Paul was on his way
to round up and persecute Christ followers. He was on a mission he believed
inspired by God. He was going about God's work - getting these awful
blasphemers taken care of so they did not go about riling up people against
God's truth. He couldn't have been happier to be doing the work of God. Yet he
was in for a HUGE surprise, a SHOCKING surprise, a LIFE-ALTERING surprise.
Act 9:3 And as
he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him
a light from heaven
Paul was NEAR his
goal. Paul was close to Damascus and it was there he was going to begin again
to search every house and root out every Christ follower- men and woman. He'd
just been in Jerusalem searching out Christians to imprison them. He'd just
been witness and consenting to Stephen's murder and was pleased. Now he was
very close to Damascus where he could begin again.
Stopped dead in his
tracks he was SUDDENLY enveloped in light. The light he was surrounded in was a
light from HEAVEN. Can you imagine it?
There you are setting about on a Godly mission and then you are stopped by God
Himself! The LIGHT of HEAVEN was upon Him! What do you think went through His
mind in that moment? Or maybe nothing really coherent was going on, just pure
shock. As the light from God hit him…
Act 9:4 And he
fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me?
Paul is now on the
ground surrounded by the heavenly light and he hears a VOICE. If the light is
heavenly it stands to reason the voice was heavenly as well. A voice from
heaven- God's voice was speaking to Him!
God HIMSELF! And instead of a commendation for the good work he'd been
doing, or the work he was about to do, he was chastised! Clearly Paul was NOT
expecting any chastising especially not from God! Yet, the words came- Saul, Saul WHY PERSECUTEST THOU ME?
Imagine Paul's
shock, his complete and utter shock! He was doing God's work! He wasn't
persecuting God!
MORE on this
tomorrow by the LOVE, the WILL, the GRACE of our LORD and SAVIOR now and
forever!!!!
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