study it. No, you may not understand everything in the beginning but the more you study the more connections you begin to make. At the same time, we cannot discount the Holy Spirit's role in our understanding. God does not desire that you be confused and He uses the Spirit to reveal things to us.

There are skads of study guides out there. There is a marvelous Bible called The Inductive Study Bible (go to the "faith" section of "My Bookshop" in the margin). I absolutely love this study tool. It gives you prompts and tells you what to watch for as you read but leaves plenty of room for the Holy Spirit to speak to you. I've been making notes in my Bibles since I was a child so this Bible was right up my alley. I also have some Bible software that I can use to look up greek and hebrew meanings to words used in the Bible. This can sometimes shed light on what is actually being said.

I've spent months grappling over a concept I didn't get before...praying and begging God for insight. He doesn't always tell me....but when He does...It's awesome! So, don't get discouraged if those in your Study seem to know more than you do - you'll get there if you seek God and keep studying.

You can always email me with any questions you have. If I don't know the answer...I'll help you find it My grandfather is a preacher and he's a wonderful resource (although a lot of times he makes me look it up and seek it out myself lol).

If you'd like to start by learning more about the Holy Spirit, you can go through Beth Moore's, "Living Beyond Yourself" online study. It is incredible!! Again, please do not hesitate to email me anytime about this stuff, it's one of my favorite topics

((hugs))
Blair

Blair

March 6. 2007 19:31

Blair, thank you so much for all the insight. I'm going to check out all the resources that you mentioned and I think I'll do like you said...start small. So, I think I'll do that and start reading the bible. Thank you so much!

((hugs))
Cristina

Cristina

March 7. 2007 06:36

"And yet, we often walk about as though we are unforgivable."

OH HOW TRUE!!!

Thanks for sharing some great insights!

amanda

March 7. 2007 09:13

I just lead a Ladies Bible study on Miriam, and one of the most encouraging things I found about her was that desoite her sin and failing, God restored her tp HIs people and to HImself and in Micha, over 700 years later gave trestimony to the fact that He had chossen her. So many of His servants and our 'greats' failed. Indeed we all do have a duty to live for HIm, witness to His saving grace and be faithful. It is tru that those who are forgiven much love much and this is true of Paul. But shouldn't it be true of us all? We may not have murdered anyone (well, not physically anyway!) but one sin is enough to condemn. Oh yes, we have all been forgiven much.....now I need to loe and serve much.

Susanna